SB Nation User Blog: carp

DBD 6.16.09: The DBD with No Name

carp — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 14:43:38 -0000

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.

I suppose at this point I should cut to the news.

All links SFGate unless otherwise noted.

Some scientists think alcohol's not good for you (NYT).

Take this bible thumpers (NYT).

Swimming pools not so bug free anymore (NYT).

Good news on housing (The Big Picture).

Four horsemen of Wall St (The Big Pictrure).

Dave apologizes for his Bristol Palin joke.

"I feel that I need to do the right thing here and apologize for having told that joke," he said. "It's not your fault that it was misunderstood, it's my fault that it was misunderstood."

Letterman made several references to the issue during his monologue, introducing himself as "Dave Letterman, good will ambassador." He said he got a call from his mother earlier in the day telling him she was siding with Palin.

When he began a joke about Bernard Madoff, whom he called "the most hated man in America," he then amended that to a list of two.

"Me, Bernie Madoff," he said. "He was waaay out in front until a couple of days ago."

Mrs. Palin...your grandchild could use another paycheck.

Obama stands up for his values in front of physicians who, as I understand it, are largely Republicans (taxes, malpractice).

Sports

Former A's pitcher Mike Norris is giving back to his SF community.

Chavez needs another back surgery...career is nearing the end

Nomah still loves baseball.

Wilner's bowl lineup wishes:

No. 1
Current: Rose vs. Big Ten champ.
My choice: Rose vs. Big Ten champ
Comment: No reason to change what has worked for ages.

No. 2
Current: Holiday vs. Big 12 No. 3.
My choice: Alamo vs. Big 12 No. 3.
Comment: The Alamo currently matches the Big 12 No. 4 vs. the Big Ten No. 4/5 but is attempting to upgrade its profile and payout — it has already moved from late December to January. If it’s successful in climbing the Big 12 ladder, and if the Pac-10 could arrange to send its runner-up to San Antonio (popular city, Texas recruiting exposure, big-name foe, plenty of media exposure, a second January game), it would totally change the look and feel of the league’s postseason lineup.

No. 3
Current: Sun vs. Big 12/Big East/Notre Dame
My choice: Holiday vs. Big 12 No. 4.
Comment: As the No. 2 bowl in the Pac-10 lineup and a non-January game, the Holiday is merely average. But it would be a strong, strong, strong No. 3, and in that slot, it could keep its December window without looking quite so yesterday. (Note: If the Alamo moves up in the Big 12 pecking order, it would presumably bump the Holiday down one notch to No. 4 from its current spot at No. 3.)

No. 4
Current: Emerald vs. ACC 5/6/7 … or Las Vegas vs. Mountain West No. 1
My choice: Emerald vs. ACC No. 5/6/7.
Comment: The Emerald matches two BCS leagues in a major league facility (AT&T Park) in a world class city (San Francisco) with a terrific ESPN broadcast window (Saturday evening). That opponent-location-exposure combination allows it to more than hold its own as a No. 4.

No. 5
Current: Emerald vs. ACC 5/6/7 … or Las Vegas vs. Mountain West No. 1
My choice: Las Vegas vs. MWC No. 1
Comment: Basically, this would eliminate the Vegas/Emerald partnership for No. 4/5 spot — just make the Emerald the permanent No. 4 and Vegas the permanent No. 5 and be done with it. Given Las Vegas’ status as a destination city, the Pac-10 should hold onto this game as long as it can.

No. 6
Current: Hawaii vs. WAC
My choice: Sun Bowl vs. Big 12/Notre Dame.
Comment: The Sun has been the Pac-10’s No. 3 bowl for years and, as such, is the greatest example of the league’s second-class lineup: Not only is it a bad matchup (recent opponents: South Florida and Pitt), it’s a bad matchup in El Paso, often on New Year’s Eve — only the most desperate Pac-10 teams/fans are excited about participating. However, as the No. 6 bowl in the Pac-10 pecking order, and without the Big East component, the Sun would be just fine. (Note: This will never happen, because the Sun has enough money to keep buying its way into a prime position in the Pac-10 lineup. Also, I’m not sure the Sun could maintain its tie with Notre Dame while dropping the Big East.)

