156 Comments

I was told last year that unsolicited advice was always criticism. The day after I announce my New Year's resolution not to give unsolicited advice I had two friends reach out to me soliciting my advice. I feel like something is poking me ego with a stick.

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I just had a thought...

We should crowd source a new Cal football marketing campaign for 2023, including a better Cal promo.

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Not sure why, but a friend and fellow alum forwarded me an article about the use of magnet therapy to treat depression. I wrote back and disavowed the research because it was done at Stanford. He responded that, to the contrary, who would know more about depression than Stanford. Touche.

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Tried that. It worked for a few months (after a great expenditure of time and money) then the benefits wore off. So I can believe Furd produced it.

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Jan 11, 2023·edited Jan 11, 2023

Hope you're doing better now.

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I read up on this (transcranial magnetic stimulation) since it's also used to treat autism.

Eg, John Elder Robison's book Switched On. It worked for him, but also only temporarily.

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Brazil

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Jan 6 insurrectionists (Bannon etc) are advising the Jan 8 people. But Lulu is having them arrested immediately.

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Amazon. (The river, not the supply service.)

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I think the Amazon River does a great service in supplying water.

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And the rain forest in supplying oxygen (and lumber)

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My father was born and raised in Brazil so I grew up eating feijoada

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Least favorite nut. Size doesn't matter.

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where hearts were entertaining June

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Terry Gilliam

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Apologies for a late DBD posting today. There was something technically wrong with the original one.

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PRO

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Collin Morikawa had a big lead going to the final round but three straight bogies on the back nine and a great round by Jon Rahm and he finishes second. Max Homa finished tied three. Morikawa and Home win $2.34 million between them. Athletic department could use some of that.

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True. Since they last each endowed a scholarship, Morikawa got married and Homa got a kid. That's more people in their lives who deserved their names on endowed scholarships at Cal. https://calbears.com/news/2021/9/28/mens-golf-mens-golf-announces-max-and-lacey-homa-and-collin-morikawa-endowed-scholarships.aspx

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Cards fire Kliff Kingsbury. With Sean McVay also on the hot seat.

Two of the hottest coaches from a few years ago could be fired this coming week.

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Trading Jared to Siberia may have come back to bite him in the a**

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I don't think so. They went full "win now" mode and actually won the Super Bowl so they got exactly what they wanted.

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Nah. They got a ring, even if they only got one good Stafford year. Jared isn't giving anyone that.

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McVay's not on the hot seat, although it seems he will probably walk away to take a gap year or two. Gonna be difficult for them to rebuild since they've traded away so many of their draft assets and since Stafford may be used up. Be interesting to see if Kingsbury ends up as an OC in the League or goes back to the college ranks.

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If TCU wins tonight, will Rams hire Dykes?

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Yup.

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Jan 9, 2023·edited Jan 9, 2023

You want job security try to get a gig at Cal. You can screw up all you want, Knowlton won't mind.

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You see a place that still shows me in its public service announcement, even though I left there 8 years ago.

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You want even more job security? Win 7 games each and every year. If you get to 9, you might get poached by a program that will fire you if you have an under-performing year.

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officially at any rate

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Time to play 36 a day.

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Bernie Kosar pulls a Pete Rose

https://sports.yahoo.com/browns-sever-ties-bernie-kosar-202516440.html

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They certainly take a much harder line on gambling than they do serial sexual assault.

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Not that it's actually worse in an absolute moral sense, but for sports leagues I get it . . . if people start to think players or coaches are gambling on games, that destroys the entire premise of sport. You're now playing under a new motivation, something other than winning the game.

Sexual assault and other crimes are worse actions on a society-wide level, but ultimately the purview of the legal/justice system and not a sports league.

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That's the basic premise of why Pete Rose will not be reinstated while he continues to deny his gambling involvement as a player and coach.

To my mind, though, Kosar is murkier, but only a little. It hasn't been shown that Kosar had any influence over the outcome of any games or even any of the on-field action.

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Yeah, what was Kosar doing for the Browns anyway? If it's just some ceremonial/mascot type role then I don't know that this is an issue.

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Two years in a row Houston has went one and done with black head coaches, I wish Houston nothing but the best failure possible for the next 30 years.

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Lovie was a pretty uninspiring hire. Like Mark Fox DOA, although at least they have the sense to cut bait.

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Cal McNair again looks sharper than a marble...just an absolute buffoon.

A team light on talent played hard under Culley, but McNair fires him after 1 year to bring in Lovie F-ing Smith...then a team light on talent plays hard under Lovie, but McNair fires him after 1 year to bring in.....who?

Nick Caserio is the one that needs to be fired.

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Texans traded away their best players and expect immediate results.

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Exactly. If you’re gonna fire Lovie after one predictably schitty season, why not maintain continuity and give Culley a 2nd year?

