The California Golden Bears men's basketball team lost in the first round of the NCAA tournament earlier today even though it was St. Patrick's Day and Cal's colors blended together would be green. But I didn't feel devastated about the loss. The team made great progress compared to last year and I hope they get even better next year. Hopefully someone will convince Leon Powe to stay in college another year (without breaking any rules of course).
I find college basketball more entertaining than the NBA. There's just more die-hard enthusiasm on the part of the players and the fans. The do or die nature of the tournament with potential upsets at any time is why it earns the nickname March Madness.
With the Bears out, I guess I can go back to catching up on things and not pay full attention to the remaining games. At least that is how I console myself.
The women's basketball team has done great as well by getting an invite to the tournament for the first time in many years and will be playing on Sunday.
Maybe Cal will get to the College Softball World Series again this year.
I may have just jinxed these teams just by printing this (reference earlier blog entry regarding Golden State Warriors)...
Anyhow Go BEARS!!
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sports. Show all posts
Friday, March 17, 2006
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
Sports/TV: Jerry Rice
The #1 reason I actually watched Dancing with the Stars this season is Jerry Rice -- the greatest wide receiver to ever play in the NFL. Fortunately, he spent most of his career and best years with my favorite team, the 49ers. [Bay Area sports fans have almost been unfairly blessed to see other great athletes like Willie Mays, Joe Montana, and Rick Barry play here on a regular basis].
It's been a privilege to witness Jerry Rice display his precision moves on the [American] football field and translate that to the dance floor (with the help of his dazzling dance partner Anna Trebunskaya, reason #1.5 to watch). Their final performances were a hoot to watch. He's a great guy off the field who deserves all the positive attention he wants.
I remember that around 15 years ago, I found myself standing at the opposite end of the bar from Jerry at a local restaurant (I wasn't drinking so I wasn't imagining this - and all my buddies spotted him first). He wasn't overtly drawing attention to himself and seemed to be hanging out with friends just like any other regular person that night. He was gracious and polite to all the fans who interrupted his conversations with his friends for a hand shake and/or an autograph and/or a closer look at what I imagine was his first of what would be many Super Bowl rings.
I've avoided posting this earlier for fear of jinxing his run into the finals. No matter how much I try to rationalize things, I become very superstitious when it comes to games. In the end, Jerry got further into the finals that I thought possible. Even before the show started, I predicted his toughest competition would come from Stacy Keibler (reason #2 to watch) who I've only seen once or twice on a WWF wrestling show while flipping channels on the weekend. I'm definitely no dance expert, but she just looks like she'd be a great dancer or beach volleyball player. Drew Lachey ended up winning, but I fast-forwarded through his and all the other performers to chop the viewing time to about 15-20 minutes per episode.
Now Jerry Rice is one of the ex-Jocks in a game show on Spike TV where "Average Joe" contestants see if they can outdo professional athletes. It was hilarious to see Jerry's competitive streak emerge as he continually burned these guys on a football field, then turn around and give the guys a friendly hug after it was over. [And cool to see ex-SF Giants third baseman, Matt Williams again. Bill Romanowski and Bo Jackson will make appearances in later episodes].
My best wishes to Jerry Rice to achieve the same sort of commercial success that teammates Joe Montana and Steve Young have enjoyed after retiring from football.
It's been a privilege to witness Jerry Rice display his precision moves on the [American] football field and translate that to the dance floor (with the help of his dazzling dance partner Anna Trebunskaya, reason #1.5 to watch). Their final performances were a hoot to watch. He's a great guy off the field who deserves all the positive attention he wants.
I remember that around 15 years ago, I found myself standing at the opposite end of the bar from Jerry at a local restaurant (I wasn't drinking so I wasn't imagining this - and all my buddies spotted him first). He wasn't overtly drawing attention to himself and seemed to be hanging out with friends just like any other regular person that night. He was gracious and polite to all the fans who interrupted his conversations with his friends for a hand shake and/or an autograph and/or a closer look at what I imagine was his first of what would be many Super Bowl rings.
I've avoided posting this earlier for fear of jinxing his run into the finals. No matter how much I try to rationalize things, I become very superstitious when it comes to games. In the end, Jerry got further into the finals that I thought possible. Even before the show started, I predicted his toughest competition would come from Stacy Keibler (reason #2 to watch) who I've only seen once or twice on a WWF wrestling show while flipping channels on the weekend. I'm definitely no dance expert, but she just looks like she'd be a great dancer or beach volleyball player. Drew Lachey ended up winning, but I fast-forwarded through his and all the other performers to chop the viewing time to about 15-20 minutes per episode.
Now Jerry Rice is one of the ex-Jocks in a game show on Spike TV where "Average Joe" contestants see if they can outdo professional athletes. It was hilarious to see Jerry's competitive streak emerge as he continually burned these guys on a football field, then turn around and give the guys a friendly hug after it was over. [And cool to see ex-SF Giants third baseman, Matt Williams again. Bill Romanowski and Bo Jackson will make appearances in later episodes].
My best wishes to Jerry Rice to achieve the same sort of commercial success that teammates Joe Montana and Steve Young have enjoyed after retiring from football.
Wednesday, November 30, 2005
Sports: Golden State Warriors
The Warriors finally look like a good team this season, but I fear I'll be jinxing them just by posting this. I say this because the last time I was excited about the Warriors was November 1994. I was with my manager in Beijing, China to teach a class. Managed to find an English paper with NBA standings (though delayed by a day or so) and saw the team had started the season undefeated with five straight wins. I bragged to my manager that this was the year. He just snickered at me, mumbled, "Uhh-huhhhh." Then flashed a knowing smile that only a middle-aged ex-surfer dude with several more years of experience and wisdom could get away with.
Sure enough I get home, and it's like the bubble burst. 10 game losing streak, injuries, a divided team, and eventually a fired coach.
So if the team starts losing from here on out, you can blame me. I still have a little bit of doubt. Who would ever dreamed of a day when the Warriors and Clippers would be tied for the lead in their division (with the Lakers down near the bottom)? While I opted to watch "Lost" instead of the game tonight, that may change in the near future. [I really didn't need yet another excuse to stay home in front of the TV set instead of working out at the gym, but I'll take it.]
Sure enough I get home, and it's like the bubble burst. 10 game losing streak, injuries, a divided team, and eventually a fired coach.
So if the team starts losing from here on out, you can blame me. I still have a little bit of doubt. Who would ever dreamed of a day when the Warriors and Clippers would be tied for the lead in their division (with the Lakers down near the bottom)? While I opted to watch "Lost" instead of the game tonight, that may change in the near future. [I really didn't need yet another excuse to stay home in front of the TV set instead of working out at the gym, but I'll take it.]
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