Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) articles from February 2006

Contra Costa Times (Walnut Creek, CA) archives from February 2006

Oscar got it right, mostly.
February 1, 2006... Byline: Randy Myers Oscar nailed it Tuesday morning, unveiling one of its most impressive and thoughtful lists of nominees in years. Dark horses such as "Capote" and "Munich" pulled from behind to land well-deserved spots in the...

Rookie guard showcasing his talents with several Warriors hurt.
February 1, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ Warriors swingman Calbert Cheaney was the first one up clapping on the bench as rookie guard Monta Ellis left the court to an ovation from the home crowd Saturday. Ellis slapped fives with...

Home not so friendly for Ducks.
February 1, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Feb. 1--Oregon's McArthur Court used to be one of the most intimidating venues in the Pac-10, if not the country. Lately, it's become more like a place where fans battle to avoid outgoing traffic. The Ducks...

Warriors lose 5 of last 6.
February 1, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II SEATTLE _ It's performances like Wednesday's that really are going to doom the Warriors' quest for the postseason. If they don't make it, it's going to be because they didn't show up every night, they didn't...

ACLU requests papers on surveillance at anti-military protests.
February 1, 2006... Byline: Nathaniel Hoffman SAN FRANCISCO _ On the day after President Bush in his State of the Union speech defended a domestic spying program to monitor international terrorist communications, the American Civil Liberties Union is asking...

ACLU seeks explanation after report of UC spying.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Nathaniel Hoffman Feb. 2--On the day after President Bush in his State of the Union speech defended a domestic spying program to monitor international terrorist communications, the American Civil Liberties Union is asking why...

Contentious housing proposal moves forward in Pleasanton.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Chris Metinko Feb. 2--Folks along Vineyard Avenue could be getting new neighbors -- 45 of them, in fact. Late last month, the Pleasanton Commission unanimously approved a high-density residential project that will bring 45...

Pleasanton high schools change schedules to accommodate meeting time.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Eric Louie Feb. 2--Students at Pleasanton's two comprehensive high schools will start and end school a little later next year to accommodate a weekly "teacher collaboration period" approved by the school board Tuesday. The...

Cal hopes recruits are blue chips off old block: Six of the new Bears players have fathers who coach football.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Feb. 2--BERKELEY -- It would be understandable if Cal coach Jeff Tedford expects a little extra out of the 2006 recruiting class that he announced at Memorial Stadium on Wednesday, the first day high school seniors could...

Emotional event challenges Antioch students.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Andrew Becker Feb. 2--Deer Valley High School students, teachers and parents this week completed the first Challenge Day, a program that aims to help improve school social climate. Nearly 90 students, the majority of whom were...

Chemical plant looks to address safety issues.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Laurie Phillips Feb. 2--BAY POINT -- General Chemical Corp.'s Bay Point facility is not as safe as it could be, but plant officials are working aggressively to correct deficiencies identified in recent county audits. That was...

Progress in cleanup at Peyton Slough.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Feb. 2--A one-time toxic hot spot is on its way to becoming a wetland destination for plants and wildlife thanks to an overhaul paid for by a Martinez chemical plant. The rerouting of Peyton Slough, which...

Living without civil rights.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Linda Davis Feb. 2--A SPARSE but engaged audience listened Wednesday to the personal stories of two black retirees in a special program, "Civil Rights Tales," presented by Stagebridge Senior Theater Company at the Village Theatre....

Martinez mayor presents a bright future.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Feb. 2--Energized by the tentative approval of a downtown plan and last year's accomplishments, Martinez Mayor Rob Schroder gave a rosy 2006 forecast that includes key improvement projects and a possible...

Authorities still looking into slayings.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Alan Lopez Feb. 2--EL CERRITO -- El Cerrito police planned to ask the Contra Costa County district attorney this morning to charge a Citrus Heights man on two counts of murder following the stabbing deaths of the man's sister,...

Richmond's financial recovery is good news for some officials.
February 2, 2006... Byline: John Geluardi Feb. 2--Richmond now has a $10 million cash reserve and is close to re-establishing its favored bond rating, a midyear report shows. The general fund also will be about $48 million to the good in 2005-06, Financial...

