Loading ...So, we lied. We’re back for another Wide World of Cal Sports. A lot has happened, especially in the last few weeks. We never thought it’d get this busy during the lazy, dog days of summer.
*Leading Off…Braun Gets His Extension*
Yes, we get to suffer through two more years of Ben Braun. That means two more years of stagnant offenses, so-so defenses and more mediocrity.
Braun’s original contract was slated to go to the 2008-09 season, but the university agreed to a contract extension in June, which was pending approval from the UC Regents.
Well, at least Braun will have his hands full if his players don’t stop acting up.
*More Coaching News*
Cal has found replacements for its women’s tennis and lacrosse teams.
Jan Brogan left the Bears after 29 years and a semifinal appearance in the NCAA tournament. We thought it was dumb to leave, but one of Brogan’s pupils is going to take the helm.
Amanda Augustus, who won two NCAA doubles-titles with Cal in the mid-1990s is going to be the new head coach.
On the lacrosse front, assistant coach Theresa Sherry has been elevated to head coach. She was a three-time All-American at Princeton.
Let’s hope she can bring that east coast flair to the Bears and help Cal crack that east coast bias.
*Tyson Ross: Silver Medalist*
We know Tyson Ross is awesome. He’s going to be Esquer’s only hope of keeping his job after next year (we keep saying that, but it might be true).
Add to Ross’ list of accomplishments a silver medal from the Pan American games. He was on the mound for Team USA in the tourney-opener, defeating the Dominican Republic 5-1. He also pitched two innings of relief for Team America in the gold medal game.
Can Cal have Ross pitch every game, please?
*More Pan-Am Athletes*
Our Cal Athlete of the Year, Alysia Johnson, began representing Team USA today with a second place finish in the 800 meter at the Pan-Am games in Brazil.
That finish gets her into the final. Maybe she can add “world champ” to this impressive list of accomplishments: NCAA indoor champ, NCAA outdoor champ and United States champ.
We’re sure she’s going to be in Beijing next summer of the Olympics. Just you wait and see.
Image source: Salgu Wissmath, Daily Cal
Tags:Ben Braun, Cal sports, tennis, track and field, Tyson Ross
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Comments:
Jul 24, 2007 at 10:29 am
Ben Braun’s extension is a fake. He is still on the edge — and if he doesn’t make the tournament this year he’ll be gone.
1) There is no raise in the extension. That in itself is very telling.
2) There is no buyout clause in the extension. If he is fired this or next year, the school has to pay him his almost one million dollar salary (unless some other school will hire him and that isn’t gonna happen). But for the two extension years — the University can fire him without having to buy out his contract.
So all this thing does is cover up what is really going on — the school is waiting for the two Haas brothers to agree to firing Braun. They are the reason he’s still here. They provide way too much support to the school to piss off, and their money would be needed for the buyout.