We missed this one out of the Register-Guard this morning, regarding the contract status of Ducks baseball coach George Horton, whose contract expires at midnight:
"We're really close, like I continue to say," Horton said of on-going negotiations for a new deal. "I know there's that so-called deadline out there ... but I'm the baseball coach here and I intend to go to work on Sept. 11.
"I'm not real worried about it."
Horton is coming off his best season at Oregon, where the Ducks were one game shy of reaching the College World Series. In August, the Oregonian reported that Horton was asking for a five-year deal in excess of $3 million, cementing him as one of the highest paid coaches in the sport, but a number that sparks controversy as the Oregon baseball program has been a money loser financially. In any case, it seems as if negotiation are amicable and differences expected to be worked out. Most importantly, baseball fans needn't worry that Horton will not be in the Ducks' dugout this spring.