Linebacker is looking to make a big impact: San Jose St. says Swisher measures up; Stanford's haul downgraded.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Bill Kolb Feb. 2--Jason Swisher is doing pretty well for himself, especially for a guy who is considered slightly undersized and a little slow for a middle linebacker. Swisher, the Times Defensive Player of the Year from Las...

Another collapse for the Warriors: Seattle outscores Golden State 29-9 in the third period to take charge.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II Feb. 2--SEATTLE -- It's performances like Wednesday's that really are going to doom the Warriors' quest for the postseason. One awful stretch paved the way for a 111-107 loss to the Seattle SuperSonics at Key...

Recycling toxic household waste mandatory starting next week.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Denis Cuff Feb. 2--California raises the recycling bar next week by making it illegal to dump many common items in your trash can. Starting next Thursday, consumers and small-business workers no longer can toss out old...

PG&E to cut natural gas rates.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Rick Jurgens Feb. 2--Home heating costs will fall sharply this month for PG&E residential customers whose furnaces burn natural gas, thanks to mild winter temperatures in California and around the nation, PG&E said Wednesday. ...

Convicted sexual predator Cary Verse has found job and is making friends since being ordered to Bay Point.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Bruce Gerstman Feb. 2--BAY POINT -- Cary Verse could see his own breath on the cold January morning he arrived at the Sheriff's Office. His meeting with a detective for his quarterly registration as a sex offender lasted less...

Recovering Rhodes glad to return to coaches' booth.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Cam Inman Feb. 2--INSIDE THE NFL DETROIT -- Ray Rhodes called his days as a 49ers assistant "probably the time of my life." He coached on all five of the 49ers' Super Bowl-winning teams, making his debut as an assistant...

Warriors play well against Spurs but can't finish the job.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ Thursday night's nail-biting 89-86 loss to San Antonio at the Arena might cause one to presume the Golden State Warriors have turned things around. However, it epitomizes their inconsistency....

Michaels might follow Madden to NBC.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Okanes ABC made a big deal about its final "Monday Night Football" broadcast Dec. 26. That night also was supposed to be the final regular-season game for the broadcast dream team of Al Michaels and John Madden. ...

Gatling guns added to security force at nuclear lab.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Betsy Mason LIVERMORE, Calif. _ Security at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has a new weapon capable of firing more than 50 shots per second. Multiple six-barreled Gatling guns, some of them mounted on vehicles, will be added to...

Around the remote: Television picks for Feb. 5-11.
February 2, 2006... Byline: Chuck Barney DON'T MISS: SUPER BOWL XL _ And you thought we were going to recommend the "Super Robot Monkey" marathon on Toon Disney. No, this is the biggie _ the one annual TV event that overshadows everything while...

Report blames plane crash on shoddy repair.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Linda Davis Feb. 3--CONTRA COSTA -- A mechanic using the wrong piston as part of a rushed engine repair job was to blame for an April 2004 airplane crash on Interstate 680 near Concord that left a Danville girl with severe leg...

New offices bring more than doctors.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Sarah Krupp Feb. 3--ANTIOCH -- Finding a doctor in East County is expected to get a lot easier. In the next few years, more than 100,000 square feet of medical offices are planned for southeast Antioch. The addition of a...

Area residents sign up for medical marijuana.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Tom Lochner Feb. 3--Buzz Fowler walked out of the Contra Costa County public health clinic in Concord on Thursday with a new-found appreciation for California. "Now my state is helping me," Fowler said, moments after he had...

Strong sales for Clorox in quarter.
February 3, 2006... Byline: George Avalos Feb. 3--Clorox Co. dazzled Wall Street on Thursday with financial results that were much brighter than what analysts expected. The maker of liquid bleach and other household products said strong sales and the...

Born to (throw on the) run: Roethlisberger and Hasselbeck can make plays out of the pocket.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Cam Inman Feb. 3--Inside the NFL DETROIT -- Odds should favor a quarterback winning Sunday's Super Bowl MVP award, as has been the case in 20 of the previous 39 title games. So who will it be -- Matt or Ben? Not Damon or...

