Greetings friends.  It's been a while since I've done one of these.  As it is, it's cold, snowing, dreary, foggy, and generally miserable in New York, and I'm still at work because I don't have today off.  Still, there's no one in the office so I'll probably take off once I finish this.  Huzzah!

By the way, I have no idea if these links have already been posted.

Cal men's basketball is set to open Pac-10 play against Arizona:

Fresh off of producing one of its best nonconference records in school history, and riding a five-game winning streak, California (11-2) opens the Pac-10 portion of its schedule against Arizona on Friday, Jan. 2, at 5:30 p.m. at Haas Pavilion. The Golden Bears, who won six of their seven games in the month of December, claimed their 11th Golden Bear Classic title in 16 years last weekend, knocking off Portland in the final with an 81-61 victory over the Pilots on Dec. 28.

I feel much more confident in the team this year now that Ben Braun is gone.

Women's basketball finished with a 9-2 nonconference record:

"We needed to play a game. It felt like a year since our last game," Cal coach Joanne Boyle said. "Again, it was a game of two halves. I thought we did a great job in the second half. We've got to be consistent."

Cal has won the last four meetings with Saint Mary's and holds a 13-5 advantage in the series overall. The Bears are 33-13 against the West Coast Conference since the WCC began sponsoring women's basketball in 1985-86.

The Bears end the nonconference schedule with a 9-2 record. They open Pac-10 play on the road this Friday, Jan. 2, at Arizona.

Get out there and support your Bears!  You know, when they're back in Berkeley.

Sandy Barbour wants you to remember where our Bears' bread is buttered:

Dear Friend of Cal Athletics:

As 2008 comes to a close, I would like to thank all of our incredible fans for their support so far this season. Our fans, student-athletes and coaches are the foundation from which we build champions. I would also like to thank our network of corporate sponsors for their support. Our sponsors help create an environment that leads to success on the playing field and in the classroom.

During the holiday season and beyond, I encourage you to support our corporate sponsors with your patronage.

Have a great holiday season and Go Bears!

Sandy Barbour
Director of Athletics

I feel like I should write her and tell her that we here at the CGB will support the team's corporate sponsors once we get media credentials...TO THE BROCK MANSION PARTY YACHT!

I wonder if Brock knows about this whole Party Yacht business.

Blake Smith was named a 2nd team Preseason All-American by Louisville Slugger:

University of California junior outfielder/first baseman/pitcher Blake Smith has earned another preseason accolade as he has been named a Louisville Slugger Preseason second-team All-American as a utility player by Collegiate Baseball. Earlier Smith had been named the nation's 16th best player, according to The College Baseball Blog, and was selected to the Wallace Award Watch List as a potential player of the year candidate for the 2009 college baseball season. Additionally, he was named the seventh best prospect from Team USA by Baseball America in early September.

So if he's picked as a utility player, does that mean he's like, a second team version of Chone Figgins or Tony Graffanino?  (My hunch: yes.)

Commence link dumping. 

GO EAGLES