No. 7
Current: Poinsettia vs. MWC
My choice: Poinsettia vs. MWC/WAC No. 2
Comment: The four-year-old Poinsettia is a more appealing option here than the Hawaii Bowl because it’s easier/cheaper for fans and the recruiting exposure in San Diego/Southern California trumps what Hawaii has to offer. And in my ideal world scenario, the bowl would have its choice of the non-champions from the MWC/WAC, providing a quality matchup for the Pac-10 entry.

Cal Baseball: It's Time to Join the Winner's Circle

carp — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 00:22:47 -0000

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.

via upload.wikimedia.org

via www.thediamondangle.com

Legendary Coach Bob Milano (’78-’99; average of 31 wins a year) was recently inducted into the American Baseball Coaches Association’s HoF. During Milano’s reign Cal made 3 College World Series (CWS) appearances. During the same time span USC and Stanfurd have won the Series twice (out of 5 and 9 CWS appearances respectfully), Arizona won the Series twice (out of 4 CWS appearances) and Cal St. Fullerton won the Series three times (out of 9 CWS appearances). Even Pepperdine won it all in 1992.

X Nady was highly decorated while at Cal:

via grfx.cstv.com

Perhaps this is not too surprising considering California, Florida, and Texas are packed with primo amateur baseball talent. On the West Coast, the perennial powerhouses include USC, Stanfurd, Cal St. Fullerton, Arizona, ASU, and Long Beach St.

However, the next step down is most surprising: Oregon St. won the Series in ’06 and ’07 and Fresno St won the Series in ’08. UCLA and UC Irvine (!) have even made CWS appearances in the last 12 years. San Diego St. was the school of can’t miss prospect Steven Strasburg (drafted first overall).

Why has Oregon St. been so good and how has Oregon just recently joined the Pac10 in baseball? Part of the answer is they’re recruiting in Cal’s backyard with 16 players combined from the Golden State. We’ve either been passed or will be passed by both Oregon schools very soon.

At least 8 first round draft picks came from the state of California in the 2009 MLB draft. Out of 187 draft picks from the state of California, 68 were at the high school/juco level. These numbers are significantly higher than any other state including Texas and Florida. This state is packed with amateur talent throughout northern and southern California.

As you cans see these West Coast teams that surround Cal play highly competitive and successful baseball yet the Bears haven’t even been close to these teams in some time. Milano may have overstayed, in my opinion, and ‘furd grad David Esquer has only 2 Regional appearances in 10 years. For non-seamheads, the NCAA Regionals might sound impressive yet 64 teams make the Regionals, 16 teams advance to the Super (Duper!) Regionals, and 8 teams make the College World Series. In 2009, despite 3 draft picks in the first two rounds and 5 draft picks total, Cal finished with an RPI of 123 and a sub-500 record. For those scoring at home, that’s behind Bethune-Cookman and ahead of North Florida. Since Esquer was hired, the following teams have gone to the CWS: ASU (3), Arizona (1), Fullerton (7, winning it in 2004), Fresno St (1, winning it all in ’08), UC Irvine (1), Oregon St (3, winning it twice), San Jose St (1), USC (2), and Stanfurd (5). We're the bank-owned house on the block that currently has transients using it as a urinal.

I’m not necessarily calling for the removal of Coach Esquer, but it’s time for Cal to join the winners circle. With 5 picks in the first two rounds of the last two drafts, Cal is recruiting and developing elite players. Finding role players, aka the run-producing # 6 hitter, the lights out reliever, the # 3 starter, and the second lead off man # 9 hitter appear to be the problem. Those are the hardest to find and require getting coaches all over the West in search of guys who play balls out baseball. They can be found, but you don’t find these guys searching the Internet. They are found the old fashioned way: scouting.

One could argue that Esquer was modestly qualified to start with; he had no D1 head coaching experience and his previous gig was an assistant coaching job at Pepperdine (’96-99). He took the Pepperdine job after being an assistant at Stanfurd. To me, that sounds like he made a lateral move to an inferior team. I think it would take $350k/yr to pry Pat Casey from Oregon St (Notre Dame offered $300k). Oregon hired former Fullerton Coach George Horton to restart their varsity baseball program in 2007 for $150k/yr and another $250k in endorsements! Perhaps Fullerton’s Dave Serrano or his top assistant might be interested if the money is right.

