Golden State?

Posted Tuesday, September 4, 2007, at 3:26 AM

There's a popular saying, "It's a nice place to visit but you wouldn't want to live there."

After spending a couple days in the Bay Area for the UT-Cal game, I can't even imagine why anyone would even want to visit. As my neverending flight soared over square mile after square mile with hardly a speck of anything green, I realized that this was not going to be as fun a trip as friends made it out to be.

Cal has a wonderful football team with some extraordinary athletes. They should be thankful they have Jeff Tedford as a head coach, otherwise I can't really see why a prep gridiron star would want to go there.

Yes, they do play in a BCS conference in the PAC-10. And, yes they are on national television a decent amount. But, the campus is hardly player and family friendly.

On our way to the game, we were constanly wondering if we were heading in the right direction as we didn't see one fan wearing the Bears' colors, not one Cal decal or one kid sporting a DeSean Jackson jersey. However, I did notice a sign that read, '104.1 FM-End Imperialism.'

The stadium is not easy to get in and out of as it rests, as many of the homes in that area do, in the side of a hill. The lights that rested on four mobile units created a glow that didn't come close to that of Franklin County High School. Those units paired up with countless port-o-potties to create a bottle neck of fans trying to get in to see the game that would have caused any claustrophobic to go insane.

Maybe the education for Cal is worth just that much after their football days are done.

Comments
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About the only thing you said that was truthful was the current shape of the stadium...it is woeful. However, everything else is flat false or just misinformed opinion. Who would want to come to Bay Area? Are you kidding?! Maybe Shelbyville is the center of your universe, but i didn't happen to notice it on any "must see" lists, nor do I think it is one of the top-5 destinations in the world every year. Fine, you like Shelbyville...stay there. As far as game day spirit on your walk up to the stadium...either you were 1)blind 2)Drunk or are are just 3)lying (though you are right about the radio station sign...pretty funny). To get to the stadium you have to walk past at least 50 fraternities...really, no hoopla over the game? OK, maybe you got to the stadium at 7am, then, yes, you are probably right. Look, this isn't the SEC...people have have a life outside NCAA football, which means there is much less fanaticism and pageantry. However, there is diversity to the college experience for both athletes and non-athletes alike. If a standout player wants nothing but football, ego stroking, and Shoney's, Arby's and Krystal, the SEC is the place. If they want a great football program that continually sends multiple players every year to the pros, is always ranked in the top 25 AND is home to a stimulating and diverse environment, then the choice is hands-down Cal.

P.S. Come back in a couple years when the stadium is renovated...then this article will truly be BS.

-- Posted by medbill on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 7:40 AM

I did not go to the game but did watch it on TV. ABC announcers do agree with you Danny, did you see any of the Tree hugers or hippies in the trees outside the stadium? It showed one of the guys going up the tree to take a dump with tp in hand. Can you imagine if this happen here UT would not have to take care it, one of the fans would open a can on the dumb_ _ _. If shelbyville is not a must see for this Idiot medbill why is he reading the Shelbyville news at 7:40 A.M. on a Tuesday morning.

-- Posted by EagleParent on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 8:50 AM

Wow, medbill, so you were there too eh? Nothing about Cal has anything to do with a comparison Shelbyville. If that makes you feel better about Berkeley then more power to you. But, a college campus is typically going to look pretty solid when compared to a rural town. Although, at least Shelbyville has places to eat other than West African Cuisine and countless pet food stores. Yes, there are frat houses on the campus. But, there are no signs of a football game as you approach the stadium. Check out the interstates in Tennessee, Alabama, Texas or any state that actually cares about college football on a fall Saturday. You might notice a slight difference. Come back in years when the stadium is renovated? It's 2007 fella. Get some friggin' lights and bathrooms already.

-- Posted by Parker on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 10:29 AM

Mr. Parker,

I have to agree with your statements. Now I have never been to Berkeley, so I can not speak for gameday there. But I can speak for game day at San Diego State. I have family who transplanted to San Diego and I went out to vist them couple years ago in the fall. I felt the same way, the people would rather watch the Padres play, then go to a football game. We our the lucky ones to be living in the south. I will take Krystals, Sonics, and Hardees ( Not Carl Jr's)anyday over a PAC-10 football game!

-- Posted by mtsufan on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 11:05 AM

First of all, mtsufan, San Diego State isn't in the Pac-10. In fact, they pretty much suck at football, and having grown up in San Diego, I think I'd know.

Second of all, Parker, your comment reeks of the stench of bias/blatant ignorance, albeit less so than this article. Berkeley is well known as being one of the most diverse and unique culinary experiences in the nation, in contrast to Shelbyville, whose variety is limited to variations on steakhouses. No signs of a football game? Being a college town, most people WALK to the stadium, thus leaving the buildings behind them deserted. In Berkeley, the most telling sign of a big game is when you DON'T see anybody, in which case they are all AT THE GAME.

