DBD 8.12.11 What gets you pumped?

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Just in case you’re one of THOSE people.

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Five things to watch in New Orleans

Chemistry lessons. Quarterback Alex Smith said in June that developing better chemistry with top wideout Michael Crabtree was crucial after the two failed to do so prior to the 2010 season

Flight of the Condor. Defensive coordinator Vic Fangio tried to rein in expectations for first-round draft pick Aldon Smith this week, saying that the rookie still has plenty to learn. That’s true

Secondary education. The 49ers’ biggest rebuilding project this year has been in the secondary. The team added three new prominent players – Carlos Rogers, Donte Whitner and Madieu Williams – in the hope of turning what has been a weakness into a team strength.

Man in the middle. For the second straight year, the 49ers will open the preseason without their starting nose tackle.

Communication lessons. Alex Smith will be the first to tell you that the communication process last year – Jimmy Raye to the sideline to Smith’s helmet – was more Pony Express than high-speed cable.

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The Raiders starters dominated this game. The offense did a solid job of moving the sticks, and in the starting defense one series (Routt, Chris Johnson and Rolando McClain didn’t play after the first series) they stifled the Cardinals offense. They only gained yards on two of their six offensive plays in their first series, and those came on a third down 15-yard scramble by Kevin Kolb, and then a harmless four yard run on third and 10.

Jason Campbell was 6-for-9 with 66 yards, and while the running game only averaged just over three yards per carry in the first two series, they were able to smash out some yards when it mattered most.

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Because the Giants had some August struggles last year, everything will always work out every year. Or, at least, it could. I’m as guilty of this as anyone. Last year on August 11th, the Giants were 2.5 games back. Two weeks later, they were 6.5 games back. Still tied for the Wild Card lead, but the division wasn’t a realistic goal.

This will be brought up every time the Giants struggle in the summer months until 2058, when Zan Posey hits a grand slam in the last game of his career, leading the Giants back from a 12-game deficit and winning the division. Then that will be brought up through the next century. Every time the Giants look like a festering scab of an offense: 2010! Remember how they pulled it all out! 2010!

And it’s obvious why it’s brought up. If you gave up on the Giants last year, you were wrong. There were moments of darkness that looked permanent, as if Jose Guillen had broken the light bulb in your heart while trying to swat a mosquito. He missed. And then this, then that, that one thing, and World Champions. It happened once. Don’t give up. I get that, and I do it too.

I can’t watch =/

India 224

England 584/3 (158.1 ov)

$20 for Sony noise-cancelling headphones

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They can buy a little time, but the real remedy must come from Western politicians

Above all, there is a moral hazard in central-bank activism. It risks encouraging governments to sit back and let others do the work that they find too difficult themselves. That is both a dangerous abdication of responsibility and a missed opportunity.

In America Congress must rouse itself to provide both fiscal support in the short term—extending temporary payroll-tax cuts and unemployment insurance, and investment in infrastructure—and a credible plan to cut the deficit in the medium term through tax reform and tackling entitlements. There are bipartisan plans that do this. Mr Obama and his Republican adversaries have previously opened the door to such a grand bargain. A new deficit-reduction committee presents another opportunity. Cynics say it is naive to expect anything dramatic before the 2012 election; yet it is also naive to expect investors to be fobbed off with lame efforts like the debt-ceiling deal.

Day 4: Running Backs Learning Fast

Sofele leads inexperienced yet encouraging group of backs

Entering camp, junior Isi Sofele sits atop of the depth chart. Sofele has the most experience of the group, serving as the backup to last year’s starter Shane Vereen, now of the New England Patriots in the NFL. Rushing for 338 yards on 69 carries in 2010, Sofele has some big shoes to fill if he is going to help extend the Bears’ streak of having two running backs combine for 1,500 yards or more for a ninth consecutive season. Cal has also had a 1,000-yard rusher in eight of the last nine seasons.

However, the pressure does not scare Sofele one bit. The 5-8, 190 pound native of Salt Lake City, Utah, welcomes the challenge that lies before him.

“I feel like I’ve worked for this opportunity,” Sofele said. “I’ve worked my whole life to get to this point, so I feel like I’m ready.”

For the group as a whole, Gould is happy with the progress he’s seen through the first week of training camp. As much as Gould complimented Sofele and all of his running backs’ progress, he does not expect one back to carry the load by himself.

“I’ve been extremely pleased with the work ethic they’ve shown, and their understanding of the offense and all the technical things we’re trying to get them to do.” Gould said. “Our theme this year is `One Heartbeat,’ so collectively, we’re going to get it done.”

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Some of the topics head coach Jeff Tedford addressed when he spoke to reporters after the workout are below.

Personnel and which true freshmen might play in 2011 …
“That’s what we’re going to have to figure out. Sunday we’re going to have a personnel meeting and figure out which ones [are going to play as true freshmen in 2011], because [if] they play a down they’re in. We have some decisions to make on that. We won’t make a decision but that’s the first time we’re going to sit down and go guy by guy, see what they do, how they fit into special teams. We’ve been making a big point of evaluating these guys on special teams as well, because that’s where they’re going to make a big contribution.”

Looking at true freshmen during training camp …
“At some point, you want to put them in there with the ones and see how they’re going to hold up with the ones. A lot of times threes and fours, it’s paralysis by analysis. They’re trying to figure out who to block, learning the snap count and they’re really not moving fast. It’s not really a true evaluation until they get a chance to go with the ones.”

KKG, DG, etc

“AND NOW FROM THE NORTH TUNNEL…”

Field Hockey changes start time for Stanford:

The California Golden Bear field hockey team has announced two changes to the 2011 season schedule involving the home and away series against Stanford. The Sunday, Oct. 16 game against Stanford will now be a home contest with the Bears now playing at Stanford on Friday, Sept. 23.

These changes reflect a swapping of home dates for the series as Cal was originally slated to host the September game and then travel to Stanford in October.

The game times for both games remain the same with the game at Stanford on Sept. 23 taking place at 7 p.m and the game at Maxwell Family Field in Berkeley on Oct. 16 taking place at 1 p.m.

Track people r smrt:

BERKELEY – With a 3.14 composite GPA, the Cal women’s track & field team has earned All-Academic status from the U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association for the 2011 season.

A total of 164 institutions in NCAA Division I earned the distinction as a result of posting a team GPA of 3.00 or better.

Since I was a kid I’ve had a major case of wanderlust and I’ve never been cured (there’s not enough cowbell in the world).

Whether it’s driving my jeep to America’s national parks or hopping on a big bird to some exotic and some not-so-exotic international locales, I love it and get pumped.

Cal BBall Euro Schedule

Here’s the team’s basketball itinerary:

– Sunday: vs. Solna Vikings at Stockholm, 8 a.m. PDT.

– Monday: vs. Uppsala at Stockholm, 10 a.m. PDT.

– Wednesday: vs. Norwegian National Team at Oslo, Norway, 10 a.m. PDT.

– Saturday, Aug. 20: vs. Danish National Team at Copenhagen, Denmark, 8 a.m. PDT.

– Sunday, Aug. 21: vs. Danish National Team at Copenhagen, 4 a.m. PDT.

Anybody watch Louis last night?

Besides the Cal Band coming out of North Tunnel, listening to AC/DC “Thunderstruck” or “Back in Black” will usually get me pumped up.

Watching this always seems to get me pumped up, too.