How do we bring the energy back

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eastcoastcal
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8:49p, 1/5/25
It really feels like there's no buzz around the program this season. I know we've been losing lately, plus with the heavy roster turnover, fans don't have as much of a connection.

However, I feel like there are ingredients- we have the son of Peja Stojakovic playing for us and he's averaging the second most points per game in the ACC! We have a really fun freshman (and very underrated) Jeremiah Wilkinson who's also played well.

There are only 7 more home games with students on campus left (classes don't start until Jan 21). That doesn't leave us much time to lift up the low attendance.

It honestly feels like even Fox years had more attention- we don't even have game threads sometimes or there are only 1-2 pages of posts when we do. Any thoughts or ideas?
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Johnfox
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In reply to eastcoastcal • 9:14p, 1/5/25
Last season there was a lot more hype because we started winning. You gotta win in order to generate this hype. They did that this season but blew it against stanford. Maybe rack up some wins now and create the haas of pain later, but this is a lost season. We ain't gonna do anything this season
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sycasey
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9:34p, 1/5/25
Win more games.
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Big C
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9:36p, 1/5/25

Three weeks without a home game. Meanwhile, we're racking up the losses. It would take a genius-level marketing department to create some buzz at this point. Since we don't exactly have that, it's gonna take some wins (which is also asking a lot).

I'm a long-time season ticketholder who is anxious to get back in the Haas... force of habit.
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barsad
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In reply to Johnfox • 10:08p, 1/5/25
Johnfox said:
We ain't gonna do anything this season

Reminder: 14 games into last season we were 4-10. 14 games into this season we are at .500, 7-7.
The difference between last season and this season among the Cal faithful is higher expectations, not wins.
I could care less about buzz, marketing strategy, or attendance for this season, just want to see at least 14 wins, and that's still reachable.
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RedlessWardrobe
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7:11a, 1/6/25
The "energy" will come back when(if) this team starts playing better defense.
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BC Calfan
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8:07a, 1/6/25
You're right EastCoast, I amazingly didn't miss watching a game during the Fox era. I haven't watched several road games this year---I've attended almost all the home games. I've always been a die-hard hoops fan and I have turned apathetic. For the first time ever, I spend more time on the football board following portal recruiting and coaching changes.

There are several reasons I guess---whole new team, watching bad defense, struggling against mediocre teams. But really, I am at a point where I just want to go to the tournament and it's been NINE YEARS since our last appearance. I don't want to invest my time in a middling team that probably won't make the postseason. A conference win this Wednesday (and homestand) can only help renew my interest.
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BearlyCareAnymore
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In reply to eastcoastcal • 8:59a, 1/6/25
eastcoastcal said:
It really feels like there's no buzz around the program this season. I know we've been losing lately, plus with the heavy roster turnover, fans don't have as much of a connection.

However, I feel like there are ingredients- we have the son of Peja Stojakovic playing for us and he's averaging the second most points per game in the ACC! We have a really fun freshman (and very underrated) Jeremiah Wilkinson who's also played well.

There are only 7 more home games with students on campus left (classes don't start until Jan 21). That doesn't leave us much time to lift up the low attendance.

It honestly feels like even Fox years had more attention- we don't even have game threads sometimes or there are only 1-2 pages of posts when we do. Any thoughts or ideas?
Cal has reached the point where it has lost so much that fans are very impatient with their attention. Last year we had a new, young, energetic coach and because he looked like he came from central casting for young successful coach that takes the world by storm, some people started watching. Reality hasn't met the unreasonable expectations and a lot of people are already on the "whelp, that didn't work" train. I warned of this last year. People were talking about home run hire and potential tourney team or at least NIT. When someone preseason was asking why we weren't getting national attention and I said we don't remotely know what we had, I was met with we know we have a great coach and a great recruiting class that should get us close to the tourney. (the latter was clearly not true, but people do not understand the transfer portal rankings). As I said, Cal fans are impatient with their attention now. What materialized was not a miracle, but reasonable progress. That isn't enough for many right now.

The ACC is a lot tougher in basketball than the Pac was. Frankly, we are not at the point where we can envision what a successful future looks like. The program needs to give fans something that makes them think that if they watch, in two or three years time they will be rewarded. It hasn't really done that.

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HearstMining
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In reply to BearlyCareAnymore • 9:16a, 1/6/25
BearlyCareAnymore said:
eastcoastcal said:
It really feels like there's no buzz around the program this season. I know we've been losing lately, plus with the heavy roster turnover, fans don't have as much of a connection.

However, I feel like there are ingredients- we have the son of Peja Stojakovic playing for us and he's averaging the second most points per game in the ACC! We have a really fun freshman (and very underrated) Jeremiah Wilkinson who's also played well.

