Much has been made about the athletes Cal has lost, wrt last year, and how that will impact the defense. I don't really see it that way, and I've been known to be fairly critical. I mean, Cam was a 1st round draft pick and he had a nice career here. But he didn't really play like a freakin' dominant first round draft pick. He wasn't necessarily a "game changer" out there. Mohammed, while a nice story and absolutely excellent as a role player, was never a dominant inside backer either (5th rd pick?). Conte surprised nearly everyone and "put it together", but even he was a 3rd round pick and we won't confuse him for Troy Pauluamaoajadsdjddlu.

Guyton had 2 sacks last week, Kendricks played like a younger version of Patrick Willis last week and, well, our secondary couldn't cover a crock pot. You got me there. However, Cattouse and, to a lesser extent, Campbell have shown they can be athletic and make a play. Thomas is only rushing 3.5 times a game anyways (to date). WE GOT THIS!

We've got depth on the DL should we somehow choose to use it. There aren't many teams that can sub in a Gabe King or Deandre Coleman. Playing the athletic OLBs will give us speed up front and the bye week has allowed us time to install the "stick to the lanes" technique that has been lacking.

Sure, they could have 40+ rolled up on them. It could happen. It certainly did in 2009. As KenCraw recapped, history says Cal plays Oregon very well, in a way that Washington and OSU play Cal well. In 8 contests, Cal has held Oregon under 30 points 7 times. If we can do that, on the road, then we've given our offense a chance to win this.

GO BEARS!

We kick this DBD off with a doozy from BWNQ:

This brings up another point, which is the challenge of keeping a fresh edge over your conference opponents. In today's short attention span college football world, everyone - the fans, the coaches and the media - places a tremendous premium on newness: new schemes, new coaches, new recruiting tactics, new facilities, new uniforms, the list goes on. It's at once a recruiting tool, a strategic tool, a marketing tool, and a motivational tool. And the longer a head coach stays at a program, the harder it becomes to generate this edge.

I have long felt that a lesser discussed, but still important, byproduct of national recruiting is that you have the opportunity to build a team that has a more varied, and thus potentially stronger, mental approach. Kind of like genetics. Mixing is usually better.

Now more than ever, this team needs a rice and beans, move-the-sticks offense. They need plays and schemes that can manufacture yardage to hold onto the ball, give the defense a rest, and get the QB into a rhythm. And if the OL isn't good enough to allow the team to do it on the ground, they need a short passing game to complement it. In his defense, Vereen may not be Best, but his steady, versatile abilities arguably make him the perfect player to build that offense around, and he's probably better in that regard than Best was.

Payne - Tedford told me prior to the 2008 season that Payne would be a household name eventually, Mebane part II. He certainly looks the part.
Jordan - The coaches keep talking about getting him into 1-on-1 looks so he can get after the QB. If that happens, with his freakish speed, he has the chance to tear the roof off.
Coleman - An absolute monster RS Freshman at 6-6, 306. Should be a cornerstone of this 3-4 for the next couple years.

Go Bears.

Can't say I'm surprised...when I think of CU I think:

1) The Dan Hawkins Epic Combover

More on UC Davis Aggie alums in college fooball.

2) Dave Matthews Band at Folsom Field:

Dave Matthews Band - Folsom Field - All Along the Watchtower (via Ballashoes)

 3) Ralphie:

via awesome.ly

4) Colorado Coeds...ranked 34th (NSFW!)

While I think this likely Pac16 thing makes it more challenging for Cal, I also think the added revenue could really help athletics make their ends meet and might even make for things like new bleachers, a decent visitor's locker room, and perhaps even real lights.

All links SFGate, SFW and should appear in a new window unless otherwise noted.

News

CA's snowpack higher than normal.  Unsurprisingly, despite whatever the level was, some state water expert said we need to conserve water.

Rrrrrrrr.  Navy captures 5 pirates.

Go visit Mt D when the weather's nice.

CoCo county continues to be in bed with Big Oil.

