CGB Hall Of Fame Round Of 32: DeSean Jackson v. Morgan Beck
by TwistNHook on Jul 24, 2009 6:00 AM PDT
in Hall of Fame
49 comments
Tha1 vs the upstart. One specimen of speed, the other of grace. Desean. Morgan. Who will triumph?
For each athlete, you can vote in the poll; it closes a week from today at midnight. After the jump, you can read the athlete profiles written up by our commenters, and discuss in the comments your memories of each athlete and which one deserves to move on. (Check out the full bracket here. To check out the original nomination thread, click here. For those who want to track the CGB Hall of Fame posts exclusively, click here or right next to the timestamp above where it says "Hall of Fame".)
Lingering thoughts from some fool blogger.
When you were on, you were spectacular. You provided some of the most raucous reactions in Memorial Stadium in recent memory with your big game plays. The fans called for your name in earnest as the 2007 season grew darker, just hoping for a spark to come from somewhere, hoping you’d provide it. It didn’t really happen. But it was a good ride, and I'll miss that excitement and energy that each catch and return presented.
#11 Morgan Beck
This whole section is thanks to Danzig here.
MORGAN BECK
(Click to enlarge)
Home: Coto De Caza, CA
Birthday: 3/30/1987
Position: Opposite/Outside Hitter
Height: 6-3/191 cm
College: California
Current Team: Women's US National TeamIf an official vote were to be taken today, she wouldn't make the Cal HOF. No surprise, she only graduated this year. But why does she deserve to be inducted into our mock HOF? Because in the following years, we probably won't be able to keep her out.
She's an incredible volleyball player and a physical presence at the net. She still has the most impressive overhand jump-serve I've ever seen. She's got a big time arm and has the feet to play both indoor or go pro-beach. Her fluid movements remind me of another great player, Gabrielle Reece.
Forecast: MORGAN BECK WILL BE THE NEXT GABRIELLE REECE. She's got all the tools to attain the female-athlete career trifecta: sports, modeling and broadcasting. Plus, she's a Cal grad so we should probably expect a book or two. Morgan and Gabrielle play the same position, are the same height and are both from SoCal.
The evidence is starting to pile up:
1999-2000: Gabrielle Reece represented our country in international Volleyball competition.
2009: Morgan Beck will be representing our country in international competition, starting this year.
When you play for the USA, sometimes you have to wear red.---- ---- ----
Gabrielle Reece started modeling during college (FSU).
...Morgan is just getting started.
---- ---- ----
Gabrielle's book was, um... I didn't read it.
Morgan's first book was a tour de force. Her elegant hybrid-asset pricing model started turning heads immediately among the savviest hedge fund traders. It was also clear that she had a guru's grasp of the fundamentals of value investing.
---- ---- ----
Do I detect a pattern here? Now Morgan just needs to get on TV.(By the way: Reece was inducted into the Florida State Hall of Fame in 1997.)
Why does she deserve a spot in our mock HOF? Because one day she's going to make our school look cool. She's going to represent Cal and the USA on the world stage. And we're going to be so proud that she's a Golden Bear.
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Even though I do love underdogs......
DJ gets my vote. Cal’s womens VBall team is awesome, getting to the National semi-finals (if memory serves me well…..) before running into Juggernaut Penn St. AND beating Stanfurd earlier in the year !!!!!!!!! Those women ROCK !!!!! But…………..
DJ just has too many highlight reels to pass him over. DJ could have played at USC but chose Cal. DJ did that thing against Tennessee that told you we were going to win. DJ left an Oregon CB wondering where his jock strap was as he ran by him for a TD. I could go on, but you know it all. So then why did I vote for Ashley over Leon, but not for Morgan? Because a VBall double-team is nothing like a basketball double-team.
Volleyball may be one of those sports (like crew) where you need to nominate a team instead of an individual, or maybe I just need to watch more volleyball…….but I do like swimsuit the shot.
Now, DJ, PLEASE hold on to the ball all the way into the end zone or you won’t get my vote next year.
I'd like to smell the Roses before I die.
Holy crap, did we miss this?
The Toe to Toe guys who did the Alex Mack thing did another one this year. And they did Morgan Beck and Kat Reilly. Cool stuff.
I can’t objectively vote on this, so I didn’t vote.
"We lose to Stanford in many sports, but if you want to make a Cal team quit, bring a weapon."
--Coach Clark
morgan beck is cute n all...but
she was never the star of the team (that would have been Angie Pressey and Hana Cutura). She was also inconsistent and had to be pulled from the starting lineup at times. With her shoulder issues it will be difficult for her on the next level, but I hope she beats the odds.
on a side note, I heard that Angie and Justin Forsett are engaged!!! If so, congrats, and may your children lead our FB team to the rose bowl with superior quickness and 45 inch verticals.