There are only 7 more home games with students on campus left (classes don't start until Jan 21). That doesn't leave us much time to lift up the low attendance.

It honestly feels like even Fox years had more attention- we don't even have game threads sometimes or there are only 1-2 pages of posts when we do. Any thoughts or ideas?
Cal has reached the point where it has lost so much that fans are very impatient with their attention. Last year we had a new, young, energetic coach and because he looked like he came from central casting for young successful coach that takes the world by storm, some people started watching. Reality hasn't met the unreasonable expectations and a lot of people are already on the "whelp, that didn't work" train. I warned of this last year. People were talking about home run hire and potential tourney team or at least NIT. When someone preseason was asking why we weren't getting national attention and I said we don't remotely know what we had, I was met with we know we have a great coach and a great recruiting class that should get us close to the tourney. (the latter was clearly not true, but people do not understand the transfer portal rankings). As I said, Cal fans are impatient with their attention now. What materialized was not a miracle, but reasonable progress. That isn't enough for many right now.

The ACC is a lot tougher in basketball than the Pac was. Frankly, we are not at the point where we can envision what a successful future looks like. The program needs to give fans something that makes them think that if they watch, in two or three years time they will be rewarded. It hasn't really done that.

I'll add that Cal's program needs to make fans think that they have a decent/good chance to win any game THIS SEASON. And if/when they lose, it can't be for the same reason every game (like poor defense), and they can't be blow-outs. These are factors that prompt fans to skip games (either in-person or on TV) entirely.
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socaltownie
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11:23a, 1/6/25
To win you gotta need players. And there is a double benefit for LOCAL kids. The East Bay has great BB roots and I would point to the excitement when we had Jason Kidd, Ivan Rabb or Leon Powe playing for the Bears. Similarly Ubake. Hoop nuts KNEW these kids and there was excitement when they stayed home

2025 is pretty slim for NorCal top 100. Bears have offered 2 unsigned kids out of Socal for the 2025 class and it would be fantastic (see all my posts about why we should have hired the kicker for the bags that could be dropped off) if we could sign one.

https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/251630/brayden-burries
https://www.espn.com/college-sports/basketball/recruiting/player/_/id/255063/alijah-arenas (Yup...his kid ;-)

And, of course, Prolific Prep. Madsen needs to know how to drive over to Napa and be doing it as early as often as he can.

And I am sorry to throw this bomb into the room but it is important to note that leadership and influence in East Bay Basketball (as well as SOCAL) is predominately among African Americans. This isn't any guarantee of success (looking at you Wyking Jones) but it is the case that a strong AA Head Coach would start with an extra step up in building trust and relationships that are vital in that world. Until Madsen shows the capacity to sign kids that in the top 100 (Cause that is what the upper 1/3 of the ACC does ALL THE TIME) we will struggle. He can do so by developing relationships with the PP and AAU circuits and/or fostering donor support to be able to fund an 8 figure NIL budget. Absent that....well we can see what we can see this year.



Take care of your Chicken
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HKBear97!
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In reply to BearlyCareAnymore • 3:02p, 1/6/25
BearlyCareAnymore said:
eastcoastcal said:
It really feels like there's no buzz around the program this season. I know we've been losing lately, plus with the heavy roster turnover, fans don't have as much of a connection.

However, I feel like there are ingredients- we have the son of Peja Stojakovic playing for us and he's averaging the second most points per game in the ACC! We have a really fun freshman (and very underrated) Jeremiah Wilkinson who's also played well.

There are only 7 more home games with students on campus left (classes don't start until Jan 21). That doesn't leave us much time to lift up the low attendance.

It honestly feels like even Fox years had more attention- we don't even have game threads sometimes or there are only 1-2 pages of posts when we do. Any thoughts or ideas?
Cal has reached the point where it has lost so much that fans are very impatient with their attention. Last year we had a new, young, energetic coach and because he looked like he came from central casting for young successful coach that takes the world by storm, some people started watching. Reality hasn't met the unreasonable expectations and a lot of people are already on the "whelp, that didn't work" train. I warned of this last year. People were talking about home run hire and potential tourney team or at least NIT. When someone preseason was asking why we weren't getting national attention and I said we don't remotely know what we had, I was met with we know we have a great coach and a great recruiting class that should get us close to the tourney. (the latter was clearly not true, but people do not understand the transfer portal rankings). As I said, Cal fans are impatient with their attention now. What materialized was not a miracle, but reasonable progress. That isn't enough for many right now.

The ACC is a lot tougher in basketball than the Pac was. Frankly, we are not at the point where we can envision what a successful future looks like. The program needs to give fans something that makes them think that if they watch, in two or three years time they will be rewarded. It hasn't really done that.

