Tuesday, January 15 2008 @ 10:34 AM PST
Contributed by: oski
Views: 106
Welcome to the Oski Game. In this casual game, Oski the Bear fell on hard times, with tuition rising and jobs for Bears becoming scarce. So he had to take a job working the night shift at the Library. Of course this does not reflect the glorious reality of the real Oski, this is just a game...
Anyway, these are hard times for Oski, dance all day, work all night, and no date in sight! Clearly Oski needs your help. Click this link to start the game!
Friday, November 30 2007 @ 04:23 PM PST
Contributed by: Richard Sipan
Views: 330
This story is apropos of nothing, other than an interesting trip to Hartford for the NCAA East Regionals (Basketball), the first time Cal had been to the NCAA Basketball playoffs in 30 years. I flew out of Las Vegas to attend, connected in Dallas/Fort Worth, Cal Band boarded same plane at DFW.
Was on my own, to the East Coast for the first time at age 29, and went to Friday nightcap game between Cal and Indiana (then coached by Bobby Knight). Almost got run down by the Indiana bus, which was parking, as I approached the arena.
Approaching my seat, saw Oski. Not that I am the touchy feely type, but I was overcome with an urge to hug the Bear, which I did, commenting, "Oski! How good it is to see you!" Somewhat to my surprise, ascertained that Oski was a female. Somewhat abashed, had a seat.
Cal proceeded to defeat Indiana 69-67, as Cal guard Keith (memory fails as to last name) drained two free throws with about a second left. Indiana could not get a shot off; Knight was quite evidently pissed.
This was a different era; ESPN covered all the NCAA basketball playoff games, with one, maybe two cameras per game.
UConn proceeded to destroy Cal on Sunday morning, though, in fairness, Cal could not buy a call from East Coast referees.
One does not think of Oski as having a specifically either male or female persona; I can only say, across the continent from my familiar haunts in California and Nevada, to see Oski, was a kind of religious experience, reminiscent of the Acts of the Apostles, where Moses representing The Law, and Isiah representing the Prophets, appeared on Mount Tabor with Jesus.
By the way, I think it is absurd that religious zealots in Sudan are persecuting an English school teacher for her class naming a Teddy Bear "Mohammed". Of course, if the Bear had been named "Oski," this problem would not have arisen.
The official mascot of the University of California, Oski, has been a tradition at the school since making his debut on September 26, 1941 during the football season-opener against St. Mary's. Prior to his arrival, live mascots were used at Memorial Stadium with varying degrees of success. It was decided in 1940 that a costumed mascot would make a more suitable alternative to a live bear.
Named after the popular turn of the 20th century "Oski Wow-Wow" yell, the Cal mascot is selected by the Oski Committee, a governing body that oversees all aspects of caring for the lovable, 5-foot-7-inch, size 15 tennis shoe wearing Bear. Oski's identity is unknown to everyone, with the exception of the committee.