National unemploymant rate remains at 9.7% (NYT)

China, not nature, is blamed for water shortage (NYT)

Pfizer's likely paying your doc well: $20 million was spent on "consulting and speaking for" Pfizer in the last half of '09.

Sports

Posey's likely headed to AAA.  Sounds like the obvious choice to me.  Catcher's need more time to develop, and he's a Florida St product so he's likely slow on the uptake.

I have a few major goals this off-season:

1) somehow convince SI on Campus to do a photo shoot of Carleeand Sarah, if they're so inclined to participate.

2) somehow convince the administration to bring back the live grizzly as the mascot, much like Colorado uses Ralphie,

3) ???

4) Prophet!

More after the yump.

Let's focus on goal # 2) for this post:

Think of the potential.  We could have the grizzly lead the bears out onto the field!

Potential escape?  Nevair!

Or we could just keep the status quo.

This crazy thoughts series includes thoughts on a new OOC rivalry game, Pac10 expansion, a new West Coast BCS bowl game, the salaries of assistant coaches, and the analysis of backup QB playing time Part I & II.

Introduction

A quick glance at the passing game woes might suggest that Kevin Riley is not the quarterback to lead a successful passing attack against "good" teams and that Cal should investigate alternative options.  However, there are a lot of different factors that go into a successful passing attack, and putting the blame on the quarterback, while tempting, is erroneous. 

Continue reading this post »

Enter links and pointless innanity below VVV.

Couple of Fanposts worth reading:

http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2010/2/4/1296429/wunderkind-qb-to-become-the-next

http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/2010/2/5/1296531/tedfords-early-recruiting-classes

KenCraw on 'incredible' recruiting class:

http://excusemeformyvoice.com/blog/

Zona hires Oline coach to be new OC:

http://espn.go.com/blog/pac10/post/_/id/7755/arizona-promotes-from-within-to-fill-coordinator-voids

Official stories to follow.

I stayed up late finishing up work since I knew it might be hard to concentrate tomorrow morning.  Let's not forget about Joe Ayoob and Stan Hasiak as examples of The System sucking.


I say feel free to post LOI stuff here but also make sure breaking-news stuff ends up in the appropriate front-page thread.  I'd like to push that we cite offers from other schools, as solarise has been doing, and not so much the # of stars awarded by Rivals/Scout/ESPN THE OCHO.

Regardless of how this shakes out, we should discuss the big picture ramifications.  Namely:

1) HTF did this happen this year?

2) How long untill Tosh Lupoi and possibly others become either over-priced for Cal or in need of a serious promotion?

What: Cal-Stanfurd (Scrum Axe)
Time: Saturday, 1:00 PM PST
Place: Witter Rugby Field

TV/Radio: None
Internetz Stuff: calbears.com


For a Short History on Everything Cal Rugby, visit this post.  It includes a lot of laws (rules), as well as the history and Cal Rugby's total domination.  To see Cal's incoming recruiting class, visit this post.  Might also want to spend your Friday afternoon (u know u aren't workin') reading about Head Coach Jack Clark and former Cal Rugby alum and American hero Mark Bingham.

You should come out for this Saturday's Scrum Axe match, to watch your Cal Bears lay MASSIVE hits on Stanfurd.

Anatomy of a Cal Rugby tackle.

Continue reading this post »

Continuing on from Part I, let's look at the backup QB playing time opportunities for the rest of the season + conclusions after the yump.

Continue reading this post »

(carp's idea here is an interesting one to consider.  Look for Part II to come up soon!)

This crazy thoughts series includes thoughts on a new OOC rivalry game, Pac10 expansion Part I & 2, a new West Coast BCS bowl game, and the salaries of assistant coaches.

