The Big Meet and Men's Tennis were competing next to each other this afternoon. At the track meet, all you heard was CAL wins, CAL wins (and they did). At the tennis courts, it was the first time in a long time (maybe ever) the Bears had a chance to sweep the COLOR in Men's tennis.
Although the Bears had creamed the 'Furd in Berkeley, 5-2 with 4-5 starters out with injury, today was closer than perhaps anyone might have imagined. Of course it was Senior Day and a home match for the Color and with nothing to lose (yes they suck that bad this year), they were going for it.
With 3 matches in progress and Cal needing 2 to win it, in two of the matches Cal was within a game of winning it all. All of a sudden the ENTIRE track team flows into the stadium and takes over, outnumbering the 'Furd fans 10-1 (there was only 1 'Furd fan). All of a sudden many of the track kids who knew zip about tennis started the chant in 3 sections of the stadium...CAL-I-FOR-NIA, CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP, followed by another section chanting GO and the other BEARS! I thought I was at the Tennesee football game after D'Jax ran back the pun return!
Then the #3 Cal player won his match leaving only one left to win it all. At #4 Cal was up 5-2 with a match point, but in typical Cal athletics fashion (sorry but we all know it's true), we lost the next 2 games making it 5-4 with our guy to serve, 1 game away from clinching! The first 4 points were even but the Bear roared back and the Bear player won, immediately being swamped by his teammates with the ginormous CAL contingent cheering them on.
Never have I been to an event at 'Furd or any other opponent's "home field" and seen CAL fans dominate so completely! As I left with the final meaningless match going on , I think I heard some chants, WAIT TILL FOOTBALL SEASON! BEAR RAID, GO SONNY! A great day in 'Furdland if you have to live there, which I do! GO BEARS!
After 35 years, it still truly makes me miss the whole experience of being a CAL athlete!
Although the Bears had creamed the 'Furd in Berkeley, 5-2 with 4-5 starters out with injury, today was closer than perhaps anyone might have imagined. Of course it was Senior Day and a home match for the Color and with nothing to lose (yes they suck that bad this year), they were going for it.
With 3 matches in progress and Cal needing 2 to win it, in two of the matches Cal was within a game of winning it all. All of a sudden the ENTIRE track team flows into the stadium and takes over, outnumbering the 'Furd fans 10-1 (there was only 1 'Furd fan). All of a sudden many of the track kids who knew zip about tennis started the chant in 3 sections of the stadium...CAL-I-FOR-NIA, CLAP, CLAP CLAP CLAP, followed by another section chanting GO and the other BEARS! I thought I was at the Tennesee football game after D'Jax ran back the pun return!
Then the #3 Cal player won his match leaving only one left to win it all. At #4 Cal was up 5-2 with a match point, but in typical Cal athletics fashion (sorry but we all know it's true), we lost the next 2 games making it 5-4 with our guy to serve, 1 game away from clinching! The first 4 points were even but the Bear roared back and the Bear player won, immediately being swamped by his teammates with the ginormous CAL contingent cheering them on.
Never have I been to an event at 'Furd or any other opponent's "home field" and seen CAL fans dominate so completely! As I left with the final meaningless match going on , I think I heard some chants, WAIT TILL FOOTBALL SEASON! BEAR RAID, GO SONNY! A great day in 'Furdland if you have to live there, which I do! GO BEARS!
After 35 years, it still truly makes me miss the whole experience of being a CAL athlete!
