UO E-clips, Dec. 12

When it all falls down (Washington Times): Michael Vick's extracurricular canine activities not only will cost him nearly two years of freedom but the chance to become one of the richest men in the history of the NFL. Granted, it's better to be poor and in jail than dead like one of the dogs he pleaded guilty to killing, but it's hard not to be a bit staggered when you consider his misdeeds likely will cost him upward of $200 million, factoring in his contract, endorsements and appearance fees. … “I'm not willing to bet he's untouchable, but he certainly has reduced the number and type of [endorsement] opportunities to a scant few,” said Paul Swangard, executive director of the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon. “There could be brands looking to cut through the clutter by targeting a consumer who's less likely to care about what he's done off the field.”

Paying taxes and donating to charity may make you feel good (KVAL.com): Every year it seems everyone gripes about dishing out a little more to Uncle Sam. But when it comes to digging deeper to donate to charity people are pretty giving this time of year. Well what if we told you the two, might be related? Whether donating money or in some cases even paying for taxes, University of Oregon professors (Ulrich Mayr and Bill Harbaugh) say some folks are just happy to pay. Donations to the Salvation Army come in all forms, but why do people give?

University of Oregon investors focus on small-caps (TheStreet.com): As the fall semester comes to a close, the University of Oregon Investment Group has more to think about than grades. This team of undergraduates is responsible for a $1 million investment portfolio and holding the lead in an 18-college portfolio competition. How do they do it? Here's a look inside the UOIG. Since 1998, the University of Oregon Investment Group (UOIG) has existed to provide the school's undergrads with a chance to get hands-on experience investing real money. The group is composed of 33 members who each act as a either a sector analyst or one of three portfolio managers. Sector analysts research stocks in a given sector -- UOIG splits companies into consumer goods; industry, materials, and energy; healthcare; technology; and financial companies -- and during the group's Friday morning meetings, they pitch their buy or sell recommendations to the other members.