-- Posted by zilly on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 7:05 PM

First, he wasn't comparing Berkley to Shelbyville. I really don't understand where you two are getting that from. Second, just because people are school spirited in the SEC, doesn't mean our lives consist of nothing but football games. Stereotyping is a part of ignorance don't you think? Okay, and everyone was at the game? I find that hard to believe. In the middle of a game in Knoxville you can walk down the streets and still see people wearing orange and showing their love for the Vols. Third, Berkley MUST be a diverse and unique experience if people sleep, eat, and poop out of a tree. You will never see anything like that in Knoxville! Face it Cal may have beat UT, but a football Saturday in Berkley will NEVER compare to one in the SEC!!!

-- Posted by monica on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 10:18 PM

And honestly the football game and stadium had nothing to do with tree huggers either, but since that was an uninformed, close-minded southerner's opinion of all the people in the west... It is acceptable...

Not everybody thinks sports when they think of a University. I think some people honestly forget, the point of going to school is for an education, and the athletics just make the atmosphere a little more exciting. SEC is the dominate region, has been and probably will be for years.

I would think, any visitor from a foreign state and/or city would be wondering which way was which. Everytime I go to a Sounds game, I get lost... I live in Middle Tennessee, obviously. So that can be said for any event, in any city that you don't live in or travel through frequently...

-- Posted by nascarfanatic on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 10:30 PM

I never said San Diego State was in the Pac-10. Zilly. They are indeed in the Mountain West. I was simply replying to the blog stated about the Cal-Ten. game. I made a general observation in regard to how college football is viewed from the avg sports fan in the golden state. You have to be honest "the Bay Area" is a NFL town(so is San Diego) not a college town. So that is what I was simply trying to say that college football in not viewed with the same passion in California as say Florida.

-- Posted by mtsufan on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 10:46 PM

Yet, USC was recent national champions? And an extremely good team? Odd.

-- Posted by nascarfanatic on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 10:57 PM

Been to Cali and I LOVE IT!! and just because they aren't as fanatical for football as we are doesn't make them tree huggers. I,personally, get tired of all the hoopla surrounding the precious Vols and the SEC. There is more to college than football.

JMHO!!

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 11:00 PM

Nascarfanatic, I really don't understand your post. What does USC winning a National Championship have to do with this blog. How about this Texas won a national championship over USC. I think I will post that random thought. Yes I am very bias about Southern Football. Add up all the PAC-10 vs SEC National Championships and see who has more.

-- Posted by mtsufan on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 11:18 PM

mtsufan:

Add up all the PAC-10 vs SEC National Championships and see who has more.

Add it up and see who cares? Football is NOT LIFE....it's just a game. We make sports bigger than anything and it's not, perhaps some of these colleges (Berkeley) actually focus on giving great educations, not on where they rank. I know, hard to fathom huh?

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 11:36 PM

L.A. has a lot of sports writers with poll votes due to the fact they have no NFL team. I get your post nascarfanatic,LOL,You make a valid point

-- Posted by mtsufan on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 11:39 PM

dc_0725, This is a sports section of a newspaper right? Why are you posting about education on here. Yes "Cali" has a lot of great colleges with good football teams that have great academic standards. I guess Vanderbilt dose not meet your standards of the Left Coast err.. West Coast when it comes to giving great educations.

-- Posted by mtsufan on Tue, Sep 4, 2007, at 11:46 PM

And your post didn't address a single issue in the blog. Thank you. Have a nice day! This blog had nothing to do with your echo's in another post. Wanna talk about conquer and dividing?

My posts dealt with getting lost in a foreign city (Which was in the topic)... It also dealt with the fact that someone complained about an issue not having anything to do with the blog (kinda like yours) and I simply pointed out that previous statements and their very own had nothing to do with the blog.

Nobody is dividing anybody, in case you didn't notice, I said the SEC is dominate, I love SEC sports... And when they travel to University's so far away like Berkley, I sit back and watch it on tv, instead of traveling 1,000 miles across the country to whine and complain about a stadium and city that was not built around football like Knoxville, especially since WE lost.

-Just because two different people see things outside the box and from an unbiased, non-southern point of view, doesn't make them the same person. It makes them two different people who see it the same way. Don't bring up other post in this one, just to start your conquer and dividing.

