For One Brief, Shining Moment, I Love Cal

You people know where my loyalties lie, and thus, you surely know that the alleged Golden Bears of UC Berkeley -- I will use their preferred "Cal" moniker here because they made me smile today -- are no great friends of mine. No secret that the only days of the year I actually root for them are the days they play the U$C Trojans.

But today I must embrace my Northern California rivals, for they have perpetrated the most inspired embarrassing moment upon my crosstown nemesis.

Bay Area blogger Rangelife, who calls the stunt at last Saturday's basketball game "a prank that straddles the fuzzy gray line between 'Crap-Yer-Pants Hilarious' and 'Inexcusably Cruel,'" gives the lowdown:

When USC guard Gabe Pruitt took his first trip to the free throw line early in the game, the Cal student section hollered in unison: "VIC-TOR-IA, VIC-TOR-IA," and then yelled out a telephone number. Pruitt glanced back at the crowd in horror and bewilderment before clanking his free throws.

It turns out that a couple of mischeivous little bastards from the Cal student section had been IM'ing with Pruitt all week under the identity of "Victoria," a fictional UCLA hottie, and Pruitt was eagerly anticipating a date with this nubile co-ed back in Westwood after the game. In preparation for the date, Pruitt had handed over his digits, which the Cal student section recited back to him in unison.

Golden Bears, I salute you. And on behalf of Bruins everywhere, I say if there's anything we can do to Stanford for you, let us know. We owe you one.