To submit questions to future CGB mailbags, please do one of these three things.

1. If you're registered, leave us a question in the comments section of this post and we'll try to answer it here and include it in next week's mailbag.
2. Email us with your questions at goldenblogs at gmail dot com, and make sure that the subject line reads "CGB Mailbag". Leave a name or alias and we'll make sure to include it.
3. Contact us on Twitter!

If you have a question for a specific person, make sure to delineate it! They can be addressed to any of the editors, even mods. On with the show!

Last week's trivia:

A former NASCAR driver, I was an EECS major who graduated in 1984. Almost as amazing, I was the first African-American to race in a Busch Series race in 1999. Though I never did win a race, I managed seven top ten finishes and earned three poles throughout my career. Someone who actually started his career working at HP before deciding that turning left for hours was a better career move, who am I?

Kudos to GeoFreak, who was the only person to correctly post the answer:

Bill Lester! And not the Executive Director of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities who operate the Metrodome. I'd post the YouTube clip of the roof collapsing again, but I'm under strict orders not to take up too much space on the front page. This week's trivia:

One of three long-snappers for NFL teams from Cal (Which is fascinating in itself - no one circles the long-snapping wagons like our California Golden Bears! And might we actually have good special teamers after all? Lots to ponder. Bonus points, can you name the other two?), I'm the only one playing for a West Coast team. The only holdover on my team from a mid-90's Super Bowl team, I've also dated a rather famous former Playboy model who's notorious for...well, a lot of things. Who am I?

When will Tedford offer Boller's son a scholarship?
-- okaydo

HydroTech

Tedford should offer Boller's son a scholarship now. Even if the kid isn't any good, at least he'll look darn good being bad due to the genetics of his supermodel and stud parents.

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Now that the offseason is here, we can talk about some hot-button issues. Starting with the hottest one, which is the questionable eligibility of one Cameron Newton.  Since the topic is hot right now, let's talk about it.

Our main man Larry Scott (and Big Ten crankypants commish Jim Delaney) were very critical of the ruling to reinstate Newton:

Scott noted that he did not know all the details of the case, but said: "I know there’s a concern out there about consistency and fairness application and the expectation to take an abundance of caution in looking at these cases. That’s my understanding of the way that schools and conferences are to operate."

Here is part of the official NCAA ruling:

Auburn University football student-athlete Cam Newton is immediately eligible to compete, according to a decision today by the NCAA student-athlete reinstatement staff. The NCAA concluded on Monday that a violation of amateurism rules occurred, therefore Auburn University declared the student-athlete ineligible yesterday for violations of NCAA amateurism rules.

When a school discovers an NCAA rules violation has occurred, it must declare the student-athlete ineligible and may request the student-athlete’s eligibility be reinstated. Reinstatement decisions are made by the NCAA national office staff and can include conditions such as withholding from competition and repayment of extra benefits. Newton was reinstated without any conditions.

According to facts of the case agreed upon by Auburn University and the NCAA enforcement staff, the student-athlete’s father and an owner of a scouting service worked together to actively market the student-athlete as a part of a pay-for-play scenario in return for Newton’s commitment to attend college and play football. NCAA rules (Bylaw 12.3.3) do not allow individuals or entities to represent a prospective student-athlete for compensation to a school for an athletic scholarship.

What are your thoughts on the Cam Newton issue?

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Part I

Today, we have part 2 of our 3 part interview with Nico.  Nico, from 1985-1990, was the lead broadcaster and sports director for Cal baseball and women's basketball with Cal student radio station, KALX.  From 1987-1991, he broadcast Oakland A's spring training games.  From 1991-1994, he was the Director of Broadcasting (working alongside CGB Hit Squad member OhioBear) for the Oakland A's Single A affiliate, the Southern Oregon A's.  Since 1994, he has been focused on other pursuits, such as being one of the authors for initial SBN site, AthleticsNation.

Many thanks to Nico for his time and interest in this project.  Join me after the jump for this part of the interview, relating to his role as spring training broadcaster for the Oakland A's and also for the Southern Oregon A's.

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If there's one thing I've learned in my day, everybody ever has watched Sex And The City.  A lot of guys will be loathe to admit it.  But if they were married, engaged, went out with, or even knew a woman, they watched a lot of the episodes.  Especially if they have TBS on their TV.  Or a TV.

So, when it came to writing a piece with since1997, comparing the Pac10 teams to various sources of entertainment, this was one of the first that jumped out at us.  Sex And The City had a long run with many different characters.  After the jump, we take a look at each Pac10 team and see which SATC character best represents that team. Many thanks for since1997 for helping with this post.  She wrote large portions.  Try to guess who wrote what!

