We know you bleed blue and gold and I for one appreciate hearing through reports that you wanted Shaq to be near home and play at his brother's alma mater. And play for decent, ethical, and respectable coaches.<br /><br />You will always be welcomed at Cal and along with Syd will always be part of the Golden Bears family!<br /><br />Go Bears!

Agreed. I feel for her and Syd, watching Shaq get played like a pawn in this whole scenario and choosing To$h as his role model. What a sad outcome for everyone. This is [U]not[/U] what sports should be about.<br /><br />Anyway, excited for the guys who do want to be here. There is gonna be an insane chip on everyone's shoulder this season, just watch.

Agree! Respect for the Thompson family... Although I hope you avert your eyes when the Huskie come to town this year, this one is personal.

so,it wasn't a factor when Shaq was a Cal commit?

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;696969 said:</div><hr>squid witnessed first hand the tedford meltdown. don't tell me that wasn't a factor.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />can you define "the tedford meltdown"?

Only DO can come on a thread meant to thank a Cal family member and turn it into a bash thread. WTG..your pro.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;696981 said:</div><hr><img src="<img src="<img src="<img src="<img src="" />" />" />" />" /><hr></blockquote><br /><br />Oh, come on. You can do better than that.<br />I think you are being prescient, aren't you?<br /><br />Who do you attribute the quote to:<br /><br /><i>[INDENT]It's too soon to say whether all the commotion over Lupoi's move was an overreaction based on the tweets of a few recruits or a valid concern over potential long-term consequences for both programs.<br /><br />One parent of a Cal commit expressed a little bit of both this week, telling the Sacramento Bee's Joe Davidson: <b>"Losing Tosh changes it for our son & may cost Tedford his job long term."<br /></b>[/INDENT]</i><br /><br />Pretty arrogant parent, but... also prescient?<br /><br />If so, you're right - Shaq had a front row seat. Wasn't Tosh AND Tedford at Shaq's house, then JT left and Tosh stuck around? And they two then discussed UW? Then Tosh drove back to UCB, cleared his desk, caught a flight to UW next morning? That's more than a front row seat.

Squid is one of my all time favorite bears. <br /><br />Shaq is welcome on our field in blue and gold. Any other color and he has nothing of value to me other than a member of a team we beat... Just another student playing a game for my enjoyment. No more. <br /><br />His mother can wear anything she wants. She can be his mother and a Mother Bear.

Back to the discussion, folks.<br /><b>Who said, "Losing Tosh changes it for our son & may cost Tedford his job long term"?</b><br /><br />I always thought Mr. Armstead.<br />But if it was one of the Thompsons, then that would add even MORE color to the quote b/c, well, where were Shaq's parents when Tosh stayed over at the home visit? Was it just Shaq and Tosh talking in the living room? Or were Shaq's parents there, listening to Tosh unload all his frustrations about Cal?<br /><br />Did Tosh just need to go get drunk and vent about his job with his non-work-associated friends? <br /><br />Of course, it could be some other parent that Davidson spoke to.... but I'd say one of those two.

He's following a position coach that won't even be his after a shady and unethical incident. <br /><br />If you ask me I'd question his decision making. If he chose Oregon it would've been one thing, but to choose UW because of To$h is foolish.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">freshfunk;697032 said:</div><hr>He's following a position coach that won't even be his after a shady and unethical incident. <br /><br />If you ask me I'd question his decision making. If he chose Oregon it would've been one thing, but to choose UW because of To$h is foolish.<hr></blockquote><br />Maybe Shaq wants to be part of the turnaround of that awful defense?

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697022 said:</div><hr>yes. calling someone an asshole is surely showing your superior class.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I'm not claiming superior class in this instance, internet attention whore.<br /><br />You do realize you can get off your soapbox every once in a while, right?<br /><br />Also, the day I start taking internet "class" tips from you will fall on the calendar directly after the day I start taking business ethics courses from Jeff Skilling.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697053 said:</div><hr>if i was going to get off my soapbox it surely wouldn't be on this day.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />You'll never get off your soapbox. You love it too much, attention whore.

