Ep. 3 - More Than a Feeling
by AndBears on Mar 24, 2009 5:49 PM PDT
27 comments
Another great game and some more fun times in LA. Bears, I think I'm in love with you. And I'm not alone.
Just a little note about the Basketball support group, I was able to spend some time with them, hanging out in the hotel lobby. First of all, they're a great bunch of people. They've been very welcoming and you can tell that they're the type of group that travels together a LOT. The support guys are the coaches, administrators, media and med staff. They sit around and shoot the shit, telling travel stories, which facilities were crap, and watching the latest photos and videos from the game -- apparently Stanford's visitor facilities are god awful. Ours are too nice to get revenge. My favorite story was the one they told about Oski in Pittsburgh. This was NCAA Women's Tourney 2007 and gameday happened to be on St. Patrick's Day. So, Oski gets suited up and heads out of the hotel lobby at 9 am, to wander around the bars for a while; sure his Oski suit will get him more than enough free drinks. Oski returns for the march to victory/busses, and while he's standing clapping alongside the band he suddenly stops, leans over while lifting up his head, pukes in the gutter, then puts his head back and goes back to clapping. Sarah, director of basketball operations, has to ask 'Did that just happen?!'. Oski never made it to the game, he spent most of it dry-heaving in the bathroom -- BUT he did have time to signal one of the med-staff to ask for an IV, which in Oski's sign language pretty much looked like he was asking to shoot-up.
Ah, good times.
The team does practice while traveling, so they never had a day off like the band/spirit did. Their schedule is odd, eating lunch at 4pm, after practice - lots of carbs, at least some chicken/fish, provided by hotel. On game days they like to eat 4 hours before tip-off if they can help it. Btw, in case you are ever on these trips, make friends with the basketball support team. The girls leave half the food left, I had steak and potatoes which did not cut into my per diem. :) Sandy Barbour won the coin toss both days (to see who plays the national anthem) and everyone seemed to think this was a great sign. The other super awesome thing that happened while I was eating lunch with the support staff, was that I heard that the LA Sparks Coach Michael Cooper wanted tickets to the game! They discussed it and decided that since it wasn't for agents or scouts that there wasn't any compliance issue. All the basketball-side tickets had been handed out, so the Spirit traveler and I happily gave our tickets up (apparently I got two tickets to the games? who knew). Later on, the jumbo-tron in the stadium showed Candace Parker in attendance of the game. Sweet, huh?! I'm so glad our girls rocked this game.
So, onto the game. Same deal as last time, we waited outside for march to victory/busses, and aside from the sun it felt like we had traveled back in time. We lined up and played towards the 4 lanes of Figueora street, and while I listening to the band, I was watching the traffic and out of the 50 cars that passed us only 1 or 2 turned to look at us. The rest seemed annoyed and couldn't be bothered to look slightly left.
This was Monday afternoon so we had ridiculous traffic to get to the game. Our driver had to do some very tight squeezes to get through, and he was basically our hero to get there.
Galen Center
Once again, it was deja-vu all over again. The only difference was that on Saturday the security was strict, ID's were checked, bags inspected... This time they forgot the paperwork or something and handed out wrist bands. We wandered in and had to get set up, there was some confusion as we had to fight for our previous spot and NOT sit behind the camera guys. But it was worked out long before the game.
Dance Team had to ask their Cheer what this Mascot was. They were not surprised to be asked. Personally, I think a 9' tall Thomas Jefferson would make a fabulous mascot.
Band
Band, loud but square. I mean, who DOESN'T like the 'hey' song. (Pre-emptive Ragnarok correction -- it's actually called 'Rock and Roll Part 2')
Dinner
These girls had a great trip too.
Our girls were tight, they were really playing like a team, and spreading out the talent. Rags did tell it like I saw it:
"It was an offensive explosion, as Virginia had basically no answer for Ashley Walker or Devanei Hampton inside. Some of the crispest passing you'll ever see let the Bears pummel the Cavaliers with easy layups, and then Cal tossed in 8 3-pointers for good measure."