And if you have any ideas for future posts comparing Pac10 teams to entertainment sources, don't hesitate to post it in the comments.  GO BEARS!

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4ever Golden and sec119 are in pole position as we start to near the finish line. Will I use any more racing metaphors after the jump? Why not come and find out?

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To submit questions to future CGB mailbags, please do one of these three things.

1. If you're registered, leave us a question in the comments section of this post and we'll try to answer it here and include it in next week's mailbag.
2. Email us with your questions at goldenblogs at gmail dot com, and make sure that the subject line reads "CGB Mailbag". Leave a name or alias and we'll make sure to include it.
3. Contact us on Twitter!

If you have a question for a specific person, make sure to delineate it! They can be addressed to any of the editors, even mods. On with the show!

To get last week's trivia out of the way:

A famous sports agent, I met my first client (and future number one overall pick) while working as an RA. I've represented Pro Bowlers, Hall of Famers, NBA All-Stars, and MLB regulars, while heading up an agency with a guy who would go on to be part owner of a MLB team. I was also the inspiration for a rather sappy Tom Cruise movie, (aren't they all?) but this one should have had you at hello. Who am I?

That's right, it was:

via farm5.static.flickr.com

Leigh Steinberg. Yeah, I couldn't pick him out of a lineup either.

This week's trivia? Why, I'm glad you asked:

I was the first receiver to ever top 100 catches in a single season in the Pac-10, though my speed (or lack thereof) led me to be more of a possession receiver than a big play threat. I was drafted in the fourth round but didn't ever end up playing for the team that drafted me - instead I spent four years on the opposite coast mostly as a special teams player, only managing 14 catches for my entire NFL career. Something of a latter day Sean Dawkins (or Geoff McArthur's predecessor?), who am I?

I could be off with that last sentence since I never saw him play in college, but I did see him in the NFL repeatedly. HINT HINT

Could it be argued Furd doesn't really have bragging rights over us? - 510Bear

TwistNHook

No,  no, they do not.  We swarmed their field.  Palo Alto is now BEAR TERRITORY!  They barely filled our endzone and many of them got arrested.  They suck.  

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The letter is below, and the PDF to the FAQ regarding the current financial issues in Cal intercollegiate Athletics is here. Enjoy.

Dear Cal Bear Backers,

In the weeks since the announcement about plans for Cal Athletics' future, we have received a great deal of correspondence from our extended Cal community that runs the gamut from supportive, to inquisitive, to highly critical. What almost all of the letters and emails have in common is a request for additional information about how and why the painful decision to reduce the number of teams was made, and the extent to which all or part of the decision may be reversible. What they also share is a passion and concern for our programs-especially for our student-athletes. You have been there for us in good times and bad, and now, in the midst of a particularly difficult period, I know that we cannot-must not-take your continued support for granted.

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To submit questions to future CGB mailbags, please do one of these three things.

1. If you're registered, leave us a question in the comments section of this post and we'll try to answer it here and include it in next week's mailbag.
2. Email us with your questions at goldenblogs at gmail dot com, and make sure that the subject line reads "CGB Mailbag". Leave a name or alias and we'll make sure to include it.
3. Contact us on Twitter!

If you have a question for a specific person, make sure to delineate it! They can be addressed to any of the editors, even mods. On with the show!

Last week's trivia:

A quote machine, I played at Cal for two years in my college career - but not two straight years - nor did I end up graduating from Cal. I had a ten year NFL career that included one Super Bowl appearance and was highlighted by a play known in one city as "The Fumble", though it is more commonly known by a much more glamorous name in the city that I played for. A former NFL head coach for two different teams, you probably know me better for telling the world WHY YOU PLAY THE GAME. Who am I?

Like I said last week, I'm sure that last clue gave it away. It was:

Herm Edwards. Might he have an interesting in returning to coach (one his many) alma maters? Just throwing it out there...

This week's trivia:

A famous sports agent, I met my first client (and future number one overall pick) while working as an RA. I've represented Pro Bowlers, Hall of Famers, NBA All-Stars, and MLB regulars, while heading up an agency with a guy who would go on to be part owner of a MLB team. I was also the inspiration for a rather sappy Tom Cruise movie, (aren't they all?) but this one should have had you at hello. Who am I?

Sometimes I think working as a sports agent would be great fun, and then I read that SI.com story that came out a while back about paying players...maybe not. Time to queue up the first question.

Do you want Stanford to go to the Rose Bowl this year? - B.A. Bearacus

Ohio Bear

No.

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