Gaels guard checks out of hospital.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Jennifer Starks Feb. 3--MORAGA -- St. Mary's College basketball coach Randy Bennett was greeted with a pleasant surprise when he walked into his office Thursday morning. Guard Kevin McCaughey was there to see him. ...

Suspects worked for same firm.
February 3, 2006... Byline: John Simerman Feb. 3--The crimes bore an eerie resemblance -- two elderly women sexually assaulted last month in Lafayette and San Jose, one of them killed, and in each case a traveling magazine salesman charged. Now, police in...

ACE fare hike proposed.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Bonita Brewer Feb. 3--A 7.5 percent fare hike is being proposed for Altamont Commuter Express service between Stockton and San Jose, which includes stops in Tracy, Livermore and Pleasanton. The San Joaquin Regional Rail...

School votes again to fire principal.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Eric Louie Feb. 3--LIVERMORE -- The Livermore Valley Charter School governing board Wednesday voted again to fire Principal Mike Hazelhofer, who earlier this week sent a letter to the board alleging it violated state open...

School district sees enrollment, funding decline.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Shirley Dang Feb. 3--WEST COUNTY -- A new audit confirms that the small John Swett school district is in decline, both in enrollment and finances. Superintendent Michael Roth, still carrying the memory of June's narrow parcel tax...

Family bids farewell to girl found in canal.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Chris Metinko Feb. 3--LIVERMORE -- Kayla Reed's mother could hardly contain her emotions as she paid her final respects to her daughter. "All I can say now is, Baby, fly high, now you're always among us," said Angel Sheets of the...

Lab adds 6-barrel guns to protect plutonium.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Betsy Mason Feb. 3--Security at Lawrence Livermore Laboratory has a new weapon capable of firing more than 50 shots per second. Multiple six-barreled Gatling guns, some of them mounted on vehicles, will be added to the lab's...

Old oak trees removed from way of progress.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Rowena Coetsee Feb. 3--BYRON -- It's out with the old, in with the new as work crews uproot big trees to make way for an even bigger road. A tree removal company cut down a large oak tree on Marsh Creek Road this week in...

Maasai baubles journey from Kenya to the mall.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Sarah Jane Tribble Feb. 3--At the back of a small franchise store in the suburb of Pleasant Hill on Thursday, dozens of shoppers crowded around a man from Africa selling his wares. Draped in African garb, Philip Leakey and his...

Awards ceremony celebrates area's finest.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Linda Davis Feb. 3--DANVILLE -- Three outstanding leaders, all of whom have affected their communities in a big way, were honored Thursday night at the annual Danville Area Chamber installation and awards ceremony. More than 200...

Legal morass snares immigrants.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Nathaniel Hoffman Feb. 3--In July 1999, Miguel Artea sought the services of San Francisco immigration attorney Walter Pineda. Having been in the United States since 1975, Artea had applied for legalization on his own and wanted...

Cal focusing on last year's slight.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Feb. 3--college baseball Early February might not appear to be a good time for college baseball teams to gear up, unless you happened to be in the Cal locker room after its final regular-season game in 2005. The...

Cal turns to Northwestern aide.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Feb. 3--BERKELEY -- Already in his office at Memorial Stadium on Thursday, new Cal offensive coordinator Mike Dunbar said he isn't going "to reinvent the wheel" when it comes to the offense. Dunbar, Northwestern's...

Question: Who came first, Milt or Mike?: Panagotacos, a Mt. Diablo teacher, had starting high school QB job, until future Seahawks coach Holmgren arrived.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Bill Kolb Feb. 3--Here's a question that's inextricably linked to Super Bowl XL: Where would the Seahawks be if not for the steady guidance of coach Mike Holmgren? The popular response: still in Seattle. It's a tough...

Cal thumps Oregon State early, often: Bears build 21-2 lead in the first half, avenge last month's loss to Beavers.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Feb. 3--CORVALLIS, Ore. -- Leon Powe knew Cal was dominating the opening moments of its game at Oregon State on Thursday night. He just didn't realize by how much. "I looked up at the scoreboard from time to...

