Winners

Photo: MICHAEL OLFERT

1. We're the first to hammer the airport when it's appropriate, but last week the facility won awards for its retail, concession and food facilities. The emphasis on local products swayed judges from the Airports Council International, who selected PDX over 26 competitors as the best large airport in North America for the above categories.

2. After 40 years in the OLCC's doghouse, the liquor industry got the green light to resume radio and television advertising in Oregon. Last week Attorney General Hardy Myers ruled that the OLCC's restrictions on advertising distilled spirits were unconstitutional.

3. On most issues Ron Wyden isn't just middle of the road--he tiptoes between the yellow lines. For him to oppose the overwhelmingly popular (80-19)--but not necessarily sensible--senate vote on NATO expansion last week showed rare and impressive political courage.

Losers

1. Perhaps stung by their inability to fill the superintendent's job, the Portland school board hyped the visit of Atlanta schools boss Ben Canada--only to watch their anointed front-runner flop. Canada may yet prove to be a fabulous candidate, but if you showcase a prospective leader, you should be sure he is better prepared than Canada was on Friday.

2.Columbia River salmon are used to swimming upstream, but their journey got a little tougher last week with the naming of Judi Johansen as Bonneville Power Administration chief. The former BPA bureaucrat, currently employed by Washington Water Power, was supported by industrial and utility interests in the seven-month wrestling match to fill the position.

3. Bear with us on this one. Leading the Blazers to their annual early exit, coach Mike Dunleavy did exactly what P.J. Carlesimo did the previous three seasons. If Paul Allen had just acknowledged that P.J. wasn't the problem, Latrell Sprewell wouldn't have wound up playing for Carlesimo at Golden State--and taking matters into his own hands, so to speak. We submit that Allen should reimburse Sprewell for his lost season.