Cal88 said:

---

Yes, good luck on your procedure Tom.

---

bearister said:

---

My Mom called those really long obits that read like This is Your Life, the "Last Brag."

---

Cal88 said:

---

Hope Tom has sorted out his bladder so he can resume his blather.

---

Cal88 said:

---

bearister said:

---

I hope B.A. Bearacus is around. He was My Man! and made custom stuff for me like this:

---

I think Bearacus is on a digital sabbatical, he has gradually reduced his activity here...

---

concordtom said:

---

sonofabear51 said:

---

Best wishes on a positive outcome on your surgery CT!

---

Thank you.
It all has worked out great. I'm in good spirits and it's almost like nothing has happened, except I have a tube up my main vein!

I started producing kidney stones about 5 years ago and this is my 3rd surgery for them. Laser lithotripsy. This one, however, grew in the bladder to 3-4cm in size, which is pretty damn big.

The catheter comes out tomorrow, should be fun.

I appreciate the positive thoughts. Thank you!! I admit, I had thoughts last night - they say, death is a chance when you go under with a general. So, as usual with BI, I post and process and it makes things get off my chest. This is why BI is a Good thing!!

Does Cal play tomorrow? I've got a game to look forward to!! Grrrrrr! Go Bears!!

---

SFCityBear said:

---

Big C said:

---

Former poster helltopay1, once a regular on this forum until his "abrupt departure" two years ago, passed away recently.

(If you found him offensive, please do not say bad things about him here, or at least wait a week or so, out of a sense of humanity.)

The reason I know he died is that, after he was banned, he was somehow able to stay in touch via PM and he would write me on a regular basis, calling me "the last good lefty". We talked about one day meeting for lunch or something, but never did, until in July, he told me that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This prompted me to send him my contact info. Last week, a friend of his phoned me to say that he passed away on August 27th at the age of 87.

helltopay1, whose real name was Bob, grew up in San Francisco, where he played some basketball. He always mentioned that he had a sweet outside shot and this was confirmed by his friend, I'm pretty sure that he would've liked me to mention that! Bob served in the US Navy and later lived in Mountain View for a long time, before retiring in Rossmoor (Walnut Creek)

Bob became a life-long fan of Cal Basketball, as he came of age during the Pete Newell Era. In his younger adult years, he claimed to have been a rather liberal Democrat but became more and more conservative as he aged (a natural progression, he believed).

Bob had a sense of humor. He thought it was a good one, but some folks didn't agree (and I understand why... and they have a point). He was banned from posting here for incessantly flooding this forum with political diatribes, some of which could be found to be offensive. This, despite numerous warnings and timeouts: He just couldn't stop himself.

I think I'll leave it at that: Bob was a Cal fan, he absolutely had a good side to him and now he's gone. RIP

---

Many thanks for posting this.

Bob (HTP1) was quite the character, quite strong in his beliefs and opinions. I did enjoy reading much of what he wrote, but it was later after I came to know him, that I began to really appreciate him.
One day, I got a message on the BI from Bob, asking me for my phone number. I sent it, expecting that if he called , I'd get a dissertation on politics, but when he did call, it was all personal, about the era we played in. He grew up on the playgrounds and gyms of the city, as I did, and we knew some of the same players and coaches. In fact, we both played for the same high school, Lowell. We shared loads of stories. I'm guessing Bob was about 6-8 years my senior, so he played in a generation where guys like Fred LaCour and Tom Meschery were kings of the hardwood. Both of them were named California's Mr. Basketball (Best player in the state) and both were high school All Americans, back when "All American teams" were teams of 5 players, not 35 of them like the modern McDonalds teams had.

Bob used to play one on one with Tom Meschery, and according to Bob, he was able to drive and score on Tom at will. This was when both Tom and Freddie were maybe 4 years younger than Bob. In the summers, the place to play was the Marin Town and Country Club in San Anselmo, so Bob and Tom and Fred would get in a car and head over there to play hoops with the best players around the City and north bay at least.