Let's not forget Madsen himself started his tenure projecting the greatest single turnaround in NCAA history. That also added to the unrealistic hype.
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Calfan92
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9:03p, 1/6/25
Coach was my most-hated Furd. Back to games when he is gone.
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Bobodeluxe
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In reply to Calfan92 • 9:39p, 1/6/25
Calfan92 said:
Coach was my most-hated Furd. Back to games when he is gone.
lol
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RedlessWardrobe
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In reply to Calfan92 • 7:04a, 1/7/25
Calfan92 said:
Coach was my most-hated Furd. Back to games when he is gone.
See you in a few years.
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75bear
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In reply to Calfan92 • 7:39a, 1/7/25
Calfan92 said:
Coach was my most-hated Furd. Back to games when he is gone.
What did you do during the Cal Monty era?
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bearister
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12:28p, 1/9/25
Beat Virginia Tech and they will come. If my research is correct, as we sit here today, the spread is: Dead level.


*….and remember, a 'Hokie' is actually a castrated turkey.


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Shocky1
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In reply to sycasey • 3:58p, 1/9/25
sycasey said:
Win more games.
wrong, that's not how u sell more tixs in 2025
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stu
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In reply to Shocky1 • 10:27p, 1/9/25
Shocky1 said:
sycasey said:
Win more games.
wrong, that's not how u sell more tixs in 2025
Let's try winning more games just to see if that helps.
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stu
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10:35p, 1/9/25
If you want to see some energy come to a Cal women's game. Tonight's crowd numbered under 2000 but unlike last night was alive and engaged from the opening tip. Cal beat another Top-25 team with all 5 starters scoring in double figures, everyone defending, and everyone playing their hearts out. Charmin Smith has assembled talented players and good coaches and has everyone playing together as a team. I think that will happen with our men but our women can show you the results right now, like Sunday against another ranked team. Don't miss it, they need your support.
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HongKong_Bear
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2:01a, 1/10/25
I would also humbly suggest making the tickets as affordable as possible for all students as well as UC employees until Haas is being sold out on a regular basis. I was a student from 80-84 and we had pretty bad teams under Kuchen, but tickets were cheap and it was fun to go to games. Watching games on TV now the experience looks gloomy and crowd participation is lacking. I cannot for the life of me understand why The Big Game was touted as sold out when there were tarps in the stadium. I just don't understand our Athletic Department. Put people in the stands, keep the student section affordable or free if possible. If Madsen can't provide a product to sustain interest we move on to the next coach. But he seems to be doing okay so far and has good players coming in next season as well, let's see.
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bearister
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In reply to stu • 9:51a, 1/10/25
I only attended one Cal Women's hoop game and it was when they played Jayne Appel's led Furds (I was friendly with her dad from law school).

I believe it was a sellout at Haas or close to. Some lawyer (since past, and he played for Cal) I knew that was sitting in a folding seat on the court got tossed from the gym for woofing on the refs (I later heard that the triggering line was, "How much are they paying you?").

*Jayne at one time had the Haas individual game women's scoring record with the 46 she dropped on Iowa in an Elite 8 game. I don't know if that record held.


Women's NCAA tournament: Jayne Appel's 46 points against Iowa State leads Stanford to Final Four - ESPN


https://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/ncaatourney09/columns/story?columnist=miller_ted&id=4029361

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Econ141
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12:56p, 1/10/25
Because of the lower number players vs football and because you can see their faces, I always had a more vested interest, curiosity in seeing players develop throughout the 3-4 years most players stayed at Cal. From the time I entered Cal in 1993/1994 to the end of Cuonzo, I saw the progression of the program and felt really tied to it.

Once the wheels fell off and it was clear Cal did not care about basketball let alone winning and then the transfer portal where we have virtually turned the entire roster over twice. I just have zero connection to the program. I follow and watch a few minutes of some games but I just don't have much more space for disappointment in addition to what I have to face with Cal football.
Give to Cal Legends!

https://calegends.com/donation/ Do it now. Text every Cal fan you know, give them the link, tell them how much you gave, and ask them to text every Cal fan they know and do the same.
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stu
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In reply to Econ141 • 3:21p, 1/10/25
Econ141 said:
Because of the lower number players vs football and because you can see their faces, I always had a more vested interest, curiosity in seeing players develop throughout the 3-4 years most players stayed at Cal. From the time I entered Cal in 1993/1994 to the end of Cuonzo, I saw the progression of the program and felt really tied to it.

