Less than stellar weekend. Mrs Slug's mom broke her hip last Wednesday; it's a femoral neck break, which is serious enough. A partial hip replacement is indicated.
Bad came to worse almost as soon as the surgeon started surgery. They rolled her over on her side, surgeon started to incise her and she immediately became cyanotic. Surgery was stopped, hurriedly stitched up, and put into recovery. That was Saturday afternoon.
Mom still hasn't had surgery. They're afraid to go further without her being in the best condition possible. They don't want her dying in surgery.
If they can't do surgery, the alternative is hospice care, because there's no hope for recovery from the hip injury. I really, really hope Mom gets well enough for surgery. Understatement of the year; maybe this decade.
Well, surgery was tonight. Mom came out of it with flying colors. As one family, we are immensely grateful for this outcome. Gratitude doesn't really cover it.
So sorry. Elder issues (health and otherwise) are so hard. Best wishes for enough recovery for surgery, post-surgery recovery, and peace & patience for all throughout the next weeks.
It's week 12 in FBS football and Ole Miss is playing [checks notes]... UL Monroe who is the fourth weakest team by FPI. The SEC; it just means more cupcakes
[Weekend ACCtion]: FSU pips Miami 27-20, Virginia Tech beats BC 48-22, Clemson smashes Georgia Tech 42-21, NC State holds Wake Forest to 163 yards in a 26-6 win, Syracuse beats Pitt 28-13, and #24 UNC beats Duke in a really exciting double OT game 47-45
Cal's 2024 ACC opponents are Miami (2-4 in conference thus far in 2023), NC State (4-2), Stanfurd (2-6), Syracuse (1-5), FSU (8-0), Pitt (1-5), SMU (6-0), Wake Forest (1-6)
I could not figure out what Stanford was trying to do with their LBs & Safeties. It is one thing to get beat by a better opponent, but it was surreal seeing a Stanford team that was that unsound. It's been more than 20 years since the Cardinal mid-tier defense looked that bad.
Stanfurd's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd leading rushers in that game were not running backs. For the whole season, Stanfurd's two leading rushers are their QBs. Stack the box and have a safety watch Ayomanor.
I emailed a friend and fellow alum Saturday night asking him if a month ago he thought Cal would have a better chance than Colorado to be bowl eligible.
all Pac-12 bowl bubble teams better be lobbying NOW for the Pac 12 to waive the ridiculous provision that Pac 12 teams with only 5 wins can't go bowling even if invited. Heard there may be a shortage of bowl eligible teams this year...
Curious to see where Ohtani signs, but also curious about this Yamamoto guy. These NPB guys if successful are like perfectly formed players that fall out of the sky, no player development or anything needed
Dodgers signed the top Korean HS pitcher, Hyun-Seok Jang. He was projected to be the first overall pick in the KBO amateur draft. I'm curious to see how he does. 6'3" 19 Y/O but throws 97 with a change, curve, slider, and a sweeper.
I wonder if he's the kind that will go with almost the most money or will take less to be on a winning team, one that can only offer less money due to already having highly paid stars. He isn't a Boras guy so that's good.
For example, does he take medium length smaller contract with an opt out so he can see how his elbow is. Like 5/150-175 with an opt out after 2 years (allows 1 year of pitching). He's probably worth 30-35 mil as a DH. Especially to the team that is in an area with lots of Asians. The marketing and apparel sale alone would be worth it.
Oh interesting. He’s only 19 though so he’s still raw. I think his salary comps are more likely those of a high school pitcher taken in the first round of the US amateur draft. So something like 6 years / $6 million per plus arb rights.
Yeah I'm curious to see how he does in the low minors. He's already #21 in their system, which is fairly deep. He's the 10th best pitcher, after I think 3 rookies were removed from the rankings (Pepiot, Bobby Miller, and Sheehan) exhausted their rookie status this year.
Antonio Pierce is 2-0 as the Radiers' interim head coach. Rich Bissacia was 7-5 as the interim in 2021. Not earth shattering, but Bisaccia had the team in the AFC playoffs, where they lost to the eventual AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Seems to me the Raiders might be able to identify better candidates with the interim tag than they can identify guys who don't have the interim tag.