Jim Knowlton level leadership…

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49ers win 38-13 as Brock Purdy dissects the Cards, defense forces mistakes.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401437962

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Just found out I'm getting the corporate suite treatment for Saturday's game. Sometimes this job is worth it!

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Oh nice. Does it include parking? Otherwise good luck.

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There's a light rail stop literally right next to the stadium. I do not understand why people even try to drive.

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oh I didn't know that. So convenient.

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We always drove, but at least a full vehicle.

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Kingsbury is fired

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49ers opponents go 0-15 after facing them in 2022

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/01/08/49ers-nfl-history-opponents-winless-streak

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Niners beat you up.

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Goff eliminates Rodgers 20-16

https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401437952

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Rodgers had some perfect throws but unfortunately his receivers have awful hands. He needs more than Watson.

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Safety Darnell Savage is about my size. Let's see what happens when he meets Penei Sewell when the latter is leading interference in the flat

https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1612458714048462848

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Jan 9, 2023·edited Jan 9, 2023

What a great play call.

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Great play calling by the Lions on 2nd and 4th down of their last drive to win the game.

The 2nd down hook and ladder was executed to perfection.

4th down call caught the Packers defense a bit off guard and Goff makes the right read and easy pitch and catch to win the game.

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I really enjoyed the aggression in some of Detroit's coaching decisions. This game definitely meant a lot to them even though a playoff berth was no longer on the line

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I wonder if the playoff berth were still on the line, would they be as aggressive?

For example, maybe kick the FG to go up 7 instead of trying to make the 4th down on the last drive.

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Yeah, I wondered that as well. Detroit was somewhat in a win-win position there with no real downside of going for it on 4th down.

Convert the first down and you win the game.

Don’t convert and if Rodgers somehow scores a TD, you get better draft position.

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Great win for Jared. Unfortunately Seattle eventually prevailed over the Rams in OT, scuttling the hopes of Detroit. Mayfield badly underthrew a wide open receiver who would have walked into the endzone. But the rainbow arc of the pass let the CB from the other side of the field step in front and pick off the pass.

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Quay Walker gets ejected for the second time this year for shoving opposing team's staff, this time was a trainer. What a dumb penalty.

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/35410180/packers-quay-walker-ejected-shoving-lions-medical-staffer

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His reaction in the tunnel after getting ejected was so childish.

He did explain in his tweets afterwards that he was mad at himself.

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OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY

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Writing your own book blurb is pretty effing sad.

https://twitter.com/ammarmufasa/status/1612467476087840771

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McCarthy elected Speaker of the House.

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Steve Bannon and Jason Miller advised the Bolsonaro campaign as to how to sow doubt over election integrity. Of course they did.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64206484

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DBD AV CLUB

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Saw the Menu (on HBO Max) over the weekend. It's an interesting combination of Glass Onion and White Lotus set in the world of fine dining. Then I read that Noma is closing down at the end of 2024, and see a bunch of references to that movie in the replies.

https://twitter.com/nytimes/status/1612390804940537856

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F-ing diabolical.

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Same here. That guy has to have been one of the inspirations for the Fiennes character.

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White Lotus (HBO. ... 0/19) .. watched 20 min. complete garbage

someone tell me something redeeming about it ...

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Well, first I want to know why you thought it was garbage. What turned you off?

Did you assume you were supposed to like the main characters?

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I got about 3 eps in and then quit. you made the better decision!

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I thought S1 was OK, nothing more...not as good as the critics, apparently. But as BP said, no one is likable. It's tough for me to get behind a show where absolutely no one is f-ing likable...

S2 was much better, IMO.

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I thought the characters were interesting even though not necessarily likeable

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Not necessarily likeable?!?!?!??! Oh course not! Fun to watch them, but most are unlikeable - some at a lot.

You can't let that bother you.

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It's very very very funny. Probably a bit too on the nose pointed satire.

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I actually binge watched S1 with the wife. Still, given how utterly self absorbed and pathetic the characters are, I questioned whether the episode I was viewing would be my last (similar to Transparent where the characters are just to insufferable I stopped watching after season 2). The writers succeed in creating dark satire, carried by some pretty great acting. However, I felt that the psuedo-colonizer theme was just too overdone and too obvious. The writers hadn't explored enough nuance or subtlety in this endeavor and it left me feeling like the writers were engaged in some very obvious viewer manipulation. Did I miss something in this. Was the obviousness of this meant to be satire itself?

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Writer, not writers. Mike White wrote the whole thing himself.

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NED SCHNEEBLY

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I like White Lotus, but that movie is still the best thing he's ever done.