-- Posted by nascarfanatic on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 7:46 AM

Danny Parker writes a "sour grapes" review of his Berkeley experience and predictably generates the usual Southern vs. Western (or anybody else) life and football experience. I don't believe that Danny is as naive and/or inexperienced as he sounds - he is just fanning the usual fires that generate exactly the type of reaction that is represented in so many of these Blogging comments. The best reaction to such a sports writing exercise is to simply grin and realize that we all share some admirable traits that evidently Danny does not: a basic sense of direction, a basic knowledge of geography, an ability to read press guides about stadium renovations, a sense of adventure when traveling away from home, and a dose of professional pride that keeps us from producing purposefully mediocre work. And a warning to Danny, be very careful as you travel to Gainesville for your next away game (and loss) - there are wetlands and palmetto groves in Florida that could be hazardous to traverse as you lose your way to yet another foreign football venue.

-- Posted by Calbear1 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 12:16 PM

What is BYT????

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 12:17 PM

Calbear1, Last time I checked Tennessee plays Florida every year how does that apply to " foreign football venue."?

-- Posted by mtsufan on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 12:36 PM

Rebel:

Sounds like an ECHO to me but hey I am just a close-minded southerner!!!!

NEITHER OF THOSE COMMENTS HAD TO DO WITH THE OTHER ONE...OR CAN'T YOU READ?

What part of the topics in the blog did you write about, seems you just like to go around picking apart ceratin people's comments. If you don't like what I or anyone else writes then follow your own advice and get the HECK out of here (sorry, I don't use vulgarity on a public blog, I HAVE MANNERS).

If you take a close look at what I and Nascar posted, they are on point with the topic. Ask yourself, if UT would have won the game, would we be reading any of the complaints about cali?

Sounds like another name on here. Wonder how long it will take for said person to start posting under the former name?

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 1:48 PM

Rebel:

"It is no wonder you get lost nascar-you are nuts about a sport that drives around in circles."

YOU DON'T GET LOST WHEN YOU DRIVE IN CIRCLES AND NASCAR IS A SOUTHERN TRADITION, LIKE IT OR NOT AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, DELTA IS READY WHEN YOU ARE :P

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 1:53 PM

dc_o725: You agree then that rankings and education can coexist? and at such schools as Florida(National Acclaimed MBA Program),Kentucky (Animal Science)and Califronia (Law School) Yet, More people anywhere can tell you that Kentucky is Basketball, Florida is Football and Basketball, and California is ???, I see they are all about education at Califronia ( to critize my self they have a really good baseball team, and obviously a good football team)

-- Posted by mtsufan on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 2:21 PM

dc-0725 wrote "We make sports bigger than anything and it's not," If sports is not bigger than anything.Why did CBS pay 500 million for the rights to brodcast the NCAA Basketball Tournament. Actually sports are bigger than anything, they are everything to those who care about them. In fact they are woven in to fabric of American society. Look at the amount of jobs that come form Sports,(Marketing,Business,Management,Medical,) this list goes on and on. So I say yeah sports are very important.

Wasn't it F.D.R. who put a huge focus on the Olympics ! As a way for Americans to show our pride in our country.

-- Posted by mtsufan on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 2:50 PM

and BTW Rebel:

I wasn't the one sitting in the corner, I believe that would probably have been you, I graduated in the Top 10 of my class out of 250 Seniors. So quit making childish remarks, I hear that Nickelodeon has a blog for people that want to behave like children. And could you please refrain from cussing on the blogs. That is disrespectful to people that are on here.

and mtsufan, yes I agree that sports and academics can coexist, I was just making a statement that some colleges focus more on education than sports. It was that Plain and Simple.

I AM DONE ON THIS TOPIC, Like I said before, this blog would not have been written had UT beat Cali, then you would have read how wonderful Cali was and how great the game was etc. etc.

JMHO

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 2:53 PM

dc0725, Congrats on your RANKING! It has all been in good nature. you bring up valid points.

-- Posted by mtsufan on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 2:59 PM

I like my sports, but it's not life, and it's not bigger than anything. My son plays sports and that is fine...I just tried to state a fact and I get bombarded with BS and nonsense.

My middle sister graduated from Vanderbilt and My youngest sister and brother are attending MTSU, they are focusing more on their future than on the rankings of football.

I THOUGHT I WAS DONE BEFORE, NOW I AM DONE....HAVEN'T THEY TAUGHT YOU PEOPLE THERE HOW TO DROP A SUBJECT??? I will let all the SEC lovers fight it out over something so insignificant (compared to the bigger picture) as football.

-- Posted by dc_0725 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 3:02 PM

well, I hate California AND football equally. so there!

-- Posted by stolen25 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 3:04 PM

To MTSU Fan: In response to your comment about Florida - the fact that it is further than 10 miles from Shelbyville makes it foreign to Danny Parker (doesn't matter how many times he has been there, he'll still get lost). By the way - might want to do a spell check on California before you post. Also, if sports are truly that important - then check out the final 2006-2007 Director's Cup Standings (www.nacda.cstv.com) which recognizes athletic excellence across all men's and women's sports for the entire academic year. You'll find Pac 10 schools rated number 1 (Stanford), 2 (UCLA),5 (USC) and 9 (Cal). Note that the vols are number 7. So, as far as overall athletic excellence is concerned those wild folks in Berkeley aren't so far off the charts as some folks might expect. So in the famous words of Rodney King: "Can't we all just get along?"