STANFORD – The California men's soccer team took a first-half lead over No. 22 Stanford - thanks to defender Wyatt Meyer's first goal since 2021 – in the regular-season finale Saturday night on The Farm. But the Cardinal scored twice in the second half, netting the game-winning goal in the dying minutes, and the Golden Bears fell 2-1.
BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team will play its third of four consecutive home games to open the season against CSU Bakersfield on Monday night in Haas Pavilion. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. PST with the Pac-12 Network televising the nonconference contest.
BERKELEY – California volleyball put up its fiercest fight yet against a top-10 opponent this season, taking No. 6 Oregon to five sets at Haas Pavilion on Saturday. The Golden Bears (15-12, 4-12 Pac-12) left everything out on the court against the Ducks (22-5, 12-4), coming within just two points of the upset before the visitors sealed the 3-2 win.
Senior libero Tara DeSa was a major factor in Cal's defensive effort, tying her career high of 32 digs (one shy of the school record) and notching an ace. Freshman Maggie Li once again led the Bears with 15 kills and a match high three aces, while junior Annalea Maeder recorded her 10th double-double of the year with 38 assists and 12 digs.
BERKELEY – With its lineup back at full strength for the first time since late September, the No. 2 California men's water polo team defeated No. 4 Stanford 12-8 on Saturday in a comfortable wire-to-wire victory.
Four-time All-American Nikolaos Papanikolaou made his 2023 home debut on the Big Splash Senior Day, dominating on both ends and tying for game high honors with three goals on three shots to go with four steals and four drawn exclusions. Roberto Valera also finished with three goals, adding two assists and a pair of field blocks.
On this day in 1954 in Memorial Stadium the Golden Bears defeated Oregon State, 46-7 their second of three consecutive wins to close out an otherwise disappointing season that saw the Bears finish at .500 (5-5) for the second year in a row. Running back Jerry Drew set a Cal record by running for 283 yards on only 11 carries. Drew had TD runs of 67, 59 and 55 yards. Overall the Bear attack out-gained the hapless Beavers, 507-192. It was an excellent tune up for the Big Game which the Bears would win the following Saturday especially as Stanfurd was losing to San Jose State, 19-14. Also on this day Marquette upset UOP, 19-13 in Stockton (yes, in football).
DBD celebrates 100 years of football in Strawberry Canyon with this daily feature appearing throughout the football season.
He had coached at UOP in the thirties and forties. In '54 he was at what was then called Stockton Junior College and is now known as San Joaquin Delta College.
I'm doing a mileage run to LA tomorrow afternoon and coming back at night after dinner with friends because I need 2 more takeoffs and landings. Not front of the plane but having had free Economy Plus for a few years now it's hard to go back.
I didn't think I was close to keeping Gold, but after purchasing a ticket to Paris for work in a couple of weeks and having my flight to Taiwan, I was surprisingly close.
Anything that I'm going to get a ton of usage from over many years. Headphones. My bike (I just bought a new one a couple months ago for the first time since 2009). Office chair for my home office (I'm looking to replace mine by the end of the year. I've had this one since I started grad school.)
A good truck. Or a good major-system doctor. Good bad-conditions gear. Some things are worth making sure of, and any shortcomings or corner cutting WILL ultimately cost WAY more in the long run, and let you down at the worst possible time.
I didn't have better than average Goretex outdoor gear on my bingo card, but I understand where you come from. It can be a lifesaver in certain situations.
For my TSX I get the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. They're an ultra high performance all-season rated for excellent for wet and dry and good for winter/snow. They're good Ca tires for some trips to Tahoe. Still need chains if it's snowing but that's fine.
The other ones that I've heard are good but never used personally are the Continental ExtremeContact ones. I believe they're also supposed to be excellent for the rain and good for snow. I've read that there are lots of Miata drivers that drive in the winter in some snow that swear by them.