CGB and the Internets in general have a rich history of discussing quarterbacks.  I should note that this post does not advocate a two QB system or for Riley being benched at some point in 2008 in favor of some unproven QB.  I believe the passing game struggles were the responsibilities of the entire offense-related aspects of the program (Oline blocking/coaching, QB play, WR play/coaching, RB pass blocking and, at times, play formation/calling).  About the only guys who really did well this year on offensive were Ron Gould, Matt Summers-Gavin and Anthony Miller and both players were injured at times this year.  I almost put Tedford and Ludwig in this category, but I think they need to share some of the blame, too.  My point is that this is not a rip-the-offense piece where I put 100% of the passing game failures on the QB.  The point of this crazy thought, is to analyze and discuss several games where the backup QB might have played without impacting the outcome of the game at hand.

The casual fan may look at backups playing in garbage time as having no real impact in either the outcome or the future of the program.  However, I believe it is a critical time for learning and growth.  The benefits that I see are the following:

•  In-game experience.  There are significant short- and long-term benefits to giving the backup quarterback playing time as it comes about in the season.  As we saw in the MNC game, the backup might have to come in and play some real minutes against a very good team (incidentally, that was Gale Gilbert’s son) and it would behoove the team to have the backup QB as prepared as possible should such an unfortunate circumstance occur.  In the long-run, it can be mentally grueling to commit 60-80+ hours a week to a sport that you’ve loved for a long time and never see the field.  Think of the confidence and the sense of reward such a player would feel if he enters the game, completes an 18-yard crossing route, and hears the crowd roar.  He’s now tasted success and it can only help him get through grueling off-season workouts while everyone else chases coeds (for the Matt Barkley fans, that would be girls).
• Allows coaches to get a better understanding of the talent behind the starter.  Occasionally, you find the diamond in the rough (e.g., Matt Cassell).  Practice can’t replace live experiences against real competition in front of a sea of blue t-shirts or a hostile road atmosphere.  Occasionally, you find players that perform better in games than in practice (Shaun Hill of the 49ers would be an excellent example).  Fans, coaches, and players all feel better about next year’s running game after Vereen’s performances against Arizona and Stanfurd.  The same confidence if Vereen had continued in his ‘1b’ role that he played.  The change in play could be more subtle; a player may mishandle the timing of a screen pass in practice but runs it perfectly in the game; again, this provides more confidence which in turn helps motivation.This will not change the outcome of the game.  Gaining/surrendering the lead was not going to happen.

   

  The negatives that some fans might bring up (but I do not agree with) are the following:

   

• The QB is a leader and can only lead when he’s playing.  If he cannot lead on the sidelines then he’s not a leader.
• It could create a competition/controversy.  If that were to happen, would that be such a bad thing?  In my experience, it will push the incumbent to work even harder and thus maximize his possible output.  This is a sport after all.  In most instances, one will outshine the other.  Cal fans, of course, have experienced the two QB thing in 2008 and, if you believe in the saying, if you have two QB’s you have zero QB’s.  Unless of course you have Leak and Tebow, but that’s a rare and different example.  Cal currently does not have a Wild Grizzly-type QB, but that would certainly make things interesting.
• It will cause the starter to lose confidence and/or piss them off.  I remember Steve Young going off on George Siefert during the Niner-Eagles game where the Niners lost badly at home.  Siefert pulled Young when it was like 42-10, and Young let him know his displeasure.  The Niners later won the Super Bowl and Steve Young won the MVP.  It would be hard for me to see how Riley’s confidence could have been any worse in blow out losses where Cal played really poorly.  In baseball, if the starting pitcher is getting shelled he’s usually pulled rather than continue to offer up the same crap he’s been offering.  Why is the quarterback position treated so differently?  Can’t the starting QB say, "You know, I just didn’t have it today but let’s see what Mansion can do out there."

After the fold, take a look at more information about how Tedford played his backup QBs.  GO BEARS!

Continue reading this post »

via prod.static.49ers.clubs.nfl.com

Al Everest.  Coach Everest was recently fired by Mike Singletary due to problems in the Punt Return game, which was directly linked to not having an NFL-caliber punt returner on the team for a majority of the season.  I imagine if you hire a fired guy, this is the type of situation one would want.  Press release:

Poor punt returns apparently led Singletary to let Everest go after three seasons as the 49ers' special-teams coach. The 49ers didn't find a competent punt returner after Allen Rossum was released early in the 2009 season and finished last in the NFL in the category. 