Bob grew up in the Richmond District, which was where both Tom and Fred grew up as well, and they usually played at Rochambeau playground. Bob began his high school career at St Ignatius under legendary coach Rene Herrerias. In those days every high school (and even the CYOs) had several teams: a varsity, plus 3 lightweight teams (110s, 120s, 130s. Some schools had junior varsity teams. Meschery was 6-6,and LaCour 6-5, and they played on varsity steams. Bob was much smaller, and I think he played 110s, 120s and 130s in high school. The way it worked was that the 110s and the 120s played all their basketball games in the Fall Semester, and the Varsity, Junior Varsity, and 130s played their games in the Spring Semester. Bob told me that Rene Herrerias was the only high school coach in San Francisco high school history to coach his teams to win all four divisions, Varsity, 130s, 120s, and 110s in the same year. His varsity teams also won the Tournament of Champions, which included all the best northern California teams. Herrerias, as we know was the head assistant to Pete Newell at Cal, and was the advance scout for all Cal's great victories in the NCAA tournament under Newell.

After a year at SI, Bob transferred to Lowell High, and played his next 3 years for Benny Neff, another great high school coach. Bob was named All-City at least when he played for the Lincoln 120s, and I'm pretty sure he made the All-City team in multiple years. When Bob and I exchanged last names, Bob asked me if I was related to Jim, who happened to be a first cousin of mine. Jim was a very good high school athlete, who was All-City in Basketball and Baseball playing for Lincoln high in San Francisco. Bob remembered Jim as being very fast, a tough defender and fine point guard. Bob then told me that he had played against my cousin, and got the better of my cousin. So I called my cousin to ask about Bob. Was Bob really a good player? Jim said, "The previous year, I was All-City, and the next year I was even better, and expected to make All-City again, but Bob sort of stole my thunder in that game with Lowell. After that, Bob made All-City, and I didn't." Neither of them was probably big enough to play in college. Bob did play some for a college in the East Bay, as I recall. Jim graduated from Cal, having been on the Cal Frosh Baseball team.

Bob used to call Jim after that, to talk and cheer him up, but Jim began to fail. I called Bob to tell him the news that Jim had passed away, and he was saddened. Jim was like a big brother to me all my life, and in a smaller way, Bob was like that too. I'll miss Bob, his posts, and especially the calls I was lucky to have with him.

---

concordtom said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

Hope Tom has sorted out his bladder so he can resume his blather.

---

Please delete my above response emoji.

Edit

Oh wait
I think you tried to make a funny via play on words: bladder, blather.

Hmmm.

---

Big C said:

---

Former poster helltopay1, once a regular on this forum until his "abrupt departure" two years ago, passed away recently.

(If you found him offensive, please do not say bad things about him here, or at least wait a week or so, out of a sense of humanity.)

The reason I know he died is that, after he was banned, he was somehow able to stay in touch via PM and he would write me on a regular basis, calling me "the last good lefty". We talked about one day meeting for lunch or something, but never did, until in July, he told me that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This prompted me to send him my contact info. Last week, a friend of his phoned me to say that he passed away on August 27th at the age of 87.

helltopay1, whose real name was Bob, grew up in San Francisco, where he played some basketball. He always mentioned that he had a sweet outside shot and this was confirmed by his friend, I'm pretty sure that he would've liked me to mention that! Bob served in the US Navy and later lived in Mountain View for a long time, before retiring in Rossmoor (Walnut Creek)

Bob became a life-long fan of Cal Basketball, as he came of age during the Pete Newell Era. In his younger adult years, he claimed to have been a rather liberal Democrat but became more and more conservative as he aged (a natural progression, he believed).

Bob had a sense of humor. He thought it was a good one, but some folks didn't agree (and I understand why... and they have a point). He was banned from posting here for incessantly flooding this forum with political diatribes, some of which could be found to be offensive. This, despite numerous warnings and timeouts: He just couldn't stop himself.

I think I'll leave it at that: Bob was a Cal fan, he absolutely had a good side to him and now he's gone. RIP

---

Cal88 said:

---

concordtom said:

---

Cal88 said:

---

Hope Tom has sorted out his bladder so he can resume his blather.