My Miata has limited selection because of the wheel size so I just look for ultra summer tires since I don't drive it much in the rain.
Mrs Bk97 runs those Continentals as summer tires for her Mini. I can't remember the last time I drove her car, but I do recall that they're pretty good in a variety of conditions.
I run Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S in the summer and their Pilot Alpin PA4 in the winter. Both are fantastic. Incredible grip in all conditions and the PA4's are remarkably good in deep snow. Both sets seem to last forever too. I have around 30k miles on the summers and 20k on the winters they still have a ton of life.
Luckily I don't have to worry about winter tires. I think you can't go wrong with Michelins for the most part. They're my tire of choice if they have the size I need.
Less than stellar weekend. Mrs Slug's mom broke her hip last Wednesday; it's a femoral neck break, which is serious enough. A partial hip replacement is indicated.
Bad came to worse almost as soon as the surgeon started surgery. They rolled her over on her side, surgeon started to incise her and she immediately became cyanotic. Surgery was stopped, hurriedly stitched up, and put into recovery. That was Saturday afternoon.
Mom still hasn't had surgery. They're afraid to go further without her being in the best condition possible. They don't want her dying in surgery.
If they can't do surgery, the alternative is hospice care, because there's no hope for recovery from the hip injury. I really, really hope Mom gets well enough for surgery. Understatement of the year; maybe this decade.
Well, surgery was tonight. Mom came out of it with flying colors. As one family, we are immensely grateful for this outcome. Gratitude doesn't really cover it.
Nice!! Great to hear FSMIL is doing better.
So sorry. Elder issues (health and otherwise) are so hard. Best wishes for enough recovery for surgery, post-surgery recovery, and peace & patience for all throughout the next weeks.
OUR CRUMBLING DEMOCRACY
Well, look here. WaPo says the Supreme Court has issued an ethics code for its justices.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/11/13/supreme-court-ethics-code/
Reading the article, the appearance of the ethics code has a definite flavor of, "Here's your ethics code. Now get off my back."
Just my two cents.
Contains a bunch of "should" and not much "must" or "shall" (2, in fact). Toothless bullshit.
Correction: 6 times.
ELSEWHERE IN COLLEGE
SDSU HC Brady Hoke to retire
https://theathletic.com/5059698/2023/11/13/brady-hoke-retires-san-diego-state/
It's week 12 in FBS football and Ole Miss is playing [checks notes]... UL Monroe who is the fourth weakest team by FPI. The SEC; it just means more cupcakes
I noticed a few years back that someone in the SEC has a cupcake most weeks in October and November.
Iowa beats Rutgers 22-0. And this Tweet says it all.
https://twitter.com/ActionNetworkHQ/status/1723498669880611279
22 points? Wow, the new OC really ran up the score on them this week
UCF smashes Oklahoma State 45-3
https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401525892
Clemson's Tyler Brown goes OBJ
https://twitter.com/betanysportsEU/status/1723810298291708042
Ole Miss' Dayton Wage goes OBJ
https://twitter.com/OleMissFB/status/1723536336450113698
Andy Avalos is available if anybody needs a DC
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38881399/sources-boise-state-fire-football-coach-andy-avalos
Jimbo Fisher gets paid $76m to go fishing
https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/38880082/jimbo-fisher-expected-fired-texas-sources-confirm
Lucky guy. Lots of folks should be so lucky.
[Weekend ACCtion]: FSU pips Miami 27-20, Virginia Tech beats BC 48-22, Clemson smashes Georgia Tech 42-21, NC State holds Wake Forest to 163 yards in a 26-6 win, Syracuse beats Pitt 28-13, and #24 UNC beats Duke in a really exciting double OT game 47-45
Cal's 2024 ACC opponents are Miami (2-4 in conference thus far in 2023), NC State (4-2), Stanfurd (2-6), Syracuse (1-5), FSU (8-0), Pitt (1-5), SMU (6-0), Wake Forest (1-6)
Wilcox will probably go 3-5 against that slate.
Probably true. Cal should be at least 5-3 against that group. Should be.
Ugh.
6-6 next year.
