Thanks for this article Nick. I try to go to every single game, and sit in my ridiculously overpriced seats and try to find something to enjoy.
I like seeing the new players improve and grow, like to see them take some risks and feel confident enough to try a behind the back pass to someone they know won’t be watching the ball. I like to try to identify what type of defense they think they are playing and count how long a set up lasts before disintegrating into random quasi-man to man tripping coverage. Call me silly but I even like to appreciate the shot attempts that miss and the passes that work but serve no purpose.
The free throws-not so much. We should at least be able to make free throws.
Anyway, for me the game is also about the band and the squeaking sneakers and trying to stay positive about something that actually doesn’t impact my day to day and isn’t my responsibility. I’m glad to be back in Haas-social distancing has never been easier especially in my row.
I really enjoyed this article. Very engaging prose Mr. Kranz.
My hope for this season was addition by subtraction (since the team seemed to play better without Bradley, at times). I think that question may have been answered in the second half without Mr. Clutch around.
As a Cal fan, I have accepted suffering as part of the process. As a student winning was great (when it happened), but it was about much more than just winning. For this reason, it pains me to see the stands so empty, especially in football. I thought us Cal fans had more grit and were less band wagon, but the last few years have proved me wrong.
On the flip side, I would love to see the students embrace our excellent programs, such as swimming. If it is about winning, then those programs really deserve our support.
I became a fan during the 30 years of absence from the NCAA tournament. That’s my context. Yes, the winning years have been fabulous, especially 1990 and 2010. But I’ve learned to appreciate the men who commit their years to playing for Cal, whether tournament quality or not. This team is flawed but has so much more basic competence than under the previous coach. They are capable of playing sound defense for a while, as in the first 16 minutes of the first half, and seem to have the interest and enthusiasm to get better. The newer players definitely have to learn positioning and rotations, but they aren’t completely lost as players were four years ago. Offensively, the players seem unselfish and look for their teammates. Their passing needs work, as does their spacing (and relatedly, their movement). But Fox has a more watchable product and crew than the recent dark years, and I very much enjoy the personality of this team. I’m not giving up on these guys.
It's rough. I've been following/attending Cal basketball since '79. Even in those dark early days, the program was never as hopeless feeling as it is today. Maybe that was just a product of youthful optimism. Different times, but there was a high level of energy in Harmon that made games entertaining even when we were getting waxed. Haas is lifeless besides the increasingly rare occasions when its full. You add that lack of energy on top of such a piss poor on-the-court product with seemingly no potential and the experience is not only lacking, but it's downright depressing. God bless the few brave souls who show up to these games regularly. So my tact is to mostly ignore and wait until/if Knowlton/Fox ever have something to show me and put that energy into the warriors instead.
Thank you for the article, Nick. I felt the same about the UCSD loss - surprised, but only marginally.
I really like Grant - he’s a smart, hard working Cal Bear....but the fact that he is now our best two-way player is indicative of the current situation, as he’s probably best suited as a 6th man or deeper for a top 25 team....
I’m gonna focus on whether Fox gives consistent minutes to Celestine, Sam, Anyanwu, Roberson & Bowser, as this will be key for their development, which in turn will be essential for any chance at competent basketball in ‘22-‘23.
"When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they cannot tell good from evil."
Thanks for this article Nick. I try to go to every single game, and sit in my ridiculously overpriced seats and try to find something to enjoy.
I like seeing the new players improve and grow, like to see them take some risks and feel confident enough to try a behind the back pass to someone they know won’t be watching the ball. I like to try to identify what type of defense they think they are playing and count how long a set up lasts before disintegrating into random quasi-man to man tripping coverage. Call me silly but I even like to appreciate the shot attempts that miss and the passes that work but serve no purpose.
The free throws-not so much. We should at least be able to make free throws.
Anyway, for me the game is also about the band and the squeaking sneakers and trying to stay positive about something that actually doesn’t impact my day to day and isn’t my responsibility. I’m glad to be back in Haas-social distancing has never been easier especially in my row.
Come on by to visit!
I really enjoyed this article. Very engaging prose Mr. Kranz.
My hope for this season was addition by subtraction (since the team seemed to play better without Bradley, at times). I think that question may have been answered in the second half without Mr. Clutch around.
As a Cal fan, I have accepted suffering as part of the process. As a student winning was great (when it happened), but it was about much more than just winning. For this reason, it pains me to see the stands so empty, especially in football. I thought us Cal fans had more grit and were less band wagon, but the last few years have proved me wrong.
On the flip side, I would love to see the students embrace our excellent programs, such as swimming. If it is about winning, then those programs really deserve our support.
I became a fan during the 30 years of absence from the NCAA tournament. That’s my context. Yes, the winning years have been fabulous, especially 1990 and 2010. But I’ve learned to appreciate the men who commit their years to playing for Cal, whether tournament quality or not. This team is flawed but has so much more basic competence than under the previous coach. They are capable of playing sound defense for a while, as in the first 16 minutes of the first half, and seem to have the interest and enthusiasm to get better. The newer players definitely have to learn positioning and rotations, but they aren’t completely lost as players were four years ago. Offensively, the players seem unselfish and look for their teammates. Their passing needs work, as does their spacing (and relatedly, their movement). But Fox has a more watchable product and crew than the recent dark years, and I very much enjoy the personality of this team. I’m not giving up on these guys.
I’m looking forward to our upset.
@Thank goodness we can shift from football to basketball season now@
Just say No to Cal basketball. Life is easier this way.
It's rough. I've been following/attending Cal basketball since '79. Even in those dark early days, the program was never as hopeless feeling as it is today. Maybe that was just a product of youthful optimism. Different times, but there was a high level of energy in Harmon that made games entertaining even when we were getting waxed. Haas is lifeless besides the increasingly rare occasions when its full. You add that lack of energy on top of such a piss poor on-the-court product with seemingly no potential and the experience is not only lacking, but it's downright depressing. God bless the few brave souls who show up to these games regularly. So my tact is to mostly ignore and wait until/if Knowlton/Fox ever have something to show me and put that energy into the warriors instead.
Thank you for the article, Nick. I felt the same about the UCSD loss - surprised, but only marginally.
I really like Grant - he’s a smart, hard working Cal Bear....but the fact that he is now our best two-way player is indicative of the current situation, as he’s probably best suited as a 6th man or deeper for a top 25 team....
I’m gonna focus on whether Fox gives consistent minutes to Celestine, Sam, Anyanwu, Roberson & Bowser, as this will be key for their development, which in turn will be essential for any chance at competent basketball in ‘22-‘23.
I could go to the RSF, pick ten guys, and we could beat this Cal team by five. That's how I'm going through this year.
And I'm 55.
"When you wake up in the morning, tell yourself: The people I deal with today will be meddling, ungrateful, arrogant, dishonest, jealous and surly. They are like this because they cannot tell good from evil."
M. Aurelius