Golden Nuggets: Basic Needs at Berkeley Fundraiser, Chainsaw Bears, and the Roosevelt Belt
I'm quite proud of my illustration this week.
Hello and welcome to Golden Nuggets, our weekly recap article where we try to highlight all the fun, funny, or interesting things you might have missed roughly over the last week across Bear Territory (the whole damn world of course).
BEAR UPDATES: Rotisserie Chicken and Chainsaws
This past week, security camera footage emerged of a high-profile theft, no not in the Louvre, but in Eastern Tennessee where a bear was caught on Ring Camera sauntering up to the front porch and making off with a chainsaw. Listen, Big Game is in 2 weeks and the Bear is just getting prepped!
The video is worth watching, and you can click through to it here.
The man claims it is not AI, and seemingly supplies proof of the full recording. The man also suspected that the Bear was alerted to the scent of the rotisserie chicken he had the day prior which got on his hands, after which he later used the chainsaw, thus coating the handles in yummy chicken juices and spices.
Basic Needs at Berkeley
Here at Golden Nuggets, I try not to go too political. I want to keep this a place for people to escape from whatever may be getting them down. I’m all about good vibes and good fun.
But what’s not fun is the 41 million people that are being toyed with in the middle of this government shutdown as fights over SNAP benefits ebb and flow. I bring this up to highlight especially the 5,000 students on campus (about 1 in 10!) that suffer food insecurity and financial instability. Recognizing that gap and knowing the important role food plays in our lives and making the brain work and all that, the university is currently crowd funding for the Berkeley Basic Needs Center that provides food and groceries to students on campus.
Please, if you can, consider donating to The Berkeley Basic Needs Center here.
Hot Links
MILF Guy #2
Berkeley News profiled John Cho (BA ‘96, English), the Berkeley alum / Hollywood actor on what attending Berkeley meant to him and allowed him to do. This will be the first installment of the “Then/How/Next” Cal Alum Story series explores how Berkeley shapes students today and what they go on to do tomorrow. Read more here!
Chase Garbers
Over on mainstreet media, a Substack examining the intersection of sports, media, and venture capital, they profiled Chase Garbers this past week. And now on Golden Nuggets, a sub-substack examining all the cool stuff going on in the realm of Berkeley, we’re profiling mainstreet media who profiled Chase Garbers. How deep do the substacks go?
That’s a lot of nothing to say Chase Garbers is working in Venture Capital and working to boost Cal’s NIL in a couple years. Read more here.
Oh sorry that was the last time Chase Garbers defeated a bunch of VCs. Read the article here.
Congrats to L&S Staff!
The College of Letters and Science recognized outstanding staff members this year for their exceptional commitment to the College’s shared mission of teaching, research, and public service. Read about the award winners here!
Small Bites
A few fans went back and looked throughout College Football history to trace a line from the first game to the most current, with the winner of each subsequent game winning what some call the Roosevelt Belt and others the McGuffin. This week, by beating Louisville, Cal claims the Roosevelt Belt/McGuffin for the first time since 1993! Read more about this thing I just learned about and will fight to the death for now.
Golden Bear Honors
Cal Men’s Basketball recorded their 300th win last week in Haas Pavilion
D’Andre Pickett (Soccer) was named ACC Defensive Player of the Week
Junhwan Park (Soccer) was named ACC Co-Offensive Player of the Week
Mao Mushika (Tennis) advanced to the ITA Conference Masters Championships AND qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship
Tiago Silva (Tennis) qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship
Berta Passola Folch also advanced to the ITA West Sectional Championships and qualified for the NCAA Singles Championship
Mark Madsen recorded his 100th Win this past week
Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele was named a Top 10 College Football Freshman QBs making an instant impact
Jaron was also named ACC Quarterback of the Week and ACC Rookie of the Week
Jaron was also named the 247Sports True Freshman of the Week
Justin Wilcox was named Adam Breneman’s Coach of the Week
Jaron was also named the Davey O’Brien National Quarterback of the Week
Jaron and Jacob were also named Week 11 Transfer Portal Impact Players
Cal Athletics Recap
Men’s Soccer beat Duke (2-0) to advance in the ACC Championship, then knocked off Pitt (1-0) to advance to the Semifinals of the ACC Championship
Women’s Tennis competed in the ITA West Sectional Championships (Day 1, and ITA Conference Masters Championships (Day 1
Men’s Basketball beat Wright State (77-67) and Fullerton (93-65)
Men’s Swimming and Diving competed in the Triple Distance Meet against Stanford (Recap)
Women’s Swimming and Diving competed in the Triple Distance Meet against Stanford (Recap)
Football knocked down #15 Ranked Louisville 29-26
Women’s Basketball beat Sacramento State (69-52) and Pacific (X-X)
Cal Pros Recap
Football
Keenan Allen became the Chargers all-time receptions leader. Jared Goff threw for 320 and 3 TDs in a Lions win over the Commanders. Cam Bynum got a strip sack and taught the Colts about Dru Hill.
Basketball
Jaylen’s Brown Hair Line claimed another victim. But he also scored 35 points in 26 minutes becoming the first Celtic to do so. Jaylon Tyson was tabbed as an NBA name you might not know, but you should know. But of course you know.
Next Week In Bear Territory
Men’s Soccer plays Virginia in the ACC Championship Semi-finals (11/13)
Men’s Basketball plays Kansas St (11/13) and Presbyterian (11/17)
Cross Country competes in the NCAA West Regionals (11/14)
Volleyball plays #10 SMU (11/14) and #3 Pitt (11/16)
Women’s Basketball competes in the Raising the B.A.R Invitational against Charlotte (11/15)
Men’s Water Polo kicks off Big Game week against Stanford (11/15)
Women’s Tennis competes in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships (11/17-11/23)
Men’s Tennis competes in the NCAA Singles and Doubles Championships (11/17-11/23)
And so we find ourselves again at the end of Golden Nuggets. I appreciate you all reading this, and I have a ton of fun writing it. As always, let me know what I forgot in the comments, and hope to see you around Bear Territory! Thanks again for reading, and see you next week!




Wow Chase is doing really well.
Is Oski upgrading to a chainsaw or just learning from his buddy Benny the Beaver?