Cal deserves to have their baseball team dominate the best spring sport. It would round out Cal’s other athletic programs and is entirely achievable given the amateur talent in the area. Grabbing a sandwich from AG Ferari’s Deli (it was better when it was Ultra Lucca’s Delicatessen) on College Ave and enjoying a game at Evans Diamond is an excellent way to spend a weekend afternoon. Cal baseball, with the A’s possibly moving to San Jose, could become the highest caliber of baseball in the East Bay. With a highly competitive program, a lot more interest will be generated.

via farm4.static.flickr.com

DBD 5.15.09 - Three Wheel Motion

carp — Fri, 15 May 2009 14:20:18 -0000

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.

DBD - Cinco de Mayo & Best of CGB: The Instruments / Extracurriculars

carp — Tue, 05 May 2009 13:44:59 -0000

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)

Arts:

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

Sports:

Favre to Vikings?

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

KenCraw relives Oregon State '07.

Poll

the best instrument is:

flute

0 votes

trumpet

3 votes

clarinet

4 votes

trombone

7 votes

tuba

2 votes

sax

4 votes

drums of all types

5 votes

french horn

1 votes

glockenspeil (sp?)

3 votes

cowbell

10 votes

39 votes | Poll has closed

carp’s crazy thoughts for a Tuesday: retract, replace, or expand?

carp — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 15:41:32 -0000

I suppose my initial feelings on Washington State University (Wazzu) started with my Pac10 expansion proposal, which was the second part of my how to make life better for Cal fans (new OOC rivalry can be found here, and the Eh bowl can be found here). When Bennett left for UVa, I ruffled the feathers of many a mod with my Wazzu question/comments.

As chowder astutely pointed out in yesterday’s DBD, Wazzu is admittedly in trouble as AD Jim Stern outlined in his chat (credit GoCougs of CougCenter for breaking the story to the blogosphere):

I'd like to point out that in the 1960s WSU's membership in the conference was at stake and only a close vote saved the school from being ousted from the conference. The Pac-10 is one of the most prestigious conferences in the country and allows the WSU athletics program and the university's academic programs to be on the same field and classrooms as Stanford, UC-Berkeley, USC, etc. The athletics program at WSU is the only way this membership is achieved. Our annual budget is currently $14 million below the next lowest member in the conference. If we do not take action to create revenue and level this playing field, we may be at some point in the future be facing another vote. I will do everything that I can on my watch to prevent such an action. This is why I am pushing for Phase III of the renovation [To Martin Stadium] and am considering the Apple Cup move.

In this FanPost, we won’t argue whether Wazzu should/will leave the Pac10. We’ll look past that, fast forward to date 20XX and assume that they have left the Pac10 for either the MWC or the WAC. The question I have…is what will the “Pac10” do? In my mind, there are three options:

Retract: Wazzu’s departure leaves 9 teams (Pac9?), 8 league games, and 4 OOC games. The extra game could be spent wooing a primo BCS team or padding the win column. In doing so, this becomes more like the Big12 & SEC.

Replace: If you had to pick one team to replace Wazzu…who would it be? Avinash likes Hawaii because he wants to get lei’d. I like Boise St for their football success of the past 10 years, but they just don’t fit our conference for a variety of reasons. BYU-Cal could be a Nuclear Prop 8 War. The best school, I believe, would be the University of Utah. They have a decent basketball team (somehow got a 5 seed!), academics that would leapfrog the Oregon and Arizona schools and maybe USC, is located in an up-and-coming SLC (host city of the ’02 Olympics) with a major airline hub (seriously…best layover stop for a Chicago/Northeast bound flight?) and, most importantly, a successful football team that’s busted the BCS system twice.

Expand: I don’t have too much more to add to my previous post, but Boise St, Utah, Colorado, Hawaii (for different reasons!) and BYU are all tempting. I suppose the schools that make the most sense are Utah, BYU, and Colorado – and I’m not sold that expansion is worth it without Colorado (63 % of Buffs fans on the Ralphie Report and 80 % of Utes fans over at Block U are on board). Additionally, this might not be so much of an expansion as it could be a future replacement (I’ll let your minds wander).

Of course, if this bores you check out my NSFW All Conference Cheerleading Team.

Poll

So CGB and SBN…assuming Wazzu has left, what would you want the "Pac10" to do?

