Dear Avinash, I sometimes feel like an old man, with all I have seen and done. I'm older than Larry was, and feel kindred with him about so much. This piece you wrote...what a thing of beauty, depth, eloquence. I read for a living, write for a living. I can tell originality and authenticity. Your words here are poetic insights into a man and reflect your respect and love. Thank you for taking the time to write this piece. It makes my life richer.
Thank you for this. Larry and I only spoke a handful of times, but each interaction stood out from the thousands of calls and emails I exchanged with fans as part of the Cal sales + service team. He was patient, understanding, knowledgeable, and relentlessly passionate. He wanted Cal’s athletic programs to reflect the highest standard of success and professionalism, and had no problem calling us out when we didn’t. Talking to Larry made me want to do my job as well as I possibly could - here was a guy who invested so much and cared so much without knowing if he’d get anything in return, and it made me want all of us at Cal Athletics to reflect the greatness and potential I know he saw here. I realize now that must be how his students felt about him, too - what a man and what a loss.
Reef was one of my fav cal sports writers. Intelligent, balanced and insightful articles that really conveyed the meaning and emotions of being a cal fan
He thought so deeply and considered everything with such gravity - I wish I had the capacity to think about things, anything really, that Larry thought about basketball, teaching, politics, churros and tacos.
Anyone know where his handle, Reef, came from? I’m always curious what those tell us about the person behind them..... Mine is from being a Berkeley (BTown) native who graduated from Berkeley High in 1985. My first name starts w B, so someone in high school called me BTown from time to time, so double entendres. I’m curious if anyone knows.
I never met Larry, but wish I had. Why does it often seem I don't think about how special someone is 'til they're gone? Maybe because you can't know everyone? IDK.....but I wish I was as lucky as you guys who knew him well. And now I wish I was as lucky as he, who knew YOU well. I hope to get to more games in the coming years (kids moving out of college soon....), and hope to meet some of you guys when I do..... I'm sorry for your loss. I know it's "our" loss, but much more so for you who were his friends than for us who were his fans..........
To be honest, I was always kind of puzzled that Shareef was the player that Reef tied his heartstrings to most. Obviously Shareef was immensely talented, had one of the best single years statistically in Cal history and he has always been a uber-terrific representative of the University. But he had a pretty confounding career. He played his worst game of his career in maybe the only big game he ever played in—that round one game vs. ISU. And he never demonstrated he could make any of his teams better. Consistent numbers and poor supporting casts aside, you don’t set the record for most games played without a playoff appearance as someone who is leaned on heavily without having some elemental flaws in your game. My perception was always that he was immensely talented and skilled offensive player, who was also something of a black hole. Larry was immensely talented and a stellar representative of Cal off the blog, but he also made CGB much, much better.
Thanks for providing so many windows into Larry's life.
Dear Avinash, I sometimes feel like an old man, with all I have seen and done. I'm older than Larry was, and feel kindred with him about so much. This piece you wrote...what a thing of beauty, depth, eloquence. I read for a living, write for a living. I can tell originality and authenticity. Your words here are poetic insights into a man and reflect your respect and love. Thank you for taking the time to write this piece. It makes my life richer.
Thank you for this. Larry and I only spoke a handful of times, but each interaction stood out from the thousands of calls and emails I exchanged with fans as part of the Cal sales + service team. He was patient, understanding, knowledgeable, and relentlessly passionate. He wanted Cal’s athletic programs to reflect the highest standard of success and professionalism, and had no problem calling us out when we didn’t. Talking to Larry made me want to do my job as well as I possibly could - here was a guy who invested so much and cared so much without knowing if he’d get anything in return, and it made me want all of us at Cal Athletics to reflect the greatness and potential I know he saw here. I realize now that must be how his students felt about him, too - what a man and what a loss.
Thank you for sharing <3
Thanks for writing this, Avi. It's a beautiful tribute.
Thank you.
Reef was one of my fav cal sports writers. Intelligent, balanced and insightful articles that really conveyed the meaning and emotions of being a cal fan
He will be missed
He thought so deeply and considered everything with such gravity - I wish I had the capacity to think about things, anything really, that Larry thought about basketball, teaching, politics, churros and tacos.
Anyone know where his handle, Reef, came from? I’m always curious what those tell us about the person behind them..... Mine is from being a Berkeley (BTown) native who graduated from Berkeley High in 1985. My first name starts w B, so someone in high school called me BTown from time to time, so double entendres. I’m curious if anyone knows.
I never met Larry, but wish I had. Why does it often seem I don't think about how special someone is 'til they're gone? Maybe because you can't know everyone? IDK.....but I wish I was as lucky as you guys who knew him well. And now I wish I was as lucky as he, who knew YOU well. I hope to get to more games in the coming years (kids moving out of college soon....), and hope to meet some of you guys when I do..... I'm sorry for your loss. I know it's "our" loss, but much more so for you who were his friends than for us who were his fans..........
To be honest, I was always kind of puzzled that Shareef was the player that Reef tied his heartstrings to most. Obviously Shareef was immensely talented, had one of the best single years statistically in Cal history and he has always been a uber-terrific representative of the University. But he had a pretty confounding career. He played his worst game of his career in maybe the only big game he ever played in—that round one game vs. ISU. And he never demonstrated he could make any of his teams better. Consistent numbers and poor supporting casts aside, you don’t set the record for most games played without a playoff appearance as someone who is leaned on heavily without having some elemental flaws in your game. My perception was always that he was immensely talented and skilled offensive player, who was also something of a black hole. Larry was immensely talented and a stellar representative of Cal off the blog, but he also made CGB much, much better.