Guys, calm down. It is time for unity, not dissent.

Doesn't anyone get tired of tracking someone who is not trackable? At this point if he were to sign in yet another 11th hour flip flop do we even believe he will be happy here? I for one wouldn't believe it for a minute. I would be an adamant non-believer in that scenario so effectively he is gone because he was never convinced he wanted to be here., good luck to him, let's move on. I DON'T want someone here who is here because he is doing what someone else wants him to do. Sorry, this is a team sport and and messed up for a team if your integral to it yet conflicted. So things worked out the way they should have.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697022 said:</div><hr>yes. calling someone an asshole is surely showing your superior class.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Dude, you know you are an asshole. You know you try to be an asshole.<br /><br />Being an asshole is who you are. Don't insult our intelligence and pretend otherwise.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;696979 said:</div><hr>the fact that shaq was a soft commit despite his bro playing for tedford and him being local speaks volumes about the perception of the program. tosh shouldn't have to sell his soul to get shaq to commit.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />What percent of brothers end up at the same program?

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697114 said:</div><hr>i'm telling the truth and i've been right. if that's being an asshole i don't know what to tell you. i guess you just want to get flowers blown your way 24/7.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Nice post, attention whore.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">upsetof86;697074 said:</div><hr>Doesn't anyone get tired of tracking someone who is not trackable? At this point if he were to sign in yet another 11th hour flip flop do we even believe he will be happy here? I for one wouldn't believe it for a minute. I would be an adamant non-believer in that scenario so effectively he is gone because he was never convinced he wanted to be here., good luck to him, let's move on. I DON'T want someone here who is here because he is doing what someone else wants him to do. Sorry, this is a team sport and and messed up for a team if your integral to it yet conflicted. So things worked out the way they should have.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Pretty much this. As an answer to the question "how many brothers play for the same team," it's true that not many do. None of the three Shipps did, and it was mostly because they wanted to forge their own way. Dave Butler's brother went to Stanfurd! But neither of the younger Shipps nor the younger Butler ever committed to Cal first.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697061 said:</div><hr>yes i really love repeatably being called an asshole, slimeball, pathetic excuse for a human, etc etc and the mods doing nothing about the repeated personal attacks on me. it really makes me happy.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Although you may have intended to deliver this facetiously, there's definitely a grain of truth to it. You're an internet attention whore.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697061 said:</div><hr>yes i really love repeatably being called an asshole, slimeball, pathetic excuse for a human, etc etc and the mods doing nothing about the repeated personal attacks on me. it really makes me happy.<hr></blockquote><br /> <br />If the shoe fits... :hammer:

What exactly are you right about?<br /><br />That you drive traffic?

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697136 said:</div><hr>i'd rather be an attention whore than consistantly wrong.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I didn't realize that you were presented with a scenario in which you had to choose between the two, attention whore.

I hope Mama Thompson isn't reading this post...

The truth of the matter is that Shaq was never fully sold on Cal, for whatever reason: perception of the Cal program or JT, his desire to step out of his bro's shadow, friendship with Lupoi, liking other schools he visited, etc...<br /><br />Shaq visited UW a few months ago and liked it. Lupoi probably was aware of this from his conversations with Shaq, even before he contemplated leaving Cal. Sark was obviously aware he had a chance with Shaq, which made it that much easier to give Lupoi the offer he wound up taking.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;696969 said:</div><hr>squid witnessed first hand the tedford meltdown. Don't tell me that wasn't a factor.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />epic failure. Hey d.o.,....it is called timing for a reason. Wake up!

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697061 said:</div><hr>yes i really love repeatably being called an asshole, slimeball, pathetic excuse for a human, etc etc and the mods doing nothing about the repeated personal attacks on me. it really makes me happy.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />No wonder you have suffered BAN(S) from this site...

