A lot of big stories this morning...while I'm waiting to ensure the baby's asleep before returning to my slumber I thought I'd throw up a DBD (it's 2:08 AM).  All links links SF Gate, SFW, and should open in a new window unless otherwise noted.  Cal-themed stories are in blockquotes.

65 people arrested in wheeler hall protest.  Yawn.

Bart OK's people mover to Oakland Airport.

Epic meteor shower expected Sun night.

Bay Bridge lane closures to begin tonight.

Sports 

Is he Irish enough?  Notre Dame picks the 'natti's Brian Kelly to take over.  I have watched 0 snaps of 'natti football so I have no idea if this is a good move.  While I hate Notre Dame, I think that means I really like them.  I love Notre Dame stadium, their unis, their non-conferenceness, and their history.

Just when you think the Pirates couldn't fuck up some more: Bobby Crosby signed a one year, $1 million contract to play for the Pirates. 

Bruce Jenkins needs to retire.

Stanfurd hires Harbaugh's dad to be RB coach.

Clint Eastwood, who's directed Invictus starring Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon, utilized noneother than Jack Clark (calbears.com) to help make the rugby authentic in the movie.  I'm willing to pay the sitter for this one.

Finally, in huge news the City of Oakland (Caution: Carolyn Jones story) has listed three potential waterfront-ish sites for a new A's ballpark.

"We're willing to fight to keep our A's in this city," said city Councilman Larry Reid. A's owner "Lew Wolff said there's no viable stadium sites in Oakland. Well, we've proven him wrong."

I hope to Bak Bak this goes through.

Mayor Ron Dellums said Oakland offers the A's economic vitality, a solid fan base and great baseball tradition.

"Oakland and baseball are synonymous," he said. "If baseball is a game of the people, then what better place than this magnificent city that has embraced everyday people from all over the world?"

Well said, Mayor Dellums, well said.  Now don't fuck this up and pay your damn taxes.

I'll get the rest of the News & World report as well as the official calbears.com stories at a more reasonable hour.

Let's make this a 3rd straight day with 1000+ comments.

Onto the News and World Report after the Yump.

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Their TE is talking about running it up on our beloved Cougs in the Apple Cup.  A win @ UDub and a quality bowl game performance and things are on the up and up...which should put Cal in line for another highly bloated preseason ranking in 2010.

I realize this is putting the cart before the horse, but they're not that far from that preseason ranking.

Baby carp says "wauuuuuuuuughhhhhhhhhh.........eeeeeeeeeeehhhhhhhhhhhh.............ploooozzzzzz" or, in adult talk "I just took a dump in your arms."

Wilner writes what I was pondering:

If anything, Vereen is better as the primary ballcarrier than as the backup, which happens with many backs because they get into a rhythm carrying the ball play after play.

 

Now, let’s be 1,000% clear:

1. I’m not about to suggest that Vereen is more talented than Best

2. Or that Vereen’s a better playmaker than Best

3. Or a better pro prospect

4. Or that the coaching staff blew it by playing Best instead of Vereen.

Not suggesting any of that in any way.

But after watching two all-Vereen, all-the-time performances, I do wonder if Cal is more effective right now with Vereen than it would be with Best healthy and starting and getting the ball 15-20 times per game.

And I can’t help but wonder if the increased physicality of Cal’s offensive linemen has at least something to do with the fact that they have a more physical runner behind them.

I know: That’s all CRAZY TALK!

But here’s how it looks from the Hotline perspective: Vereen runs straight ahead more often than Best and he runs between the tackles better than Best – he has a little Jacquizz Rodgers in him, in that respect (a small back who runs with power up the middle).

And it sure seems that for the Bears, as currently composed, a steady between-the-tackles runner is what’s needed.

If Cal had a high-precision passing game and could move the ball consistently with five- or seven- or 11-yard passes, maybe I’d feel differently. Then you want the best big-play tailback in the country.

But the Bears’ aerial attack is both high-risk and inconsistent. It’s not like Kevin Riley is a completion machine, or his receivers catch everything thrown to them or the offensive line is a pass protection wall of granite.

All of those things happen sometimes, but not nearly enough for Cal to move the ball effectively against quality defenses.

So without a consistent passing game, the Bears need something to help them in the ball-control department. I mean, an inconsistent aerial attack and an all-or-nothing running game is a recipe for trouble against sound defenses.

And Vereen seems like a better fit than Best in the ball-control department. He almost always runs straight ahead and almost always churns out three or four yards between the tackles — and he can bust one for 20 or 30 or 60 once in a while, too.

That’s how you win conference road games  in November – not by hitting one or two long runs each game, but by churning out first downs, dominating the ball and overpowering opponents between the tackles.

Vereen gives Cal a better chance to do that then Best.

I wouldn't mind seeing Vereen getting the rock 20 times a game and watching Best get 20 "touches" in other creative ways.  Will we get the chance to see that in 2010?

I believe this is the first crazy thought of the season.  Other posts in this series can be found here, here, and here.  The key piece to this post is the following chart:

 

via farm3.static.flickr.com

Analysis after the Yump.

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As the sumatra percolates to afford legal crack, I'd thought I'd remind everyone to keep the faith.  The next 2-4 games could be L's in the W/L department and I'd hate to see everyone flip their shit because of it.  However, use your problem solving skills to try and come up with a potential remedy since this is, after all, an SBN blog and Blez wouldn't have it any other way.  I would like to see Tedford stay at least four years after the completion of the facilities, so that he can recruit at competitively and actually develop his players.  I honestly fear, however, that L's in the coming weeks could accelerate the panic button.   We know it will already becoming from the Bear Insider peeps, but lets make sure it doesn't happen here.  He's a great coach, and I don't think we could find better.  He's working in a UC system that's lead by an evil dickhead, the faculty are cramping the athletic department's style, and his assistant coaches aren't paid competitively.  You should refi and cut 'em a big check.  Onto the News & World Report after The Yump

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Warm title, no?  For the Lurkers out there, feel free to bring a link about anything interesting (Cal-related or not).  Alternatively, make a joke or mock someone.  In other words, participate!  Onto the News and World Report:

All links SF Gate, SFW, and should open in a new window unless otherwise noted.  Cal-related stories are in block quotes.  Baby had to be rocked for a good 40 min so we runnin' this early bird style.

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carp's News and World Report

All links SF Gate, SFW, and should open in a new window unless otherwise noted. Cal related stories are in blockquotes for your rapid retrieval pleasure.

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This is a month old but I don't think it made it to the front of calbears.com.  Cal rugby welcomes 2010 newcomers. Here's a few of them after the jump:

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For you n00bs/lurkers, post interesting links below - related or unrelated to Cal sports - or just bring something funny, inappropriate, etc.  Good talk.  All links SFGate and SFW unless otherwise noted.

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