Longtime Niner beat reporter Kevin Lynch (from 31-Mar 2008):

As the optimists and pessimists stake out their territory on this blog - one matter that hasn't been discussed in the lively back-and-forth - and that's special teams.

The optimists might have a take on the special teams in their on-going fight over the nay sayers. The special teams played remarkably well and in fact, given how horrendous the offense was, the special teams were among the best in the league. Just imagine what might happen if the 49ers drafted explosive returners to augment the soaring punting of Andy Lee and the voracious cover units coached by Al Everest.

The unit's new coach last year won complements with players throughout the team and might even supplant linebacker coach and assistant head coach Mike Singletary as the team's best motivator. Everest and assistant Jeff Rodgers were recently recognized by their peers as the best special teams coaches of 2007 through the Aguilar Kicking Academy.

From his bio:

Everest was a two-year starting safety at SMU from 1970-71, where his teammates coined him "Dirty Al" for his ability to lay big hits.

Important resume highlights:

- has coached for 36 years for college, European, and NFL teams.

- is not a journeyman type as he's coached for two NFL teams this past decade

- 2002 NFL Special Teams Coach of the Year

- Sounds like he'd fit right in with other coaches:

"There’s nothing more rewarding than seeing your players, or students, become successful because it’s a form of parenthood," Everest said about steering his pupils on a successful path. "You’re part of the process of their development. It’s very humbling because you know you got to share their success."

 “I’m not here to reinvent football, but I’m here to teach them how to be better football players,” Everest said about his coaching philosophy. “Our job is to give them the tools to win battles. I take pride in thinking that when they leave, they say, ‘I appreciate you making me a better football player.’”

Sign 'em up!  I wonder if he'd be willing to take a college job after such a long and successful NFL career.  Perhaps he'd be interested in staying in the Bay Area.  Thoughts?  Dump away!

Miller's Pac10 Xmas list

California

Here's a wish list lesson: Be specific. No, I can't give a team "consistency." No, I can't wrap up and put a bow around "take the next step." And the last time a program asked for "leadership," I dropped Tim Tebow down the chimney and that seemed to unfairly stack the deck in Gainesville. Still, you Cal fans are creative. I like No. 7 on the list: A magic light bulb. Not sure how you guys heard about that special device that illuminates a locker room for an entire 12-game season, though.

Wilner on C-Mart

OSU got rolled.

Action: Cal receives a commitment from Chris Martin, the No. 3 defensive end in the country. (The Oakland native, who now lives in Colorado, had offers from Oklahoma, Florida and USC.)
Reaction I: Given his rating and his position — top-tier defensive linemen are so hard to find — Martin is arguably the biggest recruit of the Jeff Tedford era.
Reaction II: Then again, ratings don’t mean everything. (Kyle Reed was the No. 6 quarterback. Darian Hagan, awful for most of ‘09, was the No. 5 cornerback.)
Reaction III: But if Martin is merely half as good as the projections, then Cal will have one of the best DEs in the Pac-10 for several years. And if he’s as good as the projections … Andre Carter?

 Hagan!

Farudo w/ bball quotes (Monty):

 On the game:  "They really hurt us in one stretch when we were forced to go small. That has been our best lineup, but they did a very nice job of isolating our small four man and playing four out. They got two or three buckets in one stretch, and there wasn’t much that we could do. We took a timeout and made a reasonable adjustment, but there wasn’t a lot that we could do. We were better when they were big because we did a better job of defending the two bigs than we did with the three perimeter guys."

Chron piece on Bears vs Utes.

"That sour taste in your mouth is the worst thing in the world, 10 times worse than spinach or whatever vegetable you hate," Tepper said. "You lose a bowl game and your offseason is terrible. All the coaches do is rag on you."

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.

Continue reading this post »

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.

Continue reading this post »

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

Continue reading this post »

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.

Continue reading this post »

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.

Continue reading this post »

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:

Continue reading this post »

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.

