Dwight Jaynes Explains Absence from CSNNW

Today long-time sports columnist Dwight Jaynes gave an explanation for his extended absence from his post at ComcastSportsNet Northwest. Entitled "I wish I had broken my leg, rather than my head", the piece explained an accidental fall:

It began with an attempt to carry a heavy suitcase down the circular staircase in my house. I didn't make it. About three steps from the bottom I missed a step (the suitcase blocked my view and I got careless) and fell to the floor, hitting my head on a wall as I landed. I didn't lose consciousness but I immediately knew it was a hard bump. I was also aware of the fact that since I was taking blood thinners, because of an irregular heartbeat, I was more prone to internal bleeding.

Funny thing, though, I didn't really hurt. So I picked up the suitcase and went about my business. A few days later I was suffering concussion symptoms and knew my wonderful wife was right when she was ordering me to get to the hospital. Turns out I was suffering from a subdural hematoma, which can be very dangerous. Eventually, a surgeon punched a hole in my head and drained some of the blood off the brain and my recovery began.

Jaynes explained that he is getting better and hopes to return to Trail Blazers and college football coverage, but that he's "a ways away".

Our thoughts, best wishes, and prayers go out to Dwight for a speedy and full recovery and plenty of support during the process. The Blazer's Edge community values voices and Dwight's has been among us longer than any. From his days at the Oregon Journal and the Oregonian through the Portland Tribune and CSNNW, in print and on radio and on television, his voice has remained prominent, honest, and valuable.

I'd like to extent my personal wishes and thanks to Dwight. Not only was he the first person to put my words into a newspaper--quoting some extensive thoughts of mine on J.R. Rider being the least-valuable 20-point scorer in the league--he's also been an example to me, personally. Right or wrong, whether he was loved or hated, he put his opinion out there. He told everyone the truth as he saw it. He took slings and arrows for it. That's the way of the world. But he kept it up anyway.

Looking at the landscape now, you can see how important voices like Dwight's are. No experience is perfect. When we only hear positive analysis we miss part of the story. When the only negatives we hear are expressed as knee-jerk overstatement, we miss the importance of criticism. In a media world increasingly divided into two camps--the party line and the juvenile--Dwight Jaynes' style of reasoned dissent is rare. As the old song says, you don't know what you've got 'til it's gone. Twenty years ago we may not have needed such a strong example. Now it's one of a few remaining lifelines tethering us to meaning and truth as we consume sports media.

Get well soon, Dwight. We hope to hear your voice among us more often in the future.

Dave Deckard, Managing Editor, Blazer's Edge

blazersub@gmail.com / @DaveDeckard / @Blazersedge