Story Poster
Photo by Bear Insider
Cal Basketball

The Rodcast: Two Hours With Mendoza

December 9, 2024
1,404

In today's podcast, former Cal and professional center and Bear Insider commentator Rod Benson talks about his conversation with Cal QB Fernando Mendoza about looking at and doing things in a different way at Cal

Click here to listen on SoundcloudSpotifyApple Podcasts or on many of your favorite podcast services.

Related:

The Rodcast: I'm Not Mad at It

The Rodcast - Cal vs USC Breakdown

Discussion from...

The Rodcast: Two Hours With Mendoza

1,041 Views | 7 Replies | Last: 14 hrs ago by CNHTH
oskidunker
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Depressing
bluehenbear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
I would like to shout out Rod's point that former players being recognized at games isn't about stroking the former players egos. It's about demonstrating to current players and students that Cal / UC Berkeley and alumni are grateful for their contributions when they were students. The university bureaucracy excels at making you feel little and unappreciated. If Lyons wants donations and engagement, this needs to change -- and something he can do something about by taking Rod's point about the AD not having any or very little alumni on staff seriously....especially at the top.
stu
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Thanks for illuminating this! I have two comments:

My ex was a Cal grad and worked about 40 years in the Cal Athletic Department. She put her all into the job out of a true love for Cal and Cal's teams. When she retired they had to hire two people to replace her and they're probably not doing half of what she did.

I love the Mendoza mural idea! Why not have it painted on the containers surrounding People's Park? I doubt anyone would complain, it's in Berkeley, and photos would be all over the Internet.
75bear
How long do you want to ignore this user?
All that was missing from the end of this podcast was a mic drop. Seriously, incredible stuff, Rod. And I didn't find it depressing, I found it hopeful - there's a path for us that can work.

I seriously want to help make this Mendoza mural come to life - in Crenshaw or wherever. Rod, how can we donate?
Bowlesman80
How long do you want to ignore this user?
Thank you, young man, for this harsh fact that Cal does not do enough to include and celebrate its former stars and achievers. And it would be so simple. The reunion of the Tedford team was organized by a team alum, not the PR department. Waiting for alums to do something that makes the PR team look good is passive profiting. We salted the first few football games with tix giveaways, why not make an effort to include invites and tix to player alums?
"Just win, baby."
bearsandgiants
How long do you want to ignore this user?
stu said:

Thanks for illuminating this! I have two comments:

My ex was a Cal grad and worked about 40 years in the Cal Athletic Department. She put her all into the job out of a true love for Cal and Cal's teams. When she retired they had to hire two people to replace her and they're probably not doing half of what she did.

I love the Mendoza mural idea! Why not have it painted on the containers surrounding People's Park? I doubt anyone would complain, it's in Berkeley, and photos would be all over the Internet.



There are plenty of donors who would fund this. They funded the billboards. Sounds like a great idea!
CNHTH
How long do you want to ignore this user?
bluehenbear said:

I would like to shout out Rod's point that former players being recognized at games isn't about stroking the former players egos. It's about demonstrating to current players and students that Cal / UC Berkeley and alumni are grateful for their contributions when they were students. The university bureaucracy excels at making you feel little and unappreciated. If Lyons wants donations and engagement, this needs to change -- and something he can do something about by taking Rod's point about the AD not having any or very little alumni on staff seriously....especially at the top.

Thank you!
This!
Baby steps towards finally hiring alums as head coaches!
This is the greatest university on the planet *** are we doing looking external!
Can you imagine if Oppenheimer had ostracized Bethe, Serber, and Teller and instead hired from Oregon liberal arts college and Boise Junior University?
We might be living in Imperial Japan Eastern Edition or the 4th Reich.
Respect alums who bled and bleed blue and gold or be gone!
Refresh
Page 1 of 1
 
×
subscribe Verify your student status
See Subscription Benefits
Trial only available to users who have never subscribed or participated in a previous trial.