Probably same as before. Four matchups in a post. Four polls using PollDaddy.

Yeah, but the alternative was Vinnie Strang, and Twist was going to kill me if I put Strang in here.

Contrary what you might think, Cal athletics did not begin in 2000.

That’s what everyone says to me!

Twist. These were all Twist’s rankings.

You weren’t around for the nominations, but we pretty much went by the rules we set and we didn’t tinker with the final rankings that much. Check here for the nomination thread.

Keep in mind this is the CGB Hall of Fame, not the actual Hall of Fame, and think about who posts on CGB.

….understand now?

Natalie Coughlin is one of the greatest swimmers ever. In the history of people leaving dry land and immersing themselves in water, she ranks among the best. Only two women (Jenny Thompson and Dara Torres) have won more Olympic swimming medals than Coughlin. Not to mention the world records and all the other awards and accolades. Oh, and her college career was pretty okay too.

Somehow, I think that deserves a 1 seed.

Im as frustrated as you are, SoCal. You dont even know how hard I fought for Nickerson. Avinash was literally going to take him out for a WR who has 5 career receptions. Thats why he keeps making jokes about Nickerson, because of the bruising battles.

The way I see it, Nickerson can be a cinderella when he takes down Tony G!

I agree with my fellow old guy, SoCal, that placing KJ at #8 and Nickerson at #16 is an injustice. During the mid-to-late 1980s, these were the unquestioned icons of Cal basketball and football, respectively. And they were also the two most prominent Cal alums in pro ball, bridging the gap between the Muncie-Bartkowski years and the arrival of Gonzalez and Kidd.

I would also add that Kent—his years in Dodger blue notwithstanding—is too low at #16, given his tremendous major-league career and his quiet but generous contributions to Cal sports (particularly on the women’s side.)

Thanks, though, for putting together this off-season diverstion. And thanks, too, for including Vicky Galindo! She’s my “sleeper” pick, although a 5-seed might be too generous. The toughest first-round matchup for me is Barbour vs. Milano: the best AD we’ve had, hands down, vs. an underappreciated icon of Cal athletics, as player, coach, and administrator. He’s so legendary, Pepperidge Farm even named a cookie after him!

And there are some people, though appreciated for their Golden Bearness, whom I wouldn’t have included in an HOF tournament field if I were making it up myself. But rules are rules. The nomination thread set forth the criteria and the rules. And the rec’s spoke for themselves. (Remember, we could only vote for athletes/coaches whom we saw in person. And given the apparent demographic of this blog, the bracket isn’t all that surprising.)

I must say this, though: even though I see many things about which to quibble on the list, listing Natalie Coughlin as a #1 seed isn’t one of those. One of our most decorated Olympians ever. An all time great in her sport, a champion, and an ambassador for the university. I’d say she’s # 1 seed worthy.

He went to the playoffs once, never as the best (or even second best) player on his team. Let’s not get carried away with Shareef, the ultimate undersized power forward.

Or maybe he was just a pioneer. Half the players in basketball are about 6’9 225 these days.

Need to be? Otherwise this bracket is invalid?

Furthermore, switching Benson and Anderson would get us…Anderson vs. Benson. Am I missing something?

Avinash must have forgotten to note that we have removed Mark Bingham from voting, because he will be an automatic inductee. Hes already in, people! Huzzah! We have our first inductee! WHAT HISTORY!

He’s automatically going in.

No, he doesn’t beat out Tony Gonzalez. But 167 tackles in 11 games as a junior in 1985, to go along with sophomore and senior seasons that were only slightly less prolific. 167 tackles. In just 11 games! His 16-year NFL career was no less productive, and he recently appeared on ESPN’s list of all-time NFL “Draft Steals”. His game in 1985 against USC—a glorious 14-6 upset victory—still ranks as the best game I’ve ever seen a linebacker play. As recalled here, his 17 tackles that afternoon pushed him past Ron Rivera as Cal’s all-time leading tackler (as a junior!) and earned him Sports Illustrated’s defensive player of the week. That game was also cause for much optimism headed into 1986, but super-freshman from 1985—running back Marc Hicks—had a sophomore slump for the ages; he transferred after ’86 and was never heard from again.

deserves a spot in any Cal Hall of Fame before Tedford does. (As does Pete Newell . . .but that’s a different argument. The Naismith Hall of Fame has a section for “contributors” – people who didn’t coach or play, but made significant contributions to the game of basketball – like Danny Biasone the inventor of the 24 second clock. I propose that we have a contributors section of the CGB Hall of Fame, so Chancellor Tien, Prof. Seaborg and Pete Newell will have a spot.

I’m amazed someone went through the annals and dug up the 50 greatest.

Darren Lewis went to Cal?