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"However, I felt that the psuedo-colonizer theme was just too overdone and too obvious. The writers hadn't explored enough nuance or subtlety in this endeavor and it left me feeling like the writers were engaged in some very obvious viewer manipulation. "

Paula and Olivia were the biggest accusers of this narrator .. . but ultimately ended up being the most damaging to locals as well - this is why there isn't much nuance or subtlety, because they're college sophomores.

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If you are watching while reading your phone, and miss something, is that really on the director though?

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Subtext has to be text

YWC sending me texts in the middle of Andor.

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Yeah to me it was kind of like Severance but more of a comedy than a drama and maybe a notch lower in overall quality but still quite good. To each his own, I suppose, but if folks really do dislike White Lotus that much it makes me wonder what it is they do like? People tend to fit into taste profiles, just wonder what the analogues are for liking or disliking White Lotus

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Severance - that's one where I'm not feeling it. I'm 6 episodes in, and I don't feel excited about continuing. Like, is it really that good? I accidentally know the big reveal, but even in a vacuum I just do not find myself drawn to it.

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Oh man, loved Severance! But yeah, my wife found it unwatchable so it may just be a love it or hate it type deal. Maybe White Lotus is as well

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It is trash, but we think it is very, very fun trash.

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Dudes, dudes. Ok, after 20 mins I guess maybe is not great but give it a couple episodes, gets very good. The hotel manager in particular is such a great character. I would say S2 is better than S1 but both are very good

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First season? Eh, we thought it was fine. 12/19. Entertaining as background show while you do other things. The key is...no one is likeable. You don't want to root for anyone. (except maybe the spa manager)

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The critic on the local news radio gave it two out of five stars and said don't waste your time on it. Lowest review I can remember him giving.

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what is RRR?

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RRR was amazing! 19/19 WB

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ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE

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Cam Rising to return to Utah next season

https://twitter.com/JFurKSL/status/1612512019433021441

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TCU vs. Georgia

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Checked out ticket prices when the teams were announced. Upper corner section seats were listed at $900 each, anything lower bowl started at $5000. You can pick up tickets today for ~$350 in the upper deck and $2,500+ for lower bowl.

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Check that, lower corner starts out at $1700, what a steal!

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headed over to a friend's house near Annapolis tonight to watch the game. will be nice to have some college football fans for company.

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For the First time South Dakota State is best Dakota. The Jackrabbits were 5 points shy of beating Iowa and having a perfect season in their inaugural national championship

https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/35408035/south-dakota-state-wins-1st-fcs-title-north-dakota-state

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CAL

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Fomer Men's Rower Christoph Seifriedsberger dies after getting hit by car while riding his bike in Italy.

Former Cal rower Christoph Seifriedsberger, who was a member of the Bears' varsity eight for two seasons and an oarsman for the Austrian National Team, passed away tragically Friday at the age of 26.

"It's been a tough few days for the team and our entire Cal Crew community as we struggle to deal with the news of Christoph's passing," Cal head coach Scott Frandsen said. "My thoughts are with his family as well as the 100-plus fellow student-athletes that trained and raced with Christoph. He was a great leader on our team and set the example for commitment, hard work, compassion, and being there to listen to and support your teammates. This is such a tragedy and a loss that many of us will feel for a long time. Christoph's legacy will live on, on the walls of our boathouse and through the countless friendships he forged during his time at Cal."

https://calbears.com/news/2023/1/8/mens-rowing-cal-mourns-loss-of-christoph-seifriedsberger.aspx

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Got a tight end transfer from North Texas – almost exclusively did blocking at UNT, and was a low 3* out of high school https://www.si.com/college/cal/news/asher-alberding-to-cal

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Go Bears!!!

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I had never heard of the company Ebbets Field until today. I was shopping for Giants gear, and came across this Cal gem. You can buy a replica Wonder Team football jersey. https://www.ebbets.com/products/university-of-california-berkeley-1934-authentic-football-jersey

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Rather pricy but good quality and historically accurate stuff from them. I got a wool baseball jersey but am also reluctant to wear that to games since I don't want to get it dirty.

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I'm trying to decide what jersey to get with my Fanatics gift card for winning the football season pickem. They don't have any good Cal jerseys. I guess technically it doesn't have to be a jersey.

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And you can't get stuff from Ebbets Field Flannels through Fanatics.

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nope. I thought it was going to be cash so I was looking at the Cal baseball jersey that Ebbets used to have. Now that it's a Fanatics gift card, I'm going to have to pivot. Looking at a retro Mitchell and Ness Jordan jersey in Carolina Blue or maybe a Dodgers jersey. They had a Will Smith signed one that I was looking at. Or just a regular Kershaw.

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I may have noted this before. My b-i-l was a co-founder of the Cal club ice hockey team. The athletic dept gave them some old football jerseys to use. This was in the early 60s and they weren't 1934 vintage but they were somewhat older and didn't look too unlike this.

