We have appealed to Twitter and are trying to get our account restored. it might take a day or two, I’m told, but who knows.

But please rest assured those posts weren’t of our doing.

The Ashland Daily Tidings and Mail Tribune earlier ran stories by John Darling on Campaign 42.

Upon seeing major league players wear No. 42 in Robinson’s honor four years ago, Zaslow — who was raised in New York as a diehard Brooklyn Dodgers fan, for whom Robinson played — got the notion to expand awareness of the national icon to youth players.

Wrote Atkins of Robinson, who broke the color barrier in the big leagues on April 15, 1947, he “became the face of racial change in America. His story of surmounting bigotry to integrate baseball would inspire a world far beyond the confines of the ballpark. The No. 42 on his back would become the indelible symbol of his legacy.”

With Campaign 42, beginning last week, nearly 2,600 players ages 4 to 18 wore No. 42 stickers on their jerseys. The stickers come with fliers explaining Robinson’s contribution to American history, wrote Atkins, and coaches and parents are encouraged to educate players about social inequality during Robinson’s time.

Women’s defending champion, Marci Gage (formerly Klimek), will be back and will attempt to become only the second to win the women’s race three straight times.

With an open men’s field, it’s hard to predict who will prevail, but a few names stick out. Former Southern Oregon All-American distance runner David Laney is in it for the first time, as is Lauren Jespersen, who starred at Klamath Union, then ran for Stanford, ending his career in 2008. Laney has been competing regularly, but Jespersen has turned his attention to his family and work and runs primarily for fun these days. His quote to me: “Good luck finding a better story.” He was very good-natured about it.

Another threat should be Trevor Palmer, former Crater and SOU runner. He gave Drew Jordan a run for his money in the Ashland Fourth of July race last summer. Jordan, from North Medford, is enjoying a solid distance career at Washington State.

I wasn’t aware, but he was born in Lebanon — a community I covered while with the Albany Democrat-Herald for 10-plus years. He moved to California before his high school days, but he clearly has a fondness for the Willamette Valley and Oregon in general. We talked of a former Lebanon childhood star, Andy McCloskey, who walked on at Oregon State and became a decent contributor and fan favorite. I remember Howland bristling a bit when I suggested former OSU coach Jimmy Anderson, who succeeded Ralph Miller after serving as Miller’s right-hand man, was better suited to being an assistant coach. Howland defended Jimmy (a wonderful guy, by the way) and I said simply his job as a head coach was made harder because Jimmy Anderson didn’t have Jimmy Anderson as his chief recruiter and overseer of so many aspects of the program. I think that got me out of hot water with Howland.

What I especially remember is I reached him while he was on his way home from UCLA. At one point, five minutes into the conversation, he went through a canyon and we lost contact. To my surprise, the phone rang 10 minutes later and we talked for another 10-15 minutes. I think he enjoyed talking about things related to his home state. I’m not sure a lot of head coaches in his position would have bothered to call back. We were only a few months removed from him guiding the Bruins to their first Final Four in 11 years; they lost to Florida in the title game.

Anyway, he’s kind of a no nonsense coach with a bunch of good qualities and here’s hoping things work out for him going forward.

Going into the All-Star break, Singler was third on the Detroit Pistons in minutes played, not counting newcomer Jose Calderon, and fourth among rookies overall in the NBA. He was eighth in 3-point shooting (38.1 percent) and ninth in scoring (9.0 points per game).

Singler, a starter since the ninth game of the season, has even better numbers – 2.5 points per game — since Tayshaun Prince was traded.

The generous minutes have expedited his growth as a professional. He told Ellis he didn’t know what to expect in that regard.

“Thinking positively,” said Singler, “I would have hoped that I would be playing these types of minutes, but coming into the season, I had no idea I would be playing these types of minutes.”

He’s also moved from shooting guard to his more-natural small forward position, a change he embraced.

“It’s never really been much of a transition before since the 2 and the 3 are somewhat similar positions,” Singler told the Free Press. “I’ve been in a good flow and I’ve been scoring the ball decently. It’s been a good move. I’m happy I’m on the court playing the 3.”

He also admitted to a desire to be invited to the Rising Stars competition during All-Star festivities but it isn’t something he’s worrying about.

The Pistons are 1-2 since the All-Star break.

The story — Two Oregon teenagers, a basketball and the moment the game became secondary — is about one boy who struggles to live a normal life because of a condition with which he was afflicted at an early age. It’s also about another boy, an opponent, who, in an otherwise nondescript season-opener, put the challenged boy ahead of himself. Anna Griffin of the Oregonian captured the moments before, during and since wonderfully.

You can see the video here.

The luncheon will be Nov. 20 — two days before Thanksgiving and four days before the game — at Rogue Valley Country Club. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., lunch starts at 11:45 and the program begins at noon. Cost will be $15. Players from previous Civil War games will speak, and there is hope that Oregon coach Chip Kelly and OSU coach Mike Riley can appear via speakerphone or video. There also will be lots of raffle items.

Reservations will be taken in advance and payments will be made at the door. Duck fans can reserve seats by calling Monica Garvin at 541-840-3618 or emailing monica.garvin@premierwestbank.com. Beaver fans should call Reena Bernardo at 541-858-4288 or email her at reena.bernardo@helpmecore.com.

Two years ago, more than 300 fans attended the lunch, with Ducks outnumbering Beavers by about 4-to-1. At present, both teams are unbeaten and ranked in the top 15 in the country, with Oregon No. 2 and upstart Oregon State No. 14. If those trends continue, it would add fuel to what already promises to be a fiery and entertaining gathering.

So make your reservations and mark your calendars.