---

Please delete my above response emoji.

Edit

Oh wait
I think you tried to make a funny via play on words: bladder, blather.

Hmmm.

---

Yes, just a bit of ribbing there, hope you're fully recovered and will enjoy tonight's game unhindered by physical strain.

---

SBGold said:

---

Big C said:

---

Former poster helltopay1, once a regular on this forum until his "abrupt departure" two years ago, passed away recently.

(If you found him offensive, please do not say bad things about him here, or at least wait a week or so, out of a sense of humanity.)

The reason I know he died is that, after he was banned, he was somehow able to stay in touch via PM and he would write me on a regular basis, calling me "the last good lefty". We talked about one day meeting for lunch or something, but never did, until in July, he told me that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This prompted me to send him my contact info. Last week, a friend of his phoned me to say that he passed away on August 27th at the age of 87.

helltopay1, whose real name was Bob, grew up in San Francisco, where he played some basketball. He always mentioned that he had a sweet outside shot and this was confirmed by his friend, I'm pretty sure that he would've liked me to mention that! Bob served in the US Navy and later lived in Mountain View for a long time, before retiring in Rossmoor (Walnut Creek)

Bob became a life-long fan of Cal Basketball, as he came of age during the Pete Newell Era. In his younger adult years, he claimed to have been a rather liberal Democrat but became more and more conservative as he aged (a natural progression, he believed).

Bob had a sense of humor. He thought it was a good one, but some folks didn't agree (and I understand why... and they have a point). He was banned from posting here for incessantly flooding this forum with political diatribes, some of which could be found to be offensive. This, despite numerous warnings and timeouts: He just couldn't stop himself.

I think I'll leave it at that: Bob was a Cal fan, he absolutely had a good side to him and now he's gone. RIP

---

Still waiting the week out of a sense of humanity

---

concordtom said:

---

SBGold said:

---

Big C said:

---

Former poster helltopay1, once a regular on this forum until his "abrupt departure" two years ago, passed away recently.

(If you found him offensive, please do not say bad things about him here, or at least wait a week or so, out of a sense of humanity.)

The reason I know he died is that, after he was banned, he was somehow able to stay in touch via PM and he would write me on a regular basis, calling me "the last good lefty". We talked about one day meeting for lunch or something, but never did, until in July, he told me that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This prompted me to send him my contact info. Last week, a friend of his phoned me to say that he passed away on August 27th at the age of 87.

helltopay1, whose real name was Bob, grew up in San Francisco, where he played some basketball. He always mentioned that he had a sweet outside shot and this was confirmed by his friend, I'm pretty sure that he would've liked me to mention that! Bob served in the US Navy and later lived in Mountain View for a long time, before retiring in Rossmoor (Walnut Creek)

Bob became a life-long fan of Cal Basketball, as he came of age during the Pete Newell Era. In his younger adult years, he claimed to have been a rather liberal Democrat but became more and more conservative as he aged (a natural progression, he believed).

Bob had a sense of humor. He thought it was a good one, but some folks didn't agree (and I understand why... and they have a point). He was banned from posting here for incessantly flooding this forum with political diatribes, some of which could be found to be offensive. This, despite numerous warnings and timeouts: He just couldn't stop himself.

I think I'll leave it at that: Bob was a Cal fan, he absolutely had a good side to him and now he's gone. RIP

---

Still waiting the week out of a sense of humanity

---

Idea bubble:
You could spend the week perusing his posts and come up with a Greatest Hits and then create a HTP thread and allow us to relive the glory, diagnose the man.