Once the wheels fell off and it was clear Cal did not care about basketball let alone winning and then the transfer portal where we have virtually turned the entire roster over twice. I just have zero connection to the program. I follow and watch a few minutes of some games but I just don't have much more space for disappointment in addition to what I have to face with Cal football.
Well, the Cal women have 2 starters who came to Cal as freshies, 2 who came as multi-year transfers, and 1 who is new this season. We have 5 freshies on the bench, all of whom play when healthy, and some highly ranked freshies coming in next season. You will see some continuity with this team.
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Econ141
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In reply to stu • 5:45p, 1/10/25
stu said:
Econ141 said:
Because of the lower number players vs football and because you can see their faces, I always had a more vested interest, curiosity in seeing players develop throughout the 3-4 years most players stayed at Cal. From the time I entered Cal in 1993/1994 to the end of Cuonzo, I saw the progression of the program and felt really tied to it.

Once the wheels fell off and it was clear Cal did not care about basketball let alone winning and then the transfer portal where we have virtually turned the entire roster over twice. I just have zero connection to the program. I follow and watch a few minutes of some games but I just don't have much more space for disappointment in addition to what I have to face with Cal football.
Well, the Cal women have 2 starters who came to Cal as freshies, 2 who came as multi-year transfers, and 1 who is new this season. We have 5 freshies on the bench, all of whom play when healthy, and some highly ranked freshies coming in next season. You will see some continuity with this team.


This I could get behind!
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https://calegends.com/donation/ Do it now. Text every Cal fan you know, give them the link, tell them how much you gave, and ask them to text every Cal fan they know and do the same.
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bearister
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In reply to stu • 5:56p, 1/10/25
Is Caitlin Clark playing. No? Hard pass.
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stu
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In reply to bearister • 8:35p, 1/10/25
bearister said:
Is Caitlin Clark playing. No? Hard pass.


I saw Layshia Clarendon at the last game. She might be on the broadcast crew, dunno.
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HoopDreams
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In reply to stu • 11:24p, 1/10/25
Layshia is the analyst and the best WBB analysts I've seen. Shining personality and provides great commentary about the game

I think she has a bright TV analyst career if she wants that

stu said:
bearister said:
Is Caitlin Clark playing. No? Hard pass.


I saw Layshia Clarendon at the last game. She might be on the broadcast crew, dunno.
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SonomanA1
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In reply to stu • 7:04a, 1/12/25
stu said:
If you want to see some energy come to a Cal women's game. Tonight's crowd numbered under 2000 but unlike last night was alive and engaged from the opening tip. Cal beat another Top-25 team with all 5 starters scoring in double figures, everyone defending, and everyone playing their hearts out. Charmin Smith has assembled talented players and good coaches and has everyone playing together as a team. I think that will happen with our men but our women can show you the results right now, like Sunday against another ranked team. Don't miss it, they need your support.
I attended the women's game as well as the 2 men's games this week. The most energy was definitely at the men's game in the second half against VT. Everyone was definitely excited when we came back to tie the game and then at the end when we had a chance to put the game in OT. Andrej Stojakovic was at the women's game as well as his father. His father also was at the 2 men's games.

I hope to attend the women's game today but going to 4 games in a week from Santa Rosa takes its toll. The women also have some promotions to encourage attendance including discounted and free tickets. If you attend 8 games, you can attend a wine tasting event with Coach Charmin so "bring a freakin' friend."

Go Bears!
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Calfan92
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12:12p, 1/12/25
Hire a head coach who actually loves the University.
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Big C
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In reply to Calfan92 • 1:50p, 1/15/25
Calfan92 said:
Hire a head coach who actually loves the University.

Madsen used to love Stanfurd, when he was younger and way less mature. Now he loves Cal. He figured things out.

Hopefully, he'll get the on-court stuff figured out, as well.
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Calfan92
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In reply to Big C • 11:05a, 1/16/25
Please.
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Big C
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In reply to Calfan92 • 2:17p, 1/16/25
Calfan92 said:
Please.

Well, lots of people are criticizing Madsen right now and almost all of it is valid. But you are the only poster saying that his main problem is that he went to Stanfurd and is thus not committed to Cal winning.
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RedlessWardrobe
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In reply to Calfan92 • 2:52p, 1/16/25
Calfan92 said:
Hire a head coach who actually loves the University.
Honestly, do you really think that is the issue? If MM was a Cal grad would that have any effect on his coaching ability? It's about coaching basketball. Period.
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Haloski
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In reply to Calfan92 • 5:59p, 1/16/25
Calfan92 said:
Hire a head coach who actually loves the University.


Monty sure didn't fit your criteria when he was hired. He was just a damn good coach.
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ryananderin
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In reply to Calfan92 • 10:36p, 1/18/25
That's crazy petty.
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