Golden Nuggets: Aaron Rodgers Garners Football Writers's MVP Award

Women's Water Polo

#4 Cal opens the 2015 season at the Lou Tully Invitational in San Jose, CA, on Saturday, Jan. 17.

Rugby

Visiting coaches from all around the nation will be granted access to observe Cal's two-a-day training camps and meetings.

Baseball

Cal shortstop recruit Ripken Reyes owns a famous name... yes, that one.

BERKELEY - Owning a first name Ripken, a baseball player would have to be nothing less than a smooth-fielding shortstop and a talented hitter, and such is the case with Cal signee Ripken Reyes, a 5-10, 170-pound switch-hitting infielder from St. Mary's High School in Stockton.

"Yes, Ripken was named after Cal Ripken, Jr. as both his mom (Heidi) and I played baseball/fast pitch and were shortstops, so it seemed to fit," explained Ripken's father Paul Reyes. "We got some strange looks from the nurses when he was born, but for the most part, people loved his name."

Softball

Sign-ups for Cal Softball bat-kids for the 2015 home schedule are now open.

Women's Gymnastics

The Golden Bears are ranked in the top 10 in the nation for just the second time in the program's history.

Women's Tennis

In its first home matches of the New Year, the California women's tennis team hosts Cal Poly, Fresno State and Saint Mary's in the Cal Winter Invitational from Friday through Sunday at the Hellman Tennis Complex and Channing Tennis Courts.

Men's Soccer

California Golden Bears senior winger Connor Hallisey was named Tuesday to Soccer America's MVP Second Team.

Women's Soccer

California women's soccer freshman Annia Mejia will join the U.S. Under-20 Women's National Team for the squad's first training of 2014.

Women's Basketball

All four eligible California Golden Bear women's basketball signees - Kristine Anigwe (Phoenix, Ariz.), Breanna Cavanaugh (Blairstown, N.J.), MaAne Mosely (Oakland, Calif.) and Asha Thomas (Oakland, Calif.) - have been selected as nominees for the 14th edition of the McDonald's High School All-American Game, McDonald's announced Wednesday.

Men's Basketball

A 3-pointer from sophomore Jordan Mathews brought the Bears within two points with 7:26 left in regulation, but the Stanford Cardinal (12-4, 4-1 Pac-12) strung together a late run to defeat California (11-7, 1-4 Pac-12), 69-59, on Wednesday night in front of 8.819 fans at Haas Pavilion.

Inside the Lair: Moute a Bidias Grows Into His Sport

By Jonathan Okanes, Cal Athletic Communications

BERKELEY - When Roger Moute a Bidias was younger, he had designs of leaving his homeland to play his chosen sport at an elite level.

He's done that - he just chose a different sport along the way.

Growing up in the soccer-is-a-way-of-life culture in Cameroon, Moute a Bidias immersed himself in the sport like so many young children in his country. He talked to his father about possibly playing professionally in a foreign land someday. Soccer was his passion.

But something happened on the way to the professional pitch - Moute a Bidias grew. As he became taller, he told himself he should at least give basketball a try. After all, he had three brothers that played the game, including seven-year NBA veteran Luc Mbah a Moute.

Bears in the Pros

Aaron Rodgers was named the Pro Football Writers' Most Valuable Player for the 2014 Season

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was named the NFL's Most Valuable Player by the Pro Football Writers of America, the organization announced Wednesday.

Rodgers also won the award in 2011 and is the seventh player to win two or more MVP awards from the PFWA. The Associated Press will name its Most Valuable Player during the NFL Honors award show on Jan. 31, the day before the Super Bowl.

Aaron Rodgers talks about his reserved former Golden Bear teammate from the 2004 season, Marshawn Lynch.

Marshawn Lynch's famous aversion to the media makes him something of a mystery to the general public. We know that he's super thankful, and loves Oakland and action and Skittles. That's about it.

Perhaps we can glean some insight from a former teammate -- a very famous former teammate. Aaron Rodgers played with Lynch for one year at Cal. During his media availability on "Championship Wednesday," the Packers quarterback reminisced about his time with Beast Mode.

"He was a lot of fun to play with. He was a great player," Rodgers said. "I think he averaged nine yards a carry that freshman year. ... Marshawn is an extremely gifted athlete. He used to always challenge me in throwing competitions and I won't say I beat him every time because he's got a heck of an arm ... distance-wise, not accuracy."

Rodgers and Lynch were nearly teammates at the pro level as well. The Packers made a play for Lynch when he was being shopped by the Bills in 2010. He was eventually traded for two mid-round picks to Seattle, where he became one of the best running backs in football.