-- Posted by Calbear1 on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 3:08 PM

Well Done CalBear1, I will keep the spell check in mind ;0 Much Love for the Left Coast err.. West Coast

Good day!~ Paul Harvey

-- Posted by mtsufan on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 3:29 PM

Good one Parker! You really know how to get things stirred up don't you? Is it just your nature to try and create enemies? You sure do have your share that read the Gazette!

-- Posted by notfroms-ville on Wed, Sep 5, 2007, at 4:41 PM

I find it quite hilarious that the majority of spelling/grammar/punctuation (etc.) mistakes seem to be coming from the loser's support committee. Sorry, make that vols fans.

GO BEARS!

-- Posted by kalika on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 1:59 AM

While I will be the first to admit that Cal football fans are not as rabidly-chomping-on-the-bit excited about football as SEC fans (sadly, a good chunk of seating in Memorial Stadium goes to alumni donors who lack the physical fortitude, willpower, or enthusiasm for our team to even be bothered to stand and cheer during home games), the damn tree sitters are hardly the fans' fault. If we had our way, they'd be out of those trees and the trees themselves would've been dead long ago. But unfortunately, the dearly beloved California judicial branch won't let the university touch the trees for the time being. And if the UCPD hadn't put up fences around that oak grove prior to the game, I'm pretty sure at least one fan would've opened up a can on those tree sitters. I know I would have liked to. And our crappy mobile lighting units? Yeah, that was done in place of permanent lighting to appease the hippie city of Berkeley. I love my Cal Bears and the good food in Berkeley (if all you found was Carl's Jr., you weren't looking in the right spots - I don't think there is a Carl's Jr. within feasible walking distance of the campus, and most of the dining that isn't university-run within a feasible walking distance is fantastic), but I definitely wish the football team were based somewhere else.

But, yes, the name recognition on a Berkeley degree might be worth it for most of the players.

-- Posted by kf6tac on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 2:08 AM

Y'all might want to read this fella from Tennessee's blog about visiting Berkeley. Honest people see the good in anything and any place. Yup there are naked hippies in Berkeley and there's hillbillies in Tennessee. If they're not bugging anyone, who cares?

http://blogs.knoxnews.com/knx/askgriff/2...

-- Posted by bushie on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 2:40 AM

Great job Danny it's been fun. I am excited to see your next blog. I believe kf6tac sums it up best the fans cant help the hippies outside the stadium but you would not see that in Knoxville. Cal has a great team and will beat USC this year. I just say ITS GREAT TO BE A TENNESSEE VOL. Go Vols

-- Posted by EagleParent on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 9:13 AM

Seems foreigners get their feelings hurt rather easily. I don't really care for the sport but I do know a few guys who went and they all had a similar experience to yours Danny. You could stereotype us as "hillbillies" if you like, I don't think it really bothers any of us. You can even make comments about spelling and grammar. Here is the main difference, we don't care. I guess you could call that "Tennessee Tough".

-- Posted by sambntn on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 9:27 AM

Well done, DP. Since the purpose of a blog is to state YOUR PERSONAL OPINION and generate conversation, I would say you have succeeded on both points.

Also, I have been to a football game at Cal and agree with DP on every point. The lighting is terrible, the portable toilets are embarrassing, directions to the stadium are non-existent, and their definition of fan frenzy is not bad - just very different. Remember, DP is not writing about the Cal stadium renovations of the future. He is writing about his PERSONAL EXPERIENCE last weekend.

It's rather entertaining to read your uneducated opinions of this blog. Cal may be known for its deep thinkers. These bloggers certainly are not.

-- Posted by t-vol on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 9:52 AM

t-vol:

"Since the purpose of a blog is to state YOUR PERSONAL OPINION and generate conversation, I would say you have succeeded on both points."

--[SO THEN WHAT ARE YOU COMPLAINING ABOUT?]

"He is writing about his PERSONAL EXPERIENCE last weekend."

--[OTHER'S ARE WRITING THEIR 'PERSONAL' OPINION TOO- after all isn't that your definition of a blog?]

"It's rather entertaining to read your uneducated opinions of this blog. Cal may be known for its deep thinkers. These bloggers certainly are not."

--[Yeah, that was deep.]

-- Posted by jesuslovesevery1 on Thu, Sep 6, 2007, at 5:34 PM

Awww who cares what a bunch of gumps from California think?

-- Posted by Buck Fama on Sat, Sep 8, 2007, at 11:17 AM