Let me preface this by saying I miss Barry, too, and I day-dream every day about his left-handed bat in the Giants 2009 lineup. I’d even admit to being a Barry apologist, arguing that he is truly “misunderstood”. Barry always made his teams better, unlike a certain prima donna British footballer celebrity who has recently returned to recommence wrecking my beloved LA Galaxy.
Nonetheless, I have to ask the following? You’re OK with Barry’s attitude, but not Mesean’s?
Maybe it could be argued that Jackson was more Beckham-like than Barry-like. Maybe. And there were definitely times in the back half of 2007 where it seemed DeSean was no longer bringing his top effort (i.e., a lot of fair catches and half-assed routes run once dreams of a Heisman and BCS championship evaporated away.) It’s also possible, though, that frustration was simply getting the better of him.
For all his I’m-THA1-so-you-better-look-at-me attitude, my impression of DeSean, overwhelmingly, was that he was a team player; he may not have been a captain-esque leader (as Beckham purports to be), but DeSean (almost) always brought his A-game to do whatever he could (including blocking downfield) to help his team win. He’ll never be my favorite Golden Bear, but I think he probably deserves more love than he’s been getting from Old Blues of late.
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Jul 24, 2009 10:23 AM PDT up reply actions
I think you underestimate how much I value looks. I also think you overestimate how seriously I take these votes. :)
by Missing Barry on Jul 24, 2009 12:59 PM PDT up reply actions
"Mesean"
I hate that nickname. Don’t know why because it does make sense, but I just do.
Probably have seen it used by the USC fans on YouTube too much.
"Today's weather, excessively violent with a chance of dismemberment. Tune in later for our 5-day forecast!"
~ Three Dog - Fallout 3
by Swamphunter on Jul 24, 2009 11:22 AM PDT up reply actions
I've grown a little tired of people calling Desean a prima donna star WR
Please go through the history of great modern wide receivers and pick out one who didn’t have a giant ego sans Jerry Rice (it’s still too early to judge Larry Fitzgerald). You need a lot of something in you to perform well on that stage.
Torry Holt. Marvin Harrison…yeah, ok, that’s probably about it.
No longer wanting an interview with Ryan Anderson.
by yellow fever on Jul 24, 2009 11:42 AM PDT up reply actions
Being a prima donna is fine if you are winning. Swagger is awesome when you are winning. We were not winning in 2007. And Desean never manned up.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 24, 2009 12:43 PM PDT up reply actions
What I don’t understand is why wide receivers feel the need to act the way they do. You don’t see QB’s or RB’s running around with Chad Johnson/TO-like antics, and they do a lot more for the team than WR’s. I don’t see why we shouldn’t hold WR’s to the same standard as every other position…just because some other WR’s have an attitude problem it’s ok?
I would add Isaac Bruce and Andre Johnson to the list, never heard anything bad about them. Tim Brown?
by Missing Barry on Jul 24, 2009 1:05 PM PDT up reply actions
I don’t understand either. What made WRs the glamor position?
I find Chad Ochocinco kinda funny though. I find it even funnier that ESPN reporters are now obliged to refer to him as Chad Ochocinco. High comedy every time.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 24, 2009 1:08 PM PDT up reply actions
It’s the most spectacular position in football, like the shooting guard/small forward who can dunk in hoops or the striker in soccer and the slugger in baseball. ESPN loves to pump up receivers and they oblige.
Plus wide receivers take vicious punishment from the fastest defenders on the field. You probably need a coping mechanism of some sort to survive on that level.
I think it is worse for running backs. Plus, WRs love to run out of bounds.
They should make a rule that you have to be of a certain talent level to be allowed to be ridiculous as a WR. TO, Ochocinco, Moss, etc. are all allowed to because they are all very very good. If you are not very good (I am looking right at you, Freddie Mitchell) you have to shut the fuck up.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 24, 2009 1:19 PM PDT up reply actions
The momentum of hits on wide receivers is far more violent. Two fast guys running into each other is more violent than slower guys running into each other.
They’re used far more game to game than receivers are. A top receiver might touch the ball seven-eight times a game; a running back can get twenty-thirty carries, not to mention the receptions.
Right, but the question, such as it is, is who takes more punishment out on the field. That’d be running backs.
Their punishment is gradual and inglorious, while a wide receiver gets whacked in ferocious ways. Take a look at the number of times you’ve seen an outside linebacker or a safety try to knock the head off a wide receiver. I’d say it probably takes a bigger amount of ego to hang in there and take the punishment.