---

oskidunker said:

---

Do a search on google. Helltopay1 bear insider. I found a lot. Posted one.

helltopay1 9:44p, 12/26/18
Did you see the TCU cheerleaders???gorgeous--gorgeous----gorgeous--gorgeous--Either Cal's cheerleaders didn't make the trip or they were not shown . There are 100 reasons why Cal can'r recruit. You just saw one of them. Don't think it makes a difference??I've got some bridges I'd like to sell you.

helltopay1 12:20a, 7/22/20
Here's a simple idea..Lose the anthem before every sporting event. Everyone knows what country is holding the event. The anthem today is so divisive that it threatens to ruin if not strain relationships among owners, managers, players and fans alike. Social solidarity at sporting events in the past have given owners, coaches, players and fans alike the chance to have something in common just before the game , and, for that, we have all been grateful. Today, 50% of the participants kneel--50% stand, ---pretty soon, 50% of the fans in the stands will be kneeling while the other v50% stand. Honestly, is there anyone who thinks this is a healthy situation??"a nation divided cannot stand." divided owners, coachers, players and fans cannot stand either---When we go to work in the morning, the anthem is not played just before we sit at our desk or begin to engage in whatever work we are assigned. if and when our nation returns to some semblance of normality and acceptance, then, and only then, should we consider restoring the Anthem. Even then, if I were King, I would ban it ----just play the *************damn game!!!!!!
13

---

SBGold said:

---

Big C said:

---

Former poster helltopay1, once a regular on this forum until his "abrupt departure" two years ago, passed away recently.

(If you found him offensive, please do not say bad things about him here, or at least wait a week or so, out of a sense of humanity.)

The reason I know he died is that, after he was banned, he was somehow able to stay in touch via PM and he would write me on a regular basis, calling me "the last good lefty". We talked about one day meeting for lunch or something, but never did, until in July, he told me that he had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. This prompted me to send him my contact info. Last week, a friend of his phoned me to say that he passed away on August 27th at the age of 87.

helltopay1, whose real name was Bob, grew up in San Francisco, where he played some basketball. He always mentioned that he had a sweet outside shot and this was confirmed by his friend, I'm pretty sure that he would've liked me to mention that! Bob served in the US Navy and later lived in Mountain View for a long time, before retiring in Rossmoor (Walnut Creek)

Bob became a life-long fan of Cal Basketball, as he came of age during the Pete Newell Era. In his younger adult years, he claimed to have been a rather liberal Democrat but became more and more conservative as he aged (a natural progression, he believed).

Bob had a sense of humor. He thought it was a good one, but some folks didn't agree (and I understand why... and they have a point). He was banned from posting here for incessantly flooding this forum with political diatribes, some of which could be found to be offensive. This, despite numerous warnings and timeouts: He just couldn't stop himself.

I think I'll leave it at that: Bob was a Cal fan, he absolutely had a good side to him and now he's gone. RIP

---

Still waiting the week out of a sense of humanity

---

oskidunker said:

---

Do a search on google. Helltopay1 bear insider. I found a lot. Posted one.

helltopay1 9:44p, 12/26/18
Did you see the TCU cheerleaders???gorgeous--gorgeous----gorgeous--gorgeous--Either Cal's cheerleaders didn't make the trip or they were not shown . There are 100 reasons why Cal can'r recruit. You just saw one of them. Don't think it makes a difference??I've got some bridges I'd like to sell you.

helltopay1 12:20a, 7/22/20
Here's a simple idea..Lose the anthem before every sporting event. Everyone knows what country is holding the event. The anthem today is so divisive that it threatens to ruin if not strain relationships among owners, managers, players and fans alike. Social solidarity at sporting events in the past have given owners, coaches, players and fans alike the chance to have something in common just before the game , and, for that, we have all been grateful. Today, 50% of the participants kneel--50% stand, ---pretty soon, 50% of the fans in the stands will be kneeling while the other v50% stand. Honestly, is there anyone who thinks this is a healthy situation??"a nation divided cannot stand." divided owners, coachers, players and fans cannot stand either---When we go to work in the morning, the anthem is not played just before we sit at our desk or begin to engage in whatever work we are assigned. if and when our nation returns to some semblance of normality and acceptance, then, and only then, should we consider restoring the Anthem. Even then, if I were King, I would ban it ----just play the *************damn game!!!!!!
13

---

bearister said:

---

Mike Bloomfield was God.

---