I was really impressed by all of your comments, you really saw the same game I did. It's like you guys were there except you weren't listening to the band make swashbuckling noises to mock the Cavaliers. I'm not sure it worked, but it was funny! The fans were definitely in LOVE with the team. They could do nothing wrong and the fans were with them the whole way. No one was calming down or sneaking out the back at a sure thing. And a couple of the fans wanted to proclaim their love...
She noticed me! I think I'm in Love!
But you know how the game turned out, a fantastic success! The band celebrated, then headed on out to the busses. Once we got back to the hotel, the Student Director of the Cal Band made arrangements to ship the big instruments back to Berkeley (must be there before tomorrow at noon, the group is leaving for Trenton New Jersey on Wednesday night) and I waited up in the lobby for the team to return. The team, media and anyone on the bus waits to do the press conference after the game. See, I had heard that they were going fulfill a promise and jump in the pool, and I wasn't disappointed. The girls started shouting to Joanne 'Take off the Boots! Take off the Boots!' -- great footwear is appreciated by the team too. There was a delay as Coach Boyle wanted to change so she didn't ruin her sweater -- it is a pretty nice sweater.
Hurray!!
Sandy Barbour jumped in too! Think she's waterlogged now?
I expect this celebration will also be online soon, maybe they'll have better lighting. I do have to mention that one of the Bball players started up a cheer... "Gimme a C! Gimme an A! Gimme an L!.... Gimme an I! Gimme an F!..." and on and on. I had to laugh. But give them a break, after they're not used to it. It's very difficult! But hey, I can't do a layup... so I consider it even. After that, I was beat and went to bed. Soon we were up and out to LAX to end our trip. It was a good one and I thank the band for it. This is the last one for me, another alum will be with the team to help them take on UConn in Trenton.
Sucks!
The opinions expressed in a FanPost are, in every way, reflective of the opinions of every California Golden Blogs Marshawnthusiast. Moreover, they are reflective of every employee of SBNation, including Tyler "Blez" Bleszinski.
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According to an eyewitness report
Also at the game in addition to Candace Parker and Michael Cooper:
Kathy Goodman, one of the Sparks owners
Nikki Caldwell, UCLA HC
Penny Toler, Sparks GM
Mark Trakh, USC HC
by tjalorak on Mar 24, 2009 6:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
Another awesome post. I wish you were going to Trenton to provide more intrepid reporting, but I can understand that you probably have other things to do in your life. And that’s a long trip.
But tell me, when you say that you sat around shooting the breeze with the support people, does that include the actual coaches of the team? And people like Sandy Barbour? If so, cooool. And was Sandy Barbour at the game? If so, she must have done a lot of traveling to get down to Texas for the swimming championships and then back to LA!
by CalBear81 on Mar 24, 2009 7:36 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
The coaches were around, but usually not talking to me personally. One of them had her daughter there who looked about 4 years old. Also, they spent much more time working than I did. Sandy Barbour was at the game, but I never saw her hanging out in the lobby or at meals. (I don’t think she just hangs out too much). Coach Boyle was usually pretty focused, and I learned the best way to see if she’s approachable is to talk to Sarah, Director of Basketball Operations. Sarah sets the tone for the group, and she takes her cue from Joanne.
Also, I get a little dumb-struck when I am face to face with coaches and Sandy. So, I was perfectly willing to blend into the background and listen.
by AndBears on Mar 25, 2009 1:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know the feeling about being dumb-struck. Whenever I meet somebody famous I think that I will be able to say something brilliant and they will be very impressed with me. But then I end up saying something like, “uh, uh, uh . . .”
And I’m not surprised that Coach Boyle is focused. She seems very intense at the games, and I imagine you can’t get where she is without being that way. But she also seems to have a genuinely affectionate relationship with the players, which I like to see. After the Stanford win this year, as we were walking out of the arena, there was Coach Boyle standing in the hallway talking to a couple of people. My nephew ran over to ask for her autograph without asking me, and I was a little afraid that she wouldn’t like being interrupted. But she was great with him.
by CalBear81 on Mar 25, 2009 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I know that feeling. I saw Willie Mays at Nordstrom. What the hell am I going to say… “HEY I LIKE BASEBALL NGAAAH” !??!
Zeere-a veell be-a nu ixtra pueent!
by Spazzy Mcgee on Mar 25, 2009 2:54 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
That’s just like that time I almost came close to nearly having an opportunity to seeing Mr. T at the mall!
