Archive for Sports

Well, That Wasn’t Fun

I do find the whole experience of being #1 for 2 hours very enjoyable in retrospect, since we could be out of the rankings by next Sunday. I don’t know why people are so keen on us going to the Rose Bowl. That place seems to bring out the worst in us. At least you [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Saturday, October 20th, 2007

The Bears Are Roaring, The Baby Bears Are Moaning (Cal-UCLA Preview)

Unless I make a 100% recovery, I won’t be writing too much this weekend–my body is still battling for its constitutional right to be healthy (that is a right, isn’t it?). I’ll be monitoring the games as best as I can, and give you my thoughts on Monday. I know this is literally the worst [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Friday, October 19th, 2007

Ask the Readers: How Do You Cope With Defeat?

Apparently, I do it by writing seven unbelievably rambling posts in the wee hours of the night following said defeat, to quell any feelings of depression and angst. How about you?

Some responses from a place that knows how to cope best, The Bear Insider. Lots of humor, sage wisdom, and sanguine waxing about what lies [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Thursday, October 18th, 2007

Battling For January–Inside the Pac-10, Part II

Part I here.
“Not a worry in the world.”
Oregon State (4-3, 2-2 in the Pac-10)
Feisty win by the Beavers. That being said, it’s hard for me to see them passing any one of the top four contenders on this list, because smarter defensive coordinators will remember that pressuring Canfield will lead him to lunge the ball [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Wednesday, October 17th, 2007

Halftime–Inside the Pac-10, Part I

Despite my disappointment about Saturday’s result, there is a nice little caveat entering the midpoint of the college football season–the Pac-10 schedule looks very intriguing again. And that means MORE FOOTBALL, which can’t be a bad thing, right?
Let’s take a look-see at the ins and outs of a Pac-10 season that will probably only get [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Tuesday, October 16th, 2007

Oh, You Pesky Little Beaver (Quick Hits, Cal-Oregon State)

Now that we’re all back from therapy, here are the leftover thoughts from the Beaver breakdown (please do not take my seven post madness as actual analysis–it’d be like using any of Bill Simmons’s articles as hard-hitting analysis). Keep in mind I’m still not 100%, so if this is rambling, so be it.
–Fantastic game for [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Monday, October 15th, 2007

Calling All REAL Cal Fans…

(Last post of the millions)
Look, I just suffered through one of the worst weeks as a sports fan, with the Bills’ catastrophic Monday Night loss starting the week and the maddening pain of tonight’s defeat ending it. Mentally I felt like Joe Frazier after the Thrilla in Manila; completely battered, ruined and embittered beyond belief, [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Sunday, October 14th, 2007

Bending to Heartbreak (Why Gregory’s System Failed Us)

(Post six of millions)
To be honest, I wasn’t terribly surprised when the defense folded on the two crucial TD drives in the second half. Want to know why?
The teams we’ve played the past few weeks have either been anemic on offense (Arizona, Louisiana Tech, Colorado State), or garnered towards high octane plays (Oregon and Tennessee). [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Sunday, October 14th, 2007

Here is What Lost the Game

(Post five of millions)
3. Cal had three turnovers (one fluky, one impressive, one disastrous) that led to 13 Oregon State points. All of these drives together netted under thirty yards. Pretty high yard-to-point ratio.
(Note: You know a loss really sucked for you when turnovers are only the third most important reason you lost)
2. After Cal’s [...]

Posted by: Avinash on Sunday, October 14th, 2007

Here is What Won the Game

(Post four of millions)
Cal on 4th and goal at the 1: 0-1, zero yards, turnover on downs.
OSU on 4th and goal at the 1: 2-2, two yards, two touchdowns.
Games are decided by inches. And this is the stat that shows you the Beavers wanted this game more. They earned this win. Congrats Oregon State.

Posted by: Avinash on Sunday, October 14th, 2007