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I have the 1931 Cal baseball hat. They also used to have the corresponding jersey but don't sell it anymore.

https://www.ebbets.com/collections/university-of-california-berkeley

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I saw that. Still very cool stuff. And such a wide variety for a wide number of teams across sports.

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I love their stuff. It's pricy but very well made.

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I asked Chat GPT to create a new song for Cal:

Oski, the bear of Berkeley,

A mascot loved and true,

A symbol of pride

For all the students who reside.

With his golden paw raised high,

He roars with all his might,

A fierce and loyal friend

To all who attend.

From the football field to campus grounds,

Oski's spirit can be found,

Cheering on the Golden Bears

With all his might and cares.

So here's to Oski, our beloved friend,

May his spirit never end,

A shining light for all to see,

Forever a part of UC.

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Should have a music major to arrange a score for it, and then you could get the band to play it.

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As his disciple I approve of this song, indeed I quite like it.

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And with a slight tweak to my request, this was its next creation:

.

Oh Oski, bringer of cosmic horror's fright

Thy tentacled form doth haunt my dreams at night

In realms beyond our understanding's scope

Thy eldritch powers leave my soul with hope

.

For though thy visage brings unending dread

It also means that I am still alive

In worlds of madness, where all hope is fled

Thy presence means that I am yet to thrive

.

So come, oh Oski, let thy tentacles wrap

Around my soul and bring me to thy fold

For in thy grasp, I fear not death's cold trap

For in thy world, I am forever whole

.

And though I tremble at the thought of thee

I know that in thy realm, I am set free

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Octopus Oski, Could look something like this:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/385202704209

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Like this one too.

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This version seems much more aligned with the current state of Cal's revenue sports

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[WGYM] Cal posts an impressive win - scoring great across the board - totaling 197.475 points to defeat #18 Iowa (196.225), #22 BYU (193.775), and #24 ASU (195.775). 1st year eMjae Frazier is the real deal.

https://calbears.com/news/2023/1/7/womens-gymnastics-no-8-cal-breaks-season-opening-record-at-super-16.aspx

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[WBB] Bears edged out by #2 Stanfurd 60-56 in a very close game

https://calbears.com/news/2023/1/8/womens-basketball-cal-gets-edged-out-60-56-by-no-2-stanford.aspx

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Great effort by the Bears. Led late in the 4th. A few shots that went in and out cost them. Needless to say Cal can play with anyone in the country. Charmin Smith has the program moving forward.

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Steph Curry was in attendance right behind Rob Hwang. Later, he spoke to the Bears.

https://twitter.com/KylenMills/status/1612303334186299392

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That is awesome you love to see that.

Any chance we can get him coach the men’s bball team next season? He could continue to play in the NBA and coach us part time and we would probably be better off for it.

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How many truly great players have been really good coaches? Maybe Lenny Wilkins? Maybe maybe maybe Jason Kidd who looks a lot better this season?

Because I can name a million who were the converse - Magic, Bill Russell, Steve Nash, Wes Unseld, Isiah Thomas, Elgin Baylor

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Deion Sanders maybe. We'll find out.

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Larry Bird and Joe Torre come immediately to mind.

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Larry Bird was a good coach precisely because he knew to hand over the offense to Dick Harter and the defense to Rick Carlislie.

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He could probably achieve improvement with the Zack Greinke School of Coaching. He supposedly showed a struggling teammate a video of the teammate struggling and told him, "don't do that."

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That is such a great story. I think Zack showed the teammate of Zack hitting a HR and said do that. Or maybe that was a different time. There are quite a few articles, one ESPN I think, where they ask Zack's teammates for stories and they're all great.

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Puzzling. Did we pay him to come? Was this influencer marketing?

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He is very good friends with Stanford's Cameron Brink. Her godfather, I think.

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Sonia Curry is her godmother.

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He's also met previously with Jayda Curry (another Curry #30 who reigns threes) and Charmin. He spoke to the team after the game and was clearly rooting for the Bears.

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Oh, I thought he went to the MBB game. WBB actually makes sense.

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Jan 9, 2023·edited Jan 9, 2023

Probably better for his brand to be seen at a Nickelback concert than it is a Cal MBB game nowadays. Brand poison.

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I was sitting right behind Steph and his wife (she was wearing a Furd sweatshirt -- we are no longer friends). Steph was clearly rooting for the Bears. He spoke to the team after the game. I felt sorry for Mr. Curry during halftime when he had to endure a conversation with Jim Knowlton. Worst of all for the great NBA guard, he had to have his picture taken with the Cal A.D.

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His mom is godmother to Stanford's Cameron Brink

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I've been told that was his mother not his wife.

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I saw the pic and it was definitely not his wife so probably mother

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