Retract (no replacement for Wazzu)

3 votes

Replace with Utah

14 votes

Replace (explain your school of choice below)

2 votes

Expand with Utah, BYU, Colorado

10 votes

Expand (explain your school choices below)

1 votes

30 votes | Poll has closed

DBD 4.21.09 The draft is approaching...

carp — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 13:53:12 -0000

As a Niner fan, I'm starting to hate the draft. First, we got stuck with the No 1 pick (which no one wanted). Then it was the No 6 pick (no one wanted), and now it's the No 10 pick that no one wants because it comes with a big increase in salary and there's value to be had in 11-20. WHEN WILL IT BE OUR YEAR?

carp's official bust watch list:

Stafford - Sounds like a cross between Druckenmiller and Longshore

Crabtree - To me, it seems like he had one big catch. Not sure he oozes with All-Pro potential.

Maclin - Too early (Top 10-15) for a guy like him.

Orakpo - Tweener from a suspect conference and a team with a rich history of draft busts.

Raji - I'm leary of guys who had one or two great weeks (Senior Bowl), plus he's from a meh school in the ACC and the Niners have many of that type on their roster.

carp's official please do this list:

Draft any player from the SEC that's been floating around except Moreno. I really like the NT from Mississipi (Peria?).

Work out a deal to trade Sanchez or the No 10 pick for many picks.

onto the news & world report:

All links SF Gate unless otherwise noted.

check out the new Aptera.

record high's expected today. It was 93 in SF yesterday!

For the first time in history, a majority of Californian's are born & raised in the Golden State. TAKE THAT RED SOCK TRANSPLANTS!

Two siblings busted for stealing $140k from Wells Fargo.

Scientists discover an earth-sized planet outside of our solar system.

Judge recused in Cantu's case.

Obama's reaching out to enemies to strengthen US .

President Barack Obama said Sunday that he "strengthens our hand" by reaching out to enemies of the United States and making sure that the nation is a leader, not a lecturer, of democracy.

Rare 1906 earthquake photos.

Filmmaker Ken Burns is in SF for his special on parks.

Latin food goes upscale.

Rep. Jane Harman (D-CA) is in trouble (NYT).

Friends help you live longer (NYT).

Check out Margic Bank Profits (The Big Picture).

Sports:

Could Holliday be playing his way into Oakland's price range?

Maiocco's got the latest with the Niners draft possibilities (SR Press Democrat). Another solid post at NN on drafting strategies (NinersNation).

The Sharks are in a must win situation.

The New New Yankee Stadium might be too ritzy.

Wilner on QB's (Merc):

The bar isn’t particularly high for either team. The Cardinal doesn’t need Luck to be Trent Edwards, and the Bears don’t need Riley to be Aaron Rodgers.

They simply need the starter to complete 60 percent of his passes, limit mistakes (especially in the fourth quarter and in the red zone) and make sound decisions.

And if that happens, both programs can reach their respective goals: Stanford can make its first bowl appearance in eight years and Cal can make its first Rose Bowl appearance in 51.

Because in Berkeley and on The Farm, the other pieces are in place.

Both teams have veteran offensive lines, depth along the defensive front, playmakers at the skill positions and favorable schedules: Stanford plays seven home games while Cal gets USC in Berkeley.

“Everyone believes we can be Pac-10 champs,’’ Riley said after Saturday’s controlled scrimmage. “We have the running game. We just have to work on the passing game.’’

Bears with Fangs:

Briefly Met up with Ragnarok and TwistnHook from the California Golden Blogs. I must say, they are almost exactly how I imagined them to be. They really talk exactly like they blog. It certainly makes for a pretty surreal experience.

Poll

The Niners will pick:

BJ Raji

1 votes

Sanchez

4 votes

Aaron Rodgers

11 votes

Joe Kapp

3 votes

Jeremy Maclin

1 votes

Michael Oher

2 votes

Someone will be stupid enough to trade with them.

6 votes

28 votes | Poll has closed

DBD 4/15: It's Tax Day!

carp — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:00:46 -0000

Get 'em people...or file an extension like my father in law does since he thinks it keeps the IRS off his trail. Yahoo has the scoop.

onto the News & World Report (all links SF Gate unless otherwise noted):

Pirates:

A US food aid ship escapes the wrath of pirates (Yahoo). Ron Paul has a plan (Politico). The French of all people detained 11 pirates.

Odds & Ends:

San Mateo bridge reopens after wind-related incidents.

SF sup Mirakami likes to smoke weed.

3 Oakland cops in hot water over Bailey probe.

Economy:

Great recession article. US will reveal the health of banks (NY Times). We've got some activity (The Big Picture)...