Well, unless you’re a madman like Earl Campbell.
I think a lot of WRs’ attitude stems from the fact they rely on others to get the ball. A QB has the ball in his hands virtually every play, and while he might like his coach to call more pass plays, he’s guaranteed to get plenty of chances to show his stuff. Likewise, RB’s might, and often do, clamor for more carries, but the starting tailback is going to touch the ball at least ten times, likely twenty, so he’ll get his opportunities, too.
But pity the poor play-making WR who might go an entire half without seeing the ball thrown his way, because of play calling and—especially for the superstars—opponents choosing to double-team them. Keyshawn summed it up best, “Just Throw Me the Damn Ball.”
Go Bears!
by California Pete on Jul 24, 2009 2:13 PM PDT up reply actions
Or people that care more about the game than the antics. I don’t want or need touchdown celebrations. Of course I’ll give props to Johnson for being one of the best receivers in the league, but I just don’t care about all the other stuff that makes him such a big name.
by Missing Barry on Jul 25, 2009 9:49 AM PDT up reply actions
I love Jerry, but he had a giant ego. It just pales in comparison to the current divas, plus his ego was entirely in line with his talent.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Ego and prima donna attitude are different things, though. Rice was always on the same page as his teammates, never showing other players up, never disrupting chemistry by demanding the ball, always working harder than anyone else in the NFL, playing every single play hard. Rice played the game the right way, his entire focus was to do everything he possibly could to help his team win.
by Missing Barry on Jul 24, 2009 2:05 PM PDT up reply actions
As opposed to Joe Montana, who by all accounts was an arrogant blowhard. Of course he won, so nobody cared.
Uh…you must have been reading different accounts from me. I’ve never heard anything about him being arrogant. In fact, quite the opposite, like Rice he was very much a team player.
Later on, he had to share the spotlight with Jerry Rice, which he took to about as well as Bette Davis took to her understudy in All About Eve. When asked about young Rice, Joe turned away and said, “I don’t know if there’s anything he can’t already do.” His look said, “But I already know there’s nothing I can’t do.” At least he deigned to speak on the record about Rice. Joe acted as if Steve Young didn’t exist, often saying “Which?” when people mentioned him.
Morgan Beck is so hot, I almost regret not voting for her.
The Ultimate Opportunist
by Rated-R Superstar on Jul 24, 2009 3:43 PM PDT reply actions
Whoa, what the hell happened this weekend? Morgan was down by 25 votes when I last checked. Now it’s practically tied! Damn….
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
I’m pretty sure that these votes get linked by partisans. I was looking for some Ashley Walker stats last week and came upon a Cal women’s basketball message board posting telling people to go vote for Ashley – that corresponded with a tightening of the vote. Apparently KJ tried to stuff the ballots too. It appears that more than CGB’s regular readers will be influencing the results.
The #1 greatest threat to America: BEARS
Yeah, but for volleyball?
Is there something like that? I’m guessing more that Morgan’s making strides with our single and horny young adult male demographic.
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
My thing with DeSean is this...
I remember watching the beginning of an Eagles game last year. There’s the part at the beginning where they show the players and a short clip of them saying what school they went to. You know which school Jackson listed? Long Beach Polytechnic. His high school! Doesn’t sound like much of a Cal guy to me.
I don't always blog. But when I do, I prefer AN. Stay thirsty my friends.
that left a bad taste in my mouth, too
I’ve been trying to get my younger cousin (in middle school) into Cal football. He loves sports, especially football, but has primarily been following the NFL. In 2007, he came out for the Cal-SC game at Memorial, and I told him to keep an eye on #1. Coincidentally, his favorite NFL team has always been the Philadelphia Eagles. So when DeSean was drafted to the Eagles, it was pretty big news. I think at that moment it also concretized in his young mind that college football wasn’t just a second-rate sport, that superstar amateur athletes are well-represented and that there’s a degree of pride in the “founding” of a star before he’s officially famous in the pros. It was almost perfect until that Sunday afternoon when they were showing the line-ups for the Eagles offense and, well, back to square one… “wait, what the hell’s Long Beach Poly… didn’t he go to Cal?” Thanks, D-Jax. I voted for Morgan.
Yeah
but remember in the post-oregon game interview he talked about attending the best university in the land. how come no one talks about that?
Beck up by 16 now
This is pretty amazing by Morgan. I’m starting to wonder how many teenagers are reading our site.
Contact me: bearsnecessities@gmail.com
She is going to lose by roughly 450 votes next time, however.
All aboard the Jahvid Best rickshaw!
by rollonubears on Jul 28, 2009 5:55 PM PDT up reply actions
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