The Wiz of Odds

Cal's Perfect 10

It's gone from bad to worse for UCLA. California plays defense with only 10 men and manages to score on an interception return. Thanks to Bruins Nation.

California

Can't figure out the gang from Berkeley. While the university is tapping into its wealthy alumni base to raise more than $250 million to seismically upgrade 86-year-old Memorial Stadium, the football team is on the street corner, begging for change. The Golden Bears will bus to Pasadena for an Oct. 17 game against UCLA at the Rose Bowl, a move that is expected to save the program $100,000. Brother, can you spare a dime? Two budding journalists on the team. Kicker David Seawright is a contributor to the Daily Californian. Check out this piece he wrote on the Memorial Stadium renovation. Offensive tackle Mike Tepper, No. 79 in the front row on the far right, was blogging, but his site hasn't been updated since Aug. 28. Thanks to Dan!

Price for a Prime Seat at Cal Games: $225,000

California's Memorial Stadium opened in 1923 and is in bad need of repairs. The 72,516-seat venue sits on the Hayward Fault and a seismic safety study gave the stadium a "poor" rating. Expansion joints have been put in the walls to maintain the integrity of the facility, which represents an "appreciable life hazard."

It's going to cost more than $250 million to seismically upgrade the crumbling 86-year-old stadium, and Cal fans are being asked to fork over big, big bucks to pay for the upgrade.

A program similar to personal seat license plans used by many professional teams will require about 3,000 fans whose season tickets are between the 30-yard lines on the stadium's west side to pay up to $225,000 just for the right to purchase season seats. If they decline to participate, they'll have to give up their seats.

Of the 3,000 seats, there are 144 priced at $225,000, and 115 of them already have been sold, with several fans already writing checks for $900,000, which buys four seats in what is being called the University Club section.

Hit of the Day

In case you missed it, check out this spew-inducing hit on Jahvid Best in the California-Maryland game. So much for that Heisman campaign. Not for the squeamish. Thanks to Shawn!

Officials Move In, Start Cutting Down Berkeley Oaks

California officials began cutting down a grove of oak trees Friday to clear way for a new sports center that will be adjacent to Memorial Stadium. The chainsaws started buzzing less than 24 hours after a state appeals court denied a request from tree advocates and a neighborhood group for an order to stop the project.

Several people were arrested while officials cut down at least a dozen trees. All the trees except one, where four tree-sitters remain, will be removed by the end of Saturday. Campus officials said the tree-sitters have three days to evacuate, but did not elaborate on what action would be taken to remove the protesters if the ultimatum expires.

Video comes with a language warning. Protest Shooter also has several images of Friday's developments, including the shot below of Dumpster Muffin, a former tree-sitter who was meditating at a shrine while officials were cutting down the trees.