Sun Bowl.
Glorious.
What about this year? 6-6 is still possible. Sun Bowl this year?
#12 Oregon State smashes Stanford 62-17. Jermaine Terry gets his first career TD on a busted coverage
https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401524054
https://twitter.com/Pac12Network/status/1723510648036827557
Look at each guy in the box. Each Stanfurd guy lost his matchup.
I could not figure out what Stanford was trying to do with their LBs & Safeties. It is one thing to get beat by a better opponent, but it was surreal seeing a Stanford team that was that unsound. It's been more than 20 years since the Cardinal mid-tier defense looked that bad.
If their tackling is that bad on Saturday then Ott will run for 200+
Stanfurd's 1st, 2nd, and 3rd leading rushers in that game were not running backs. For the whole season, Stanfurd's two leading rushers are their QBs. Stack the box and have a safety watch Ayomanor.
UCLA - using their 3rd string QB - loses 17-7 to [checks notes]... ASU. It also doesn't help if you go 0-4 on fourth down.
https://www.espn.com/college-football/recap/_/gameId/401524055
Any warmth on Chip’s seat? He’s been there since 2018 and has done little, but did sign an extension last year through 2027
He’s 33-33 overall at UCLA, with a Holiday Bowl and Sun Bowl appearance
That season finale is starting to look winnable. And after UCLA gets blown out by USC this weekend the Rose Bowl will be 30% full for the Cal game
SC is going to win by a field goal
Despite this loss, UCLA leads the country in rushing defense.
They are like one of the early Wilcox Cal teams! Even have a Garbers on roster!
Ouch.
Not really.
#21 Arizona comes from behind and squeeks out a win vs CU 34-31
https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401524052
The Buffs have to win road games at Wazzu and Utah to go bowling. That's not going to happen
I’m not willing to be confident about Wazzu but Utah is going to demolish them
I emailed a friend and fellow alum Saturday night asking him if a month ago he thought Cal would have a better chance than Colorado to be bowl eligible.
all Pac-12 bowl bubble teams better be lobbying NOW for the Pac 12 to waive the ridiculous provision that Pac 12 teams with only 5 wins can't go bowling even if invited. Heard there may be a shortage of bowl eligible teams this year...
Any response?
Not so far.
The Wildcats have sneakily become better in the last two seasons.
#6 Oregon holds off USC 36-27
https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401524053
https://twitter.com/TheAthletesPlug/status/1723562841381146745
The USC defense wasn't too bad after those first two passes. I thought Oregon was easily going to drop 50+ on them.
USC is dead last in the FBS for yardage allowed.
Involuntary generosity
Pithy. I like it.
#5 Washington beats #18 Utah 35-28 in a thriller
https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401524056
Washington's Tuputala pulls a Vic Enwere/Desean Jackson. On the other hand, Washington got a safety on the next play.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AwTHrJDlFeg
[ACC] Syracuse throws for 17 yards and still beats Pitt 28-13
https://www.espn.com/college-football/boxscore/_/gameId/401525552
lol Cuse ran for 382 yards two weeks after amassing 0 yards (on 25 carries!)
There's a lot to take in here on this play, the least being that it included two missed tackles by the QB
https://twitter.com/MrSalmons/status/1723527038613835841
PRO
Curious to see where Ohtani signs, but also curious about this Yamamoto guy. These NPB guys if successful are like perfectly formed players that fall out of the sky, no player development or anything needed
Dodgers signed the top Korean HS pitcher, Hyun-Seok Jang. He was projected to be the first overall pick in the KBO amateur draft. I'm curious to see how he does. 6'3" 19 Y/O but throws 97 with a change, curve, slider, and a sweeper.
I wonder if he's the kind that will go with almost the most money or will take less to be on a winning team, one that can only offer less money due to already having highly paid stars. He isn't a Boras guy so that's good.
For example, does he take medium length smaller contract with an opt out so he can see how his elbow is. Like 5/150-175 with an opt out after 2 years (allows 1 year of pitching). He's probably worth 30-35 mil as a DH. Especially to the team that is in an area with lots of Asians. The marketing and apparel sale alone would be worth it.
