This appears to be the only regional where the 1 seed is taking on the 2 seed. Elsewhere, upsets a plenty, but here chalk chalk chalk. We have DeSean Jackson, the explosive receiver taking on Matt Biondi, Moraga's greatest export. Who enters the Hall Of Fame? This is one of the toughest choices out there. DeSean, Biondi, DeSean, Biondi???
You can view the full bracket here. Voting ends this Friday at noon. So, go and vote.
DeSean Jackson (1)
MinerNiner presents the case for Desean.
Perhaps no other skill player in Cal history instilled as much fear and respect into opposing defenses and special teams coverages as DeSean Jackson. Opening day starter as a true freshman. His first two career touches went for touchdowns against Sacramento State. Led the Bears in receiving as a sophmore with 59 catches for 1,060 yards and nine touchdowns as set a Cal record with four punt returns for touchdowns. Perhaps his greatest play was a 77 yard punt return against Tennessee in 2007 that went for a touchdown. Some consider him an enigma during his Junior year, in which the Cal football team collapsed in the second half of the season, however, his overall body of work is not to be ignored. He departed holding Pac-10 records for punts returned for a touchdown both in a season (four), and in a career (six). Jackson ranks third all-time at California for receiving yards with 2,423 and receiving touchdowns with 22. He is sixth in receptions (162). Jackson finished with 52 career plays of 20 yards or more, making up 23 percent of his 226 touches.
Matt Biondi (2)
via www.h2opolo.be
Scootie provides the defense of Biondi.
I have to right an egregious wrong that was committed last year with the admission of Natalie Coughlin to the Hall of Fame before Matt Biondi.
Matt Biondi is, quite simply, the most accomplished individual athlete to ever graduate from Cal.
Why?
> NCAA Swimmer of the Year in 1985, 1986 and 1987
> Eight individual NCAA swimming titles, 13 overall titles including relays
> Twelve individual world records
> By the time he graduated from Cal, he had the ten fastest times ever swum in the 100m freestyle. Ever. In the world.
> World swimmer of the year in 1986 and 1988Oh, did I forget to mention the Olympics? Silly me. He competed in three Olympic games, winning golds at each. He was the most decorated athlete at the Seoul Olympics, the summer after his graduation. By the time he retired, he had won ELEVEN Olympic medals,EIGHT of them gold.
Oh, and what’s that? You heard he might have played a bit of water polo in the offseason to keep himself interested in things aquatic? Well, yes, indeed he did. In fact, he was a water polo star. And the boys in Speedos brought home three NCAA water polo championships with him on the team.
Fix the injustice! It’s no Hall of Fame without Matt Biondi.