Continue reading this post »

In a way, USC could sneak up on is if we dwell on Cal giving up after 2 TDs last Saturday.

USC, where parents can be seen patrolling around with "My daughter and my money got to USC" bumper stickers, split with the Washington schools and only beat Wazzu by 23 points.  They are also injured, especially after a very serious spotter fail.

A win and Cal's right back in the thick of things.  A loss and it's time to think about the Sun Bowl.

Continue reading this post »

Greetings Terp Fans!  I’m a Cal fan but I come in peace, wishing only to be courteous to football fans making the trip out west for this Saturday’s Cal-Maryland.  A couple of things to note:

Continue reading this post »

We're in the middle of the desert known as The Offseason where all the jokes and stories have dried up.  I'm out of Bama FoW pics and already used my Random Hot Women from Facebook card yesterday.  I've also told too many "I have a small penis" jokes that FireStarkey is starting to believe that it's true.

Continue reading this post »

As a full disclaimer, I’ve enjoyed Cal baseball for about 20 years.  I’ve always loved their competition, their home field (Evans Diamond), and the way they play the game.  I enjoyed watching Tonis, Hill, X, and J-Willy do their thing.  In many years, Cal has had 1-4 primo players on their roster but they frequently disappoint year in and year out.  The frustrating thing is, Cal should be able to be a perennial Top 25 baseball team and continually be in the postseason.  Herein, I will try and show that other California teams can do this and that the state is ripe with high school/juco baseball talent.

 Continued after the yump.

Continue reading this post »

Yes, I have yet another locker room story.  Yesterday I was in the shower when I saw It.  I didn't mean to see It, but I did.  Frankly, It was so damn big...I thought it was perhaps the first zebra --> human transplant.  The It I'm refering to is the L-shaped penis of a man in this late 40's.  I know.  He might never need a cane or a walker when he gets older.

If your still reading, onto the truncated news and world report:

12,000 to attend Mrs. Obama's commencement speach at UC Merced:

via imgs.sfgate.com

BART's going to the Oakland Airport.

KenCraw's piece on returning Oline starters throughout the Pac10...Cal ranks 5th in that regard.

Wilner on Pac10 TV contracts

Oregon loses a Pflugrad...but it's her brother the top WR.  Dissension in the ranks?  For the (NSFW) Pflu, visit this site.

Cal's # 2 behind...you know...in Miller's Power Rankings.  Regurge:

2. California: The only real question with the Bears -- other than whether they can keep running back Jahvid Best healthy -- is quarterback. Lots of observers believe incumbent starter Kevin Riley did enough during the spring to take a decisive lead. But the question remains whether one of those observers is coach Jeff Tedford.

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I thought it would be interesting for former band members to share what instrument they played while in the band.  Or, if you're like me...just share some extracurriculars you did while in college.

Onto the news & world report...

All links SF Gate unless otherwise noted.

BART's delayed through the Transbay tube.

Hats off to the Alpha Company who's helping take care of business in Afghanistan(WSJ):

via s.wsj.net

Banks need more capital (WSJ).

UNC research team found that amygdyla's are 13% larger in children with autism (CNN).  I wonder if there's a way to slow amygdyla growth...

Obama's going after companies who outsource jobs overseas.  This is, of course, getting feathers ruffled.  I'm on board with this motto, but I have no idea if his solution is the one to go with.

Parolee raped two on the day he shot 4 Oakland cops.

In what really gets at the heart of California's issues, the Governator's threatening to cut Cal Fire - the agency that leads the wildfire team.  I guess we should be prepared for smokey summers for the forseable future.

Marin Sherriff employees hit $75 million dollar lotto.

Ten rules for travel (WSJ)

The bull market rallies (The Big Picture)

Van Morrison rocked the Greek on Saturday.

Frederic Larson, perhaps the best photographer in the Bay Area, has a neat photo out:

via www.sfgate.com

Favre to Vikings?

Niners rookies arrive with baggage.  Lynch on Crabtree.  Niners & Julius Peppers (Real Football 365)?!?!

KenCraw relives Oregon State '07.