TYRANNICAL KING OF UC EUGENE! BRING ME THE HEAD OF SEATTLE QUACKER!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 25, 2009 4:04 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Popcorn for dinner?
My mom would not approve.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Mar 24, 2009 8:21 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
"TAKE OFF THE BOOTS! TAKE OFF THE BOOTS!"
Classic. We need to find someone with red boots in the student section next year.
by Avinash on Mar 24, 2009 8:23 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
I love Sandy Barbour
She’s such a great advocate for our athletes, and she just seems tireless. Is there a sporting event she doesn’t attend? She probably clones herself if there’s ever a conflict.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Mar 24, 2009 8:28 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
She’s the Tim Tebow of athletic directors
HYDROTECH IS FREE!
by Thoroughbred on Mar 24, 2009 8:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Is she going to throw for three hundy?
by CaliforniaCMB on Mar 25, 2009 12:04 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
If I was getting paid the money she is getting paid, I'd be attending all the sporting events
she does, plus some. Hell, as it stands now, I pay to see us play – good money at that.
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 25, 2009 10:00 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Nice write up.
Also, it’s nice to see so many fans at the game.
Sincerely,
The Montreal Expos.
by 33SwisherSweet on Mar 25, 2009 9:43 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs
hahahahaha
Good one!
sincerely,
The Florida Marlins
There is an "Angel in the outfield" and his name is GA! ps. he is lazy but not a bum GO HALOS!
by wallispdub1 on Mar 25, 2009 11:29 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t get it.
Sincerely,
The Kansas City Royals.
by CaliforniaCMB on Mar 25, 2009 11:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
No seriously. What’s going on?
Sincerely,
The New York Yankees
by CaliforniaBone on Mar 25, 2009 11:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We did that last year.
Sincerely,
The San Francisco Giants
Whose domicile? OUR DOMICILE!
by Berkelium97 on Mar 26, 2009 8:24 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
This.
Sincerely,
The New York Giants
the Maharg is above catch phrases
by Maharg on Mar 26, 2009 8:34 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
We’re sorry we ruined your post, AndBears.
Very Truly Yours,
Every California Golden Blogs Reader
I am the Tyrant Boy King Of UC Eugene! An endless cavalcade of worthless inanities is my currency!
www.CaliforniaGoldenBlogs.com
by TwistNHook on Mar 26, 2009 8:38 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
You know, all of these months with the Giants joke and I was never sure if it was the SF Giants or NY Giants.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
by norcalnick on Mar 26, 2009 8:16 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Can’t it be both?
the Maharg is above catch phrases
by Maharg on Mar 26, 2009 8:37 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
great report!
question though….if this is the Trenton regional….why were the first two rounds played in LA? rather than somewhere closer to trenton?
Go Bears Go
by Rocksanddirt on Mar 25, 2009 3:41 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
because the 'regional' system has nothing to do with geography
that’s the basic answer. they have a bunch of predetermined sites around the country, and they all feed to 4 ‘regional’ sites. there’s no effort to pair teams close to home, or to have opening round games near the regional finals. it’s all random. thank you, ncaa.
So, basically, you gotta Go Bears!
by ragnarok on Mar 25, 2009 4:01 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
Along this same line, I did hear that Cal will have the first round next year. They’d almost certainly would want to be playing in Berkeley.
by AndBears on Mar 25, 2009 5:57 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
actually, they use the “pod” system specifically for the purpose of putting teams closer to home for the first round. That’s why Cal plays in LA, stanford in Berkeley, and michigan state just beat #1 seed duke (from the berkeley regional) on their home court in east lansing, etc…they need to boost attendance for 1st round games so they put the teams closer to home. And for the regionals, they try to put the teams as close to the regional site as possible without giving them an unfair homecourt advantage (which is why Cal isn’t in the Berkeley regional.) for the men’s tourney, you are always placed at a regional site more than 100 miles from your campus.
Go Bears!
by RollOnYouBears667 on Mar 25, 2009 6:35 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs
gah.
at least it made for some shorter flights for the la prelims (for us and fresno anyway)
Go Bears Go
by Rocksanddirt on Mar 25, 2009 4:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs
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