<blockquote><div class="name-said">89Bear;697106 said:</div><hr>What percent of brothers end up at the same program?<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Greg & Eric Zomalt

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;697118 said:</div><hr>somehow i doubt a study has been done on the subject.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Well, your post made it seem like it was completely out of the ordinary for brothers to end up at different schools. If Tedford coaching Syd should make Shaq a lock to Cal is your point, then I say that's not valid.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">89Bear;697182 said:</div><hr>Well, your post made it seem like it was completely out of the ordinary for brothers to end up at different schools. If Tedford coaching Syd should make Shaq a lock to Cal is your point, then I say that's not valid.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />Happens a fair amount. An older (not younger) brother so a bit hard to understand. Anyone else remember Josh Shipp? Scary to think about how good some of our Bear teams would have been if Josh had come North. Course the flip side is that this probably would have kept Braun employed. The world works in mysterious ways.

<blockquote><div class="name-said">Tree Cutter;697172 said:</div><hr>Greg & Eric Zomalt<hr></blockquote><br /><br />One Mathews brother went to $c and another was a duck. One Armstead brother went to $c and another is going to be a duck.

...when you allow 17 year old football mercenaries to play pinball with your "recruiting." The system is pretty much a mess and this is what happens. I suspect that this Shaq kid won't be winning any Nobel prizes up at UW, so what Mama Shaq really wants is for her kid to make millions and play in the NFL, not get a Cal degree. He could care less about our school or our academics and given that he went to Grant up here, I doubt if his grades would even get him into Sac State if he wasn't a 5 star football recruit. So, let's not confuse the issue about what happened here and start throwing love kisses for all the wrong reasons.<br /><br /><br /><blockquote><div class="name-said">ManhattanMadMan;696936 said:</div><hr>We know you bleed blue and gold and I for one appreciate hearing through reports that you wanted Shaq to be near home and play at his brother's alma mater. And play for decent, ethical, and respectable coaches.<br /><br />You will always be welcomed at Cal and along with Syd will always be part of the Golden Bears family!<br /><br />Go Bears!<hr></blockquote>

<blockquote><div class="name-said">BearsLair72;697223 said:</div><hr>...when you allow 17 year old football mercenaries to play pinball with your "recruiting." The system is pretty much a mess and this is what happens. I suspect that this Shaq kid won't be winning any Nobel prizes up at UW, so what Mama Shaq really wants is for her kid to make millions and play in the NFL, not get a Cal degree. He could care less about our school or our academics and given that he went to Grant up here, I doubt if his grades would even get him into Sac State if he wasn't a 5 star football recruit. So, let's not confuse the issue about what happened here and start throwing love kisses for all the wrong reasons.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />agree

<blockquote><div class="name-said">NYCGOBEARS;697146 said:</div><hr>I hope Mama Thompson isn't reading this post...<hr></blockquote><br /><br />I hope she is so she can convince Shaq to change his mind. I'll give her some ammo:<br /><br />For a player of Shaq's caliber, shouldn't he want to go to the school that would help him the most in the NFL draft? We have awesome defensive linemen and linebackers that are set to be dominant over the next few years. That would help Shaq tremendously. If he wants to come out in 3 years (or maybe 4, since graduation is so important to him), our DL should be peaking and he will have the playing experience to be a dominant safety to make him a 1st rounder. At UW, in 3 or 4 years he will be the veteran, but the rest of his good team (assuming Tosh can pull in some good players starting next year) will be freshmen and sophomores. The team may not be able to help his stock in terms of draft potential.<br /><br />As for graduation rates...so what? It's guys like Rodgers, Jackson, Lynch...that are pulling us down!

<blockquote><div class="name-said">drunkoski;696969 said:</div><hr>squid witnessed first hand the tedford meltdown. don't tell me that wasn't a factor.<hr></blockquote><br /><br />at this risk of piling on DO, this post is absolutely the wrong place and the wrong time. this thread is to thank the thompson family (minus shaq) for all they've done over the years ... you otoh chose to turn it into your consistent garbage about JT <br /><br />your stubborn-muled personality will prevent you from ever admitting you are wrong but you clearly are :headbang