Oh interesting. He’s only 19 though so he’s still raw. I think his salary comps are more likely those of a high school pitcher taken in the first round of the US amateur draft. So something like 6 years / $6 million per plus arb rights.
Yeah I'm curious to see how he does in the low minors. He's already #21 in their system, which is fairly deep. He's the 10th best pitcher, after I think 3 rookies were removed from the rankings (Pepiot, Bobby Miller, and Sheehan) exhausted their rookie status this year.
49ers humble the Jags 34-3 and look like one of the league's top teams again
https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401547532
Glad to welcome the 49ers defense back to life.
Raiders beat the Jets 16-12 in a field-goal-fest
https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401547536
Antonio Pierce is 2-0 as the Radiers' interim head coach. Rich Bissacia was 7-5 as the interim in 2021. Not earth shattering, but Bisaccia had the team in the AFC playoffs, where they lost to the eventual AFC Champion Cincinnati Bengals.
Seems to me the Raiders might be able to identify better candidates with the interim tag than they can identify guys who don't have the interim tag.
CAL
Looks like Cal/UCLA is a 730 PM start.
https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/13/football-regular-season-finale-at-ucla-to-kick-off-at-7-30-pm.aspx
We should be honored that we were chosen for the last ever Pac-12 After Dark
Damn. We're winless at night over the last two seasons.
At least it's ESPN and not Pac-12 network.
ESPN chose this one as one of their games early in the season. Only question was the start time.
They did the same for the WSU game, which is still confusing to me.
someone in programing must like the wackiness
I agree with the wackiness assessment.
October 4, 2014 - Cal 60, Washington State 59. That's Exhibit A for wackiness in this series.
Hell, it's probably Exhibit A for wackiness for a lot of college football fans.
They did get a pretty entertaining game.
[MSOC] Cal Falls At No. 22 Stanford In Regular-Season Finale
https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/11/mens-soccer-cal-falls-at-no-22-stanford-in-regular-season-finale.aspx
STANFORD – The California men's soccer team took a first-half lead over No. 22 Stanford - thanks to defender Wyatt Meyer's first goal since 2021 – in the regular-season finale Saturday night on The Farm. But the Cardinal scored twice in the second half, netting the game-winning goal in the dying minutes, and the Golden Bears fell 2-1.
[MBB] Homestand Continues Against CSU Bakersfield
https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/11/mens-basketball-homestand-continues-against-csu-bakersfield.aspx
BERKELEY – The California men's basketball team will play its third of four consecutive home games to open the season against CSU Bakersfield on Monday night in Haas Pavilion. Tipoff is slated for 7 p.m. PST with the Pac-12 Network televising the nonconference contest.
[VB] Cal Forces No. 6 Oregon To Five Sets
https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/11/volleyball-cal-forces-no-6-oregon-to-five-sets.aspx
BERKELEY – California volleyball put up its fiercest fight yet against a top-10 opponent this season, taking No. 6 Oregon to five sets at Haas Pavilion on Saturday. The Golden Bears (15-12, 4-12 Pac-12) left everything out on the court against the Ducks (22-5, 12-4), coming within just two points of the upset before the visitors sealed the 3-2 win.
Senior libero Tara DeSa was a major factor in Cal's defensive effort, tying her career high of 32 digs (one shy of the school record) and notching an ace. Freshman Maggie Li once again led the Bears with 15 kills and a match high three aces, while junior Annalea Maeder recorded her 10th double-double of the year with 38 assists and 12 digs.
[MPOLO] No. 2 Cal Cruises To Big Splash Win
https://calbears.com/news/2023/11/11/mens-water-polo-no-2-cal-cruises-to-big-splash-win.aspx
BERKELEY – With its lineup back at full strength for the first time since late September, the No. 2 California men's water polo team defeated No. 4 Stanford 12-8 on Saturday in a comfortable wire-to-wire victory.
