Idiots Write About Sports

This year we went to the Lair of the Bear, the California Alumni Association’s camp up in the Sierras. (It’s actually not 40 minutes from where I grew up.)

What makes this camp a Cal camp? Well, the script Cal is everywhere. Every pronouncement from a Camp official ends with “Go Bears.” The tent next to us was occupied by a lovely family, the dad of which turned out to be a former Cal starting quarterback. One evening we got a presentation from Jim Michalczik, the Cal offensive line coach.

And then there’s Mike White. We get to camp to check in, and a gray-haired gentleman who seems eerily familiar shakes my hand and says, “Welcome, I’m Mike White, and I’m the camp manager.” That Mike White? Former Cal coach, Raiders coach, football coaching lifer?

That’s the one. This year, Mike White — a former staff member at the Lair of the Bear when he was young — is running the show at Camp Blue. (And no, there’s apparently no way that Al Davis can fire him from this job.)

All the Cal stuff aside, it was a great experience and we’re going to go back next year. The kids loved it, and there’s something to be said for being cut off from e-mail and cell phone service for a week, out in the clean air of the mountains.

But if you ever go to the Lair of the Bear, be warned: You will find someone, perhaps many someones, who will make you question your true commitment to Cal Football. I told a few people the story of how my family has had season tickets since the ’60s. They were impressed. But when they asked, “So are you going to the Tennessee game?” I had to sheepishly answer, “no.”

“Man, you gotta go!” said the former Cal QB in the tent next to ours. I felt a slight amount of shame. But, I mean, Tennessee? Sure, that would be the experience of a lifetime, but am I really going to fly away to Tennessee just to see Cal play the Volunteers in front of 100,000 screaming fans?

Turns out that I am. And I’m even taking Phil with me. But that’s the topic of another blog post.

Alright! Go Camp Blue. Those Camp Gold bozos aren't worth the ground they sleep on. And the newbies over at Camp Oski think they're cool but they're just newbees.

I grew up at the Lair. Went for 21 straight years as a kid. The first trip I was 10 months old and we went every year until I was 20. We always went week 7. Assuming you've recently returned, sounds like you went to weeks 8 or 9, yes? We were in tent 44a for many years then moved to tent 29. Over by what used to be called Popper Park.

I keep trying to talk my wife into going. No luck yet...

This was my first year back; I went once as a kid. We actually went in week 4, but I am a very lazy blogger. Fourth of July week.

Re: Camp Gold. We would take walks (to put our almost two-year-old to sleep) over toward Pinecrest Lake, through Camp Gold. This year there was some yahoo with a freakin' motorhome attached to their tent. Kept the air conditioning running, the works. As we walked by we'd roll our eyes and say, "Typical Gold." Proving that Stanfurd only ever got one thing right, and it was the Stanford Prison Experiment.

It was great with the kids. Tell your wife it's got the Snell family endorsement.

Posted by Jason at August 6, 2006 10:27 PM

Jason
We've been going to the Lair (10th week) for 14 years...it's great! And so is Mike White. Two of my kids, Claire and Reid are staffers this year and they like working for "coach" White as well.
10th week beat the staff in softball this year. They were undefeated. A few unhappy male staffers. We beat Camp Gold also. "Go Blue", "Go Bears"!
Jon

It will be worth the trip. Tennessee fans, for the most part, are great people and everyone should see an game in Knoxville. I am going to go out on a limb and say that football on the west coast isn't as big as football in the south. I am willing to bet there are people already pulling their RV's on to campus and starting tail gating and drinking. I know that sounds crazy, but wait until you get here.

I hope it is a good game, GO Vols!

That's because out here on the west coast, we have other things to do. Whereas, if you're in the south... well, at least there's football. :-)

Posted by Jason at August 28, 2006 12:31 PM

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