In the comments for my previous post regarding yesterday’s Cal-UCLA men’s basketball game, a poster linked to this photo:

[Photo Hosting Isn’t Working, but the photo was of a ref in UCLA shorts dunking on a Cal player with the caption "UCLA:  Team Of Destiny"]

Now, I doubt strongly that that is the first time such a photoshop has been created.  However, it was pretty funny and we all need funny things after a game like yesterday. 

But the photoshop reflects the views of many Cal fans that think the team was screwed.  In regards to Josh Shipp’s shot, I wrote about my views in the post below.  To recap, it appears that the shot was illegal.  In regards to the foul on Anderson, I noted that ABC never showed a single shot of the actual exchange.  

Many Cal fans probably felt that this was because it showed how blatant a non-call that was.  That is what I was thinking.  ABC showed a replay about halfway into the exchange as the ball was rolling out of bounds, which was essentially useless.  

So, we just all assumed that Anderson was gang-raped and went on our merry/bitter little way.  Well, a mod called Telemachus over at BruinsNation posted up the video in his most recent post.  Here is the direct link to the video (caution:  it takes a while to load).  The video is in slow motion so you can get the best possible view of whether or not Anderson was fouled. 

We here at the California Golden Blogs do the dirty work you don’t have to.  We watched this video.  Over and over and over again.  Hoping to see those damnable Bruins hogtie up Anderson and roll the ball out of bounds as the refs received millions of dollars in cash money from Bill Walton.  Hoping to see something.  Anything.

Well……………….and this is not what the Cal fans are not going to want to hear, but it actually looks clean.  I know I know!  The refs.  Screwed Cal.  No hope.  Braun not at fault.  

It goes down like this.  Player #0, Russell Westbrook, comes towards Anderson from behind.  He drapes his left hand over the back of Anderson.  However, this is done with the gentlest of care, as if Westbrook and Anderson were in a committed monogamous relationship.  Then, Westbrook slaps vertically down upon the ball and it looks like ONLY the ball.  Then, Anderson falls to the ground as the ball bounces off his knee.

Now, here is where it gets a bit tricky.  Even though its in slo mo and HD, it is tough to make out what happens next exactly.  Westbrook clearly bounces the ball once, trying to recover it.  It looks like Anderson then punches the ball out of bounds as he falls forward.  I cannot tell if Westbrook in any way touches the ball also at this point.  Another Bruins player comes over, but it does not appear as if he touches the ball.  I have watched that section of the video innumerable times in both the side and front angle, but it is still a bit unclear.  If you stuck a gun to my head and asked my opinion, I’d have to say that it looks like Anderson was the last player to touch the ball.

What this means is that the refs might have gotten it totally correct.  From the video, it appears that the non-call on the foul was correct.  And it looks reasonably certain that it was Bruins ball.  I hate to have to say this.  But I’m just trying to be objective and reasonable about it.  

I still think that Shipp’s shot was apparently illegal and should have been waived off.  I also still think Cal would have nonetheless found a creative and exciting way to lose the game.  I mean c’mon. 

For all you Cal Bears fans who are depressed just think, it could be worse.  We could have gone 0-18 in the Pac10.  So, at least there’s not that!  GO BEARS!