Sports:

A's win in extras!!! I love taking it to the Red Sox. Both teams will wear # 42 today to honor Jackie Robinson. A's raise $130k for slain OPD officers (CBS5).

Randy Winn does it all but hits HRs.

Canfield passes Moevao (ESPN)

Nick Holt Q/A (ESPN)

YO on practice:

While Jones has been Cal’s top receiver this spring, another wideout who has looked solid is Alex Lagemann. He definitely looks as though he will be in the mix to compete for playing time this fall. Lagemann has demonstrated excellent hands and good route-running ability, and has continually made plays during the spring. He is consistently getting open, and then producing when balls are coming his way.

"He’s doing a real nice job," Tedford said. "He’s giving great effort. He’s playing fast. He’s getting much more comfortable and making some really nice plays, some really nice catches."

Lagemann was considered one of the nation’s top wide receiver recruits when he came to Cal in 2007, but a broken foot, and some complications that followed, essentially sidelined him for two years. He spent an entire year getting healthy and then spent last season on the scout team.

"I always thought coming out of high school that he had that potential," Tedford said. "It was frustrating for awhile because it was a situation where he couldn’t run and it lingered on so long. It’s nice to see him back healthy."

I talked to Lagemann tonight after practice. Look for more on him later in the week.

YO on Snyder:

Deputy sports editor Mike Lefkow here, with a few thoughts about former Cal football coach Bruce Snyder, whom I covered as the beat writer in his first season in 1987:

You could sense right away Snyder would turn around the program. He might not have bled blue and gold — he went to Oregon — but you had the feeling he would please those who did. By the time of Snyder’s tumultuous departure following the 1991 season, Cal was ranked No. 8 in the country and resembled the teams Jeff Tedford has now. Fast. Aggressive. Tough. Swagger. What Snyder accomplished in five short years in Berkeley should rank him among the greatest coaches ever at Cal. He took the Bears to their first New Year’s Day bowl in 32 years. Cal’s 37-13 Citrus Bowl win over Clemson on that day — Jan. 1, 1992 – was its first on New Year’s Day in 54 years. In 1990, it was Snyder’s Bears who ended an 18-game losing streak against UCLA, which may have been just as satisfying for Cal fans. OK, the Bears were 1-17 against the Bruins in that stretch from 1972-89, but the one was a forfeit in 1977 when the Bruins used an ineligible player. On the field, Cal lost that game 21-19. Remarkably, that was one of only four times Cal lost to UCLA by less than 14 points during that stretch. Tuesday at lunch, my boss and I were discussing coaches or managers we had learned from while we had been on a beat. I brought up a conversation with Snyder, when he made it a point to tell me how important it was to define your "home-run hitters" and make sure you keep the ball in their hands. Perhaps not very profound. Perhaps pretty obvious. But you know how certain points stand out years after they have been made? It was how emphatically he said it. I could go on longer about Snyder. He was a good coach and I genuinely liked the guy. When he left Cal, I always thought the school deserved the 10 years of darkness it had in football until Tedford arrived. Perhaps Snyder could have handled his departure better, but let’s not misplace the blame. Or one man’s opinion that Cal would have been to a Rose Bowl by now.

Wilner on Cal hoops:

But I think Cal make a significant advance. While it may or may not show up in its record, it could show up in March.

* First, Christopher has not reached his potential. He can be the kind of playmaker who takes the pressure off Randle and beats No. 10 seeds in the first round.

* Second, both Seeley and Amoke could provide scoring options the Bears did not possess this season, especially in the lane and along the baseline.

They don’t need to become consistent 15 ppg scorers — just good enough to provide an important basket here and there as compliments to the Big Three on the perimeter

* Third, given Montgomery’s history with big men, you have to think he’ll make the 7-foot-3 Zhang into a serviceable player. And when you’re talking about 7-3, serviceable is more than enough.

* Fourth, the Bears could very well be much better on a relative scale because the Pac-10, as a whole, could be much worse.

With the top-five scorers returning from a team that finished third (and swept league champ Washington), the Bears could be the preseason favorite, especially if UCLA’s Jrue Holiday stays in the draft.

And if the Bears are two or three games better, relative to their conference peers, that could translate into a better seed in the NCAAs and a better chance to reach the second round/Sweet 16.

