DBD 2-5-09: With HYPHENS

You beat me by like 1 second. 1 second!

But fair is fair. Heres the thing. I already did a lot of work moving links over. And apparently that doesnt C+P quite so easily. I dont feel like relinking. HEres the text, tho, of what I had done.

Football gets 18 new players:

    BERKELEY – Seven high school and junior college All-Americans highlight an 18-player recruiting class that features prospects from eight states across the country, Golden Bear head coach Jeff Tedford announced Wednesday. The group includes 14 high school stars and four junior college transfers.

    Cal signed eight players on the offensive side of the ball, as well as nine defensive players and one specialist. The offensive line and linebacking corps, both with four signees, received the biggest boost. The class also contains two defensive linemen, four linebackers, three defensive backs, a running back, a quarterback, a wide receiver, an athlete and a place kicker.

    Cal’s recruiting haul includes six four-star recruits, according to Rivals.com, and Scout.com gives 17 of the 18 players a three-star rating or higher. Eleven players rated among the top 50 in the nation at their position, including one in the top 10. The Bears also signed the highest-ranked player in both Oregon and Washington.

    Cal’s offensive line group was ranked 13th in the nation by Scout.com, while Rivals.com placed three of Cal’s positions in the top 25 – quarterback (T20th), linebacker (24th) and defensive back (15th).

    “We are excited about this class,” Tedford said. “We feel we addressed all of our needs and are bringing in a group of players with the speed and athleticism to compete at a high level. We also believe they have what it takes to succeed as student-athletes at the University of California.”

Mens BBall to take on Washingtons:

    No. 22 Washington Huskies (16-5, 7-2) at California Golden Bears (16-6, 5-4)
    Thursday, Feb. 5, 7:30 p.m., Haas Pavilion, Berkeley, Calif.
    Radio: KYOU (1550 AM) TV: Fox Sports Northwest

    Washington State Cougars (12-9, 4-5) at California Golden Bears
    Saturday, Feb. 7, 7:30 p.m., Haas Pavlion, Berkeley, Calif.
    Radio: KYOU (1550 AM) TV: Fox Sports Net

    California (16-6, 5-4) has lost four of its last five, but still finds itself in the top half of the Pac-10 standings (tied for fourth place) midway through the conference portion of the schedule. The Golden Bears will host two teams they’ve beaten earlier this season, No. 22 Washington and Washington State. Cal faces the Huskies on Thursday, Feb. 5, and the Cougars on Saturday, Feb. 7. Both games have 7:30 p.m. tip-offs.

    Last weekend in Los Angeles, Jamal Boykin recorded his fourth double-double (18 points, 10 rebounds) of the season, the team’s sixth, at USC on Saturday, Jan. 31. Jordan Wilkes also had a stellar weekend, notching a new career-high 16 points against the Trojans and eight points in the previous game at UCLA last Thursday. Wilkes also tallied nine rebounds at USC.

    Jerome Randle continues to pace the squad with 18.3 ppg and has been the Bears’ leading scorer in 14 of 22 games. He is dishing out 5.1 apg and stands tied for second on the team in steals with 17. Randle is ninth all-time in career assists in school history with 322. Randle is also currently in ninth for career three-point field goals made with 130. Randle is also getting close to 1,000 career points, currently standing at 980. Patrick Christopher may get there sooner as his current career point total is 997. Christopher also recently moved into eighth in Cal’s all-time career free-throw percentage list at 79.3 percent (146-184).

Soccer gets new recruits, too!

    BERKELEY – The California men’s soccer program has signed its 2009 recruits and added two other newcomers, Golden Bears head coach Kevin Grimes announced today. Midfielders Steve Birnbaum, Jeff Cosgriff Riley Kovatch, Anthony Salciccia, Chris Ortega, goalkeeper Nick Shackelford and forwards John Fitzpatrick and Kyle Marsh will make their debut next fall. Birnbaum has already enrolled for this semester at Cal, and Cosgriff is a transfer from Santa Clara. Grimes’ signees all hail from the state of California.