Four-time All-American Nikolaos Papanikolaou made his 2023 home debut on the Big Splash Senior Day, dominating on both ends and tying for game high honors with three goals on three shots to go with four steals and four drawn exclusions. Roberto Valera also finished with three goals, adding two assists and a pair of field blocks.
South Africa is Bear Territory as Max Homa wins there. He also jabbed Justin Thomas for leaving school early.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/golf/max-homa-jabs-justin-thomas-over-lack-of-college-degree-remains-golfs-top-social-media-sniper/ar-AA1jJlaK
On this day in 1954 in Memorial Stadium the Golden Bears defeated Oregon State, 46-7 their second of three consecutive wins to close out an otherwise disappointing season that saw the Bears finish at .500 (5-5) for the second year in a row. Running back Jerry Drew set a Cal record by running for 283 yards on only 11 carries. Drew had TD runs of 67, 59 and 55 yards. Overall the Bear attack out-gained the hapless Beavers, 507-192. It was an excellent tune up for the Big Game which the Bears would win the following Saturday especially as Stanfurd was losing to San Jose State, 19-14. Also on this day Marquette upset UOP, 19-13 in Stockton (yes, in football).
DBD celebrates 100 years of football in Strawberry Canyon with this daily feature appearing throughout the football season.
IIRC, Amos Alonzo Stagg was coaching UOP in 1954.
He had coached at UOP in the thirties and forties. In '54 he was at what was then called Stockton Junior College and is now known as San Joaquin Delta College.
I stand corrected.
DBD STREET JOURNAL
DBD AV CLUB
Something that you’re willing to pay a good premium
A seat in the front of the plane.
I'm doing a mileage run to LA tomorrow afternoon and coming back at night after dinner with friends because I need 2 more takeoffs and landings. Not front of the plane but having had free Economy Plus for a few years now it's hard to go back.
I didn't think I was close to keeping Gold, but after purchasing a ticket to Paris for work in a couple of weeks and having my flight to Taiwan, I was surprisingly close.
Anything that I'm going to get a ton of usage from over many years. Headphones. My bike (I just bought a new one a couple months ago for the first time since 2009). Office chair for my home office (I'm looking to replace mine by the end of the year. I've had this one since I started grad school.)
A good truck. Or a good major-system doctor. Good bad-conditions gear. Some things are worth making sure of, and any shortcomings or corner cutting WILL ultimately cost WAY more in the long run, and let you down at the worst possible time.
A drink ... Sometimes an over priced Bud light at a baseball game on a warm summer day is the best thing you can splurge on.
Agree though I would prefer a well made cocktail by someone with a lot of tattoos and maybe an ironic mustache.
I think going forward, people will be increasingly willing to pay for human curation like that
Better than average Gore tex outdoor gear
I didn't have better than average Goretex outdoor gear on my bingo card, but I understand where you come from. It can be a lifesaver in certain situations.
Tires. Always. The most important part for keeping your car on the road.
Sometimes keeping your car on the road is a literal description.
Any specific recommendations?
For my TSX I get the Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4. They're an ultra high performance all-season rated for excellent for wet and dry and good for winter/snow. They're good Ca tires for some trips to Tahoe. Still need chains if it's snowing but that's fine.
The other ones that I've heard are good but never used personally are the Continental ExtremeContact ones. I believe they're also supposed to be excellent for the rain and good for snow. I've read that there are lots of Miata drivers that drive in the winter in some snow that swear by them.
My Miata has limited selection because of the wheel size so I just look for ultra summer tires since I don't drive it much in the rain.
Mrs Bk97 runs those Continentals as summer tires for her Mini. I can't remember the last time I drove her car, but I do recall that they're pretty good in a variety of conditions.
I run Michelin's Pilot Sport 4S in the summer and their Pilot Alpin PA4 in the winter. Both are fantastic. Incredible grip in all conditions and the PA4's are remarkably good in deep snow. Both sets seem to last forever too. I have around 30k miles on the summers and 20k on the winters they still have a ton of life.
Luckily I don't have to worry about winter tires. I think you can't go wrong with Michelins for the most part. They're my tire of choice if they have the size I need.