Poll

Cal football (in the regular season) will go:

The unthinkable

15 votes

11-1

6 votes

10-2

12 votes

9-3

7 votes

8-4

2 votes

7-5

0 votes

6-6

0 votes

Tedford looks for a new job

0 votes

42 votes | Poll has closed

Renew Your Season Tix Promo Video

carp — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:01:50 -0000

Renew Your Season Tix Promo Video

thanks to Bears With Fangs for this post.

3.31.09: This DBD is for you, Lurkers!

carp — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 14:03:46 -0000

To those of you who watch but don't comment, this DBD is for you. How to participate in the DBD:

- Post a Cal sports-related link.

- Post a Cal non sports-related link.

- Post a sports-related link that is either important to any sports fan, Bay Area sports fans, or is vaguely Cal-related (i.e., TO signs with Marshawn's Bills).

- Post a non-sports related link that is of importance to the community as a whole (i.e., women stole someone's identity to get a $10,000 boob job).

- Post a link to something funny.

You can preface your link with a little blurb like "Hey, I'm new here...take it easy on me Spazzy / 33SS."

Bottom line: WE NEED YOU TO CONTRIBUTE!

carp's news & world report:

Conficker worm...myth or reality? I remember Y2K...

NYT on GM/Chrysler & US Gov't

NYT Op/Ed piece on GM

GM stands for???

Colleges accepting wealthier students (parents)?

Dellums is on thin ice

Man hits pig, gets $8.6 million...was Twist his counsel?

SF sales tax to go up to 9.5%! I should be working pro bono soon...

UCSF researcher who tried to poison his colleague has his case dropped.

In what seems to become increasingly popular, CEO's are getting blasted for handsome salaries.

Brothel alert!

10 homeade pizza ideas

MLB group to study A's ballpark sites

A's may be on DirecTV

Juan Uribe will be on the 25 man roster for your San Francisco Giants

Maverick's can't get a big waves.

We only have 1 player (so far) in Ted Miller's Top 30 Pac 10 players (and we're at # 10)

The Chron had a real nice interview with Sandy Barbour over the weekend.

Q: Under Tedford, the football team has become a Pac-10 contender. But it has beaten USC only once and has yet to play in the Rose Bowl. What else needs to happen for the team to get to a BCS bowl?

A: What Jeff has done has been amazing. The transformation of our football program under his leadership has been absolutely phenomenal. And then to realize he's done it with not just substandard facilities but sub-sub-sub-standard facilities. I think the facility is the next piece to be able to attract the very best. That's the piece that helps us help Jeff mold us to the next level.

Q: Are you confident that when the project is done that you'll be in the hunt for a BCS bowl berth?

A: Absolutely. I think we're in the hunt for a BCS bowl in the short run. But I don't believe Jeff could sustain that without the necessary facilities. He's been able to do what he's done because of the promise of that. ... I never had any doubt it would happen. I just wondered what kind of damage would be done along the way in terms of how long it would take. Would Jeff get frustrated and leave? I never really felt that would happen because he kept telling me, "I'm committed." But if it had gone on another two years, that would have been difficult.

Q: Would you like to see a Division I football playoff system, or are you content with the BCS and the bowl structure?

A: This is going to sound strange, but I'm OK either way.

How did you choose your username?

carp — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:43:01 -0000

This is a fun topic that's been wildly popular at Athletics Nation and, according to ragnarok, also at the old TBIOTF (R.I.P.). The goal: describe why you chose your username in sufficient detail.

I chose ‘carp’ because it is an old nickname used during my baseball years. It’s the first four letters of my last name. My father and younger brother also go by that, the latter using the handle on his vmail message machine.

Some of you need little explanation (e.g., HolmoePhobe). But why did the person behind the username choose that name of all possibilities?

Others are named after athletes (e.g., 33SwisherSweet). Did 33SS choose Swisher because Swish bought him a gin & tonic at the local watering hole (or something to that effect)?

Several others have usernames that aren’t obvious (e.g., TwistNHook). Uncovering why these usernames were chosen really drives this game and makes it fun for all.

Enjoy!

Poll

The most marshawn CGBer on this blog is:

HydroTech

10 votes

danzig

10 votes

TwistNHook

11 votes

Rishi

4 votes

T-bred

2 votes

33Swisher Sweet

3 votes

Spazzy McGee

3 votes

AndBears

8 votes

other (write below)

8 votes

59 votes | Poll has closed