    Cosgriff will join the Bears as a senior in 2009, after playing in 64 matches through three seasons as a Bronco. He has nine career goals, three of which were game-winning goals, and a total of 20 points overall. He was an All-West Coast Conference honorable-mention selection in 2008 and made the WCC All-Freshman team in 2006. His three goals in 2008 tied for the team best. Cosgriff also finished second on the squad in points with eight.

    Birnbaum has competed for the U.S. U-18 and U.S. U-20 National team squads in tournaments in Portugal and Mexico in 2008. He was a finalist in the 2008 Milk Cup last year, facing Manchester United in the final. He was also named to the Southern California Starting XI for the USSF Development Academy. For nine years, he was the captain of the premier team for the Irvine Strikers and Pateadores. Birnbaum was also a member of the Cal South ODP team in 2007.

    Currently a member of Marin FC, Kovatch was a member of the champion U-19 club that won the Surf Cup last summer, and was a semifinalist in the fall Surf Cup. He was also a part of the 2007 Las Vegas Coaches Showcase championship team. As a member of Santa Rosa United, Kovatch’s team won the California Cup four times (2001, 2002, 2004, 2006).

    Salciccia was a member of the U.S. U-18 National team in 2008 and 2009. He was also an NSCCA All-American, and selected to the adidas ESP camp in 2007. He was also named one of Soccer America’s Top 100 Players. Currently a member of the Deanza Force Academy, Salciccia played with the Cal North State team from 2004-08, including trips to Costa Rica in 2006, Argentina in 2007 and Italy in 2008. Salciccia is the all-time leading scorer for his Prospect High School club.

ESPN U to broadcast Cal rugby game:

    BERKELEY – With TV cameras on hand for rebroadcast on ESPNU and special commemorative tickets via advance presale, the California Golden Bears and British Columbia Thunderbirds clash at Homecoming on Witter Rugby Field Sat., Feb. 21, at 1 p.m. in the first leg of the annual “World Cup” Series.

    The Bears are winners of nine of the past 12 “World Cup” meetings, a two-match contest in its 88th year based on total points and named after the Vancouver World Newspaper. Last year, Cal retained the cup by splitting the two matches, beating the Birds 35-17 at home and losing their only match, 27-22, at Thunderbird Stadium in Canada.

    “We have the utmost respect for the T-Birds,” Clark said. “Our histories have become entwined around this competition. To say the matches are important is an understatement.”

    Advance commemorative tickets are now on sale — call (800) GO BEARS or visit the Athletic Ticket Office at 2223 Fulton Street, 1st Floor. The ticket office is open Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30p.m. As always, tickets are $8 for adults, $4 for senior citizens and military, and free for all Cal students and all youth 12th grade and below. Additional fees apply for phone/mail orders.

    Gates will open at 11 a.m. and early arrival is encouraged for youth groups to ensure admission. High school and youth teams are encouraged to wear their colors to add to the pageantry of the afternoon.

MAN TRIES TO SMUGGLE PIGEONS INTO AUSTRALIA IN PANTS:

A man has been caught with two pigeons stuffed in his trousers after he got off a flight from Dubai to Melbourne.

Australian customs officials say the live birds were wrapped in padded envelopes and held to the man’s legs by a pair of tights under his trousers.

Officials also found two eggs in a vitamin container in the man’s luggage.

Australia has strict quarantine rules on the importation of wildlife, plants and food. The man, 23, could face up to 10 years in jail.

The nation’s quarantine regulations are designed to protect health, agriculture and the environment.

As well as 10 years’ imprisonment, the maximum sentence for wildlife smuggling includes a fine of A$110,000 (US$70,480; £48,902).

Customs officials say they also seized seeds in the man’s money belt and an undeclared aubergine, following the flight on Sunday.

