Wonder What Bulldozed Hippie Smells Like (This Weekend in Sports)
As widely reported and speculated in the happy, friendly, bored Cal sporting blogosphere, it seems we’re moving closer to getting retrofitting going in our beloved stadium.
The Hayward Fault cuts through Memorial Stadium, which means that a large-magnitude earthquake could severely damage the structure and endanger lives. Each day, nearly 500 students and staff members use the stadium facilities. In addition to training and sports medicine services, the aging edifice houses offices for programs such as football, field hockey, rugby, crew and lacrosse.
Before the retrofit of the stadium can be launched, students and staff must vacate the premises and move into a new, seismically safe building. That is the purpose of the proposed new Student-Athlete High Performance Center. The plans for the center have met rigorous state environmental and earthquake-safety requirements.
Although the student-athlete center will be built near the Hayward Fault, it does not cross it. To confirm this, the campus hired a top firm, Geomatrix Consultants of Oakland, to dig trenches and drill boreholes to investigate the geology at the site. In response to the city’s concerns about the study, the campus hired the geologists to return and investigate the site in greater detail. The results of that examination substantiate the conclusion that there is no fault under the site. Thus, the design is in complete compliance with the Alquist-Priolo Earthquake Fault Zoning Act, a state law prohibiting new buildings on earthquake faults. Furthermore, seismologists and engineers know from studies of past earthquakes that the level of ground shaking is approximately the same right next to a fault as it is anywhere else within two miles of the fault. Thus, the new student-athlete center is unlikely to experience ground motion greater than any other building on campus or in downtown Berkeley should a major earthquake occur on the Hayward Fault.
You know that things are looking bad for hippies when Cal engineering professors are getting involved in this affair. It takes a lot for them to get involved in bureaucratic riff-raff. The hippies might have to actually start getting violent again.
We’re pretty certain that if a major earthquake happens on the Hayward Fault, we’re all pretty fucked anyway, no matter what building we’re sitting in. There’s a reason we’ve been advocating. And all the hippies will survive because they’re sitting up in the trees, getting in touch with nature. If God is just, there’s no way he could allow for this to happen. No way.
Read on for more Cal and Bay Area sports stories, and some lovely footage of the rise of LeBron.
Hardin Up One Last Year: Devon Hardin seems to be on his way back to Berkeley. The Cal center has stated that “If they pick me No. 1, I’m gone. Other than that, I’m not sure. I know nothing’s guaranteed (in the draft), except returning to Cal.” So unless the Trailblazers’s long-term plan for success is rioting in the Rose Garden, we’ll be getting back Hardin. Our unofficial scouting report is that his value to NBA scouts lies in his defense and his rebounding. Which is great, if your goal is to be the next Adonal Foyle.
Athletically Average, Sleeping Giants: Both of the Bay Area’s MLB teams slog around the .500 mark, with as usual barely anyone talking about them. The Oakland As are faring a little better, managing to win 1-0 on Saturday (Joe Blanton pitching a complete game, three-hitter) and break apart Johan Santana yesterday, winning 4-2. The As remain a steady 6.5 games behind the AL West division-leading Angels. If only Roger Clemens could save them now and bring them to the Promised Land.
On the other side, San Francisco continues to display an uncanny ability to cuase their fans. The Giants lost two straight games against the Phillies this weekend, allowing someone named Cole Hamels to throw a complete game on Saturday and giving up leads of 2-0 and 7-3 in the Sunday game. They’re now 5-15 since the start of May in games decided by 3 runs or less. No word yet on whether Barry Bonds gives a crap about any of these developments.
The LeBronettes Pull Through: For general, important sports, it’s Cleveland and San Antonio in the NBA Finals, thanks in part to LeBron pulling them through Game 5, and unheralded Texas rookie Daniel Gibson knocking down three pointers at will in Game 6. Doesn’t have much to do with the Bay Area, but it does give us an excuse to show you video. Enjoy.
On the State of Schools and Schooling: On solid ground [SF Chronicle]
Good News on the Stadium Front [The Band Is Out on the Field]
Study: no active faults under HPC site [The Cal Football Fan]
Hardin sets to woo pros, but figures to stay at Cal [Inside Bay Area]
LeBron James takes over Game 5! [YouTube]
Daniel ‘Boobie’ Gibson rises up in Game 6 [YouTube]
(Image from Berkeley)
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