If you thought 39 Olympians was impressive, just wait until you hear we now have 40.  Go Bears!

Amin Nikfar made the Iranian Olympic team in the Shotput.  We have so many representatives on so many different teams, we are in a great position for World Domination.  And if anybody gets in our way, we'll launch shots at them! 

BERKELEY - Former California student-athlete Amin Nikfar made the Iran Olympic team after he won the shot put at the Flagstaff Invitational on June 26 with a personal-best throw of 65-4 (19.94m). The throw earned Nikfar an Olympic `B' qualifying mark for the upcoming Olympics in Beijing, China, and reset his Iranian national record in the event.

Nikfar is Cal's 40th athlete to qualify for the Games, as the Golden Bears' 2008 contingent is the largest ever for the school at one Olympics - topping the total of 38 from 1996 and 2000. Nikfar, currently a volunteer coach for the Northern Arizona University track and field team, is the fourth Cal track and field athlete who will participate in this year's Games and the 44th Cal Olympian in the history of the program. He will be joined by Magdalena Lewy, Grace Upshaw and Kristin Heaston, all three of which will represent the U.S. team.

 

Speaking of the Olympics (as we often do these days), Cal is hosting the women's volleyball Olympic scrimmage on 7.31.08.

BERKELEY, Calif. - Fans are invited to attend the U.S. Women's Olympic Indoor Volleyball team's intrasquad scrimmage on Thursday, July 31, at 5 p.m. at Haas Pavilion. Tickets are $5 for everyone and go on sale at 4 p.m. the day of the scrimmage at the facility.

The scrimmage, which will be hosted by the California Athletic Department, will be fans last opportunity to see the USA team play before it departs for the Beijing Games Aug. 1. After the scrimmage, Team USA players will sign autographs.

The U.S. team, which is ranked No. 4 in the world, is coached by "Jenny" Lang Ping, who was inducted into the Volleyball Hall of Fame as a player in 2002. Lang Ping was a member of the Chinese women's national team that won an Olympic gold medal over the United States at the 1984 Summer Games in Los Angeles, a World Championship crown in 1982 and World Cup titles in 1981 and 1985.

Nothing new on the BDP front, save for some letters to the editor:

ARITHMETIC

Editors, Daily Planet:

"Oh yes, it’s planting three trees for every one destroyed in the construction. Aren’t they teaching arithmetic up there anymore? Exactly what’s the amount of carbon processed by a sapling, or any tree in its first 50 years or so, as compared to the efficiency of the mature trees which will be eliminated if UC has its way?"

Slight correction to make: in very recent studies by the National Energy Technology Laboratory (basically, labs which study making energy policy more efficient in the United States and solving global warming issues, ie, very enviro-friendly), it was found that young trees, specifically those less than 50 years old, absorb far more CO2 than mature ones.

The researchers also said there’s a natural way to sequester carbon—by planting trees. Young trees, those less than 50 years old, pull carbon dioxide from the air and put out oxygen, through photosynthesis.

"A 50-year-old Douglas fir appears to be at its peak in terms of carbon sequestration," O’Connor said. "On the other hand, an old-growth tree that’s growing very slowly doesn’t do a very good job of it.

"Through photosynthesis, forests absorb carbon dioxide and store it in their trees and soil. Absorption is the greatest when trees are young and growing vigorously, and tapers off as they mature."

Just thought Ms. O’Malley might want to print a correction in the next issue, and perhaps re-learn some arithmetic. Thanks for doing that!

Nathan Moss

 

BURN!!!

This one is confusing:

CONFLICT IN MAYOR’S RACE

Editors, Daily Planet:

What is mayoral candidate Zachary Running Wolf going to think when he finds out that Doug Buckwald wrote a commentary with candidate Shirley Dean? Sounds like trouble. One other item the Daily Planet readers might like to know that Becky O’Malley forgot to mention is that Cal is playing the Indian Institute of Technology I think sometime in November. Go Bears!

Matthew Shoemaker

Shallow season overview by a betting site.

Utterly inane article on Rodgers being a flop.

Avinash continues work at the Cal Tournament.

Carolyn Jones' article on the tree-sitter descending on Monday.

This only really relates to Cal if we make the Final Four, but Billy Packer is mercifully gone. 

With all this talk of Arena Football and Joe Ayoob, here is a article on it. 

Texas’ Armar Watson scored the first TD of the 4th quarter on a 4 yard run. Central Valley scored the final two TDs of the game as Coyotes back up QB Joe Ayoob connected with Ira Watley III for 18 yards and Jomo Wilson rushed for a 22 yard score.

He threw 2 TDs!!

Here's his team page.

via www.cvcoyotes.com

 

PERSONAL:  Ayoob’s father Joe attended Clemson University on a basketball scholarship… Ayoob’s hobbies include fixing old cars and playing X-Box… His favorite quote is “You never know, until you try.”

 

Finally, we have created a Gold Out page with a collection of information on the Gold Out.  Czech it out!

Dump Away!  Go Bears!