Thanks, Mom!

Bridget, Oski & Alex

It was my pleasure to accompany my mom to several CAL football games this fall. I appreciate my wife allowing me to step out of the house to enjoy doing something I love - attend sporting events. Whether it's an A's or Giants game, or a trip to Sonoma to watch the NASCAR boys, Kari has long supported my love of sports. Or at the very least, tolerated it.

Two years ago my mom decided to scratch an itch she'd been having of attending an annual CAL football game by purchasing 2 season tickets. We sit in the north end zone and my brother-in-law James and I have split the games with my mom. I grew up attending CAL games with the mutual group at church once in a while. I attended many a CAL game in high school raising money for the Gauchos Marching Band by selling drinks and hot dogs.

And so it's been fun to return often over the past two seasons to see the Bears as they play a tough Pac-10 schedule. This season was no exception. Twice I was able to enjoy victories over Colorado and Arizona State. Unfortunately that momentum did not carry into last Saturday's season finale, which resulted in a 16-13 win for Washington. Coincidentally, it also happened to be the final CAL game at Memorial Stadium before it undergoes an extreme makeover and retrofitting.

Next season the games will be played in San Francisco at AT&T Park which should be exciting. I've always enjoyed going to CAL games, but I would say that the time I've been able to spend with my mom is worth more than any touchdown or field goal. It's priceless. So thanks for the great memories, Mom. I look forward to many more!

Go Bears!