Now you know how it feels, Twistian!

Rishi, you were just pulling our legs yesterday right? Not landing Kennard, Carroll, or Hasiak was that big a disappointment?

I have an interview with a mixture of bankers and non-practicing scientists who are currently medical school deans at the end of the month at the Pebble Beach Lodge. If the meeting goes well, they will fund my grant. I’ve been informed that the bankers will be judging me by my appearance. I’m going to buy a new suit without breaking the bank…the question is, what’s the price range I should look for that will impress them? Will they really know what a $400 suit looks like vs. a $1000 suit? Are they really that petty?

So why am I even up this early?

CBKWit, you posted this at 7:38 am. That’s “early”? Or did you go through several drafts in the wee hours of this morning?

Yeah, sure, you have hyphens, but where’s the poll?

YO must be fearing the Pink slip. He’s got several recrruiting items/storylines:

Hasiak
3-4
SAHPC
O-line
WR
Tedford on recruits/returners

Lastly, don’t forget the live chat. Bring your dino names and borderline questions. I think we’re on for 1 pm; site TBA.

Thorough might know more about these guys.

RB Anthony Barr, Los Angeles: Stanford, UCLA and USC
WR Dillon Baxter, San Diego: Committed to USC
QB Bryan Bennett, Encino: ASU, Cal, Ore., UCLA, USC, Wash.
QB Brian Bialkowski, Gilbert, AZ: ASU and Cal
FB Zach Fogerson, Seattle: Committed to Washington
QB Jake Heaps, Issaquah, WA: Cal and Washington
RB Malcolm Jones, Westlake Village: Az., OSU, UCLA, USC
OT Erik Kohler, Westlake Village: Cal, Ore., UCLA and USC
DE Chris Martin, Oakland: Committed to Notre Dame
RB D.J. Morgan, Woodland Hills: Committed to USC
S Sean Parker, Harbor City: ASU, Stanford, UCLA and USC
DE Ronald Powell, Moreno Valley: USC
LB Hayes Pullard, Los Angeles: Az,, ASU, Cal, Stan., UCLA and USC
WR Paul Richardson, Los Alamitos: Committed to UCLA
WR Dietrich Riley, La Canada: Az., ASU, Cal, UCLA, USC and Wash.
WR Kenneth Scott, Ontario: Arizona, ASU, UCLA and USC
QB Peter Thomas, El Cajon: Arizona, OSU, UCLA and USC
DT George Uko, Chino: Oregon, ASU, Cal and UCLA
DE Curtis White, Eugene: Committed to Oregon
WR Robert Woods, Gardena: ASU, Cal, Stan. UCLA and USC

California: The Bears signed marquee players at quarterback, offensive line, cornerback and defensive line. Guess here is that this class will exceed expectations.

Miller

calling dibs on Markishaloptolus.

When you evaluate a tight end, you look at body type, flexible hips, knee bend, all the same things you look at in offensive linemen. You also have to look at how he runs, how he catches the ball, his body control, whether or not his head is still when he runs (allows his frame of reference to the ball when thrown to remain constant), in other words he is a combination of wide receiver, full back and guard. If a guys has thick legs and a big ass, he can add necessary weight, and keep his speed. Morrah improved over time as a blocker, but frankly it is the weakest part of his game, he could not consistently seal the edge for runs to the outside. Anthony Miller is an absolute stallion as a blocker (big reason he saw the field this year), receiver wise, he is getting better, but Jarrett is superior at this time. Jarrett may not be the tallest guy, but he is similar to Miller leverage wise, and he’s not afraid to stick his nose into a DE. Jarrett will give you the type of speed Morrah gave, and he will catch anything near him, something Morrah was unable to do because of his lack of body control. He will become an asset, that coupled with Smith, Miller and Ladner will give the Bears more options than they presented last year.

Outside the Lines just did a big story on Kevin Hart, who fake committed to Cal last year. It was pretty interesting.