Richmond wins on its field: Berkeley struggles in mud as Oilers post 8-0 shutout; Salesian graduate Salvador to sign with Fresno State today.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Mike McGreehan Feb. 3--WCT prep roundup What a difference a field makes -- as the boys soccer teams of Richmond and Berkeley high schools surely will attest. At Berkeley on Jan. 5, the visiting Oilers scored twice in the...

Cuts by Contra Costa may spur nurse exodus.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Rebecca Rosen Lum Feb. 3--About 60 women a month gave birth at the county medical center when labor and delivery nursing specialist Liz Llewelyn began working there more than 22 years ago. Today, more than 200 women a month...

Michaels might follow Madden.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Feb. 3--Media ABC made a big deal about its final "Monday Night Football" broadcast Dec. 26. That night also was supposed to be the final regular-season game for the broadcast dream team of Al Michaels and John...

Warriors deflated following spirited effort against Spurs: Golden State falls to a season-worst five games under .500.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II Feb. 3--OAKLAND -- Warriors point guard Baron Davis sat at his locker, his head in his hands as he stared at the floor. He let out a sigh as he sat up and leaned back in his chair. He wasn't crying -- his...

High-speed Internet prices drop, but read the fine print.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Blanca Torres Feb. 3--AT&T today begins offering one of the lowest prices for high-speed Internet service: $12.99 per month. But customers should look closely at the deal's fine print. The new offer, for example, is only for...

Wal-Mart succumbs to opposition.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Tom Lochner Feb. 3--Wal-Mart on Thursday withdrew an application to build a store in Hercules, but left open the possibility it could come back with an amended plan. An opponents' group, meanwhile, vowed to continue to fight to...

TV exec preserves `Grey' matter.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Chuck Barney Tight-lipped coaches for the Pittsburgh Steelers and Seattle Seahawks would never, in their right minds, consider revealing key pieces of their Super Bowl game plans, so why should "Grey's Anatomy" executive producer...

Initiative would attempt to lessen oil dependence.
February 3, 2006... Byline: Rick Jurgens Feb. 3--A new $4 billion tax on oil producers that aims to slash California fuel consumption and bankroll renewable energy and conservation measures could be on the November ballot, according to organizers of a...

Chocolate cafes finding sweet success: Some in the industry say people are discovering chocolate today the way people's appreciation of wine grew in the past.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Clanci Cochran Feb. 4--Starbucks has changed the way people think about drinking coffee. Now some new cafes in the East Bay are trying to do the same thing with chocolate. At these new chocolate cafes, truffles take precedence...

Students mourn loss of devoted doctor.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Jackie Burrell Feb. 4--Noted orthopedic surgeon and Campolindo High School football team doctor Harold "Mac" Reynolds died of a heart attack Thursday morning, leaving stunned students and community members to mourn for the man they...

Concord's courting condos again.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Ryan Huff Feb. 4--Not since the early 1980s -- when Ronald Reagan was president and cassette tapes were popular -- has a developer built a condominium complex in Concord, Contra Costa's largest city. Yet look around Concord today...

Man's 1955 restored truck hit with graffiti.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Kelli Phillips Feb. 4--A classic-car restorer was crushed to discover that vandals had spray-painted swastikas on his pristine 1955 Chevrolet truck and gouged the finish with a screwdriver. Sparky George, owner of Classic Car...

Murder suspect says victims 'appalled' him.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Bruce Gerstman Feb. 4--MARTINEZ -- Edward Wycoff began planning in September how he would approach his sister and brother-in-law and kill them, he said in a jail interview Friday. "What I wanted to do was get rid of them, leave...

Experts predict more jobs, higher pay: Some fear employment boom will prompt Federal Reserve to raise interest rates to fight off inflation.
February 4, 2006... Byline: George Avalos Feb. 4--Full employment is becoming part of the nation's economic lexicon following a report Friday that outlined strong job growth in January, along with rising wages and an unemployment rate that is at a five-year...

Teenager gets the 'ride' of his life.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Ryan Huff Feb. 4--When Andre Noratto turned 16 last April, he was in the midst of constant chemotherapy sessions to battle non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The last thing on the Concord teen's mind was the beat-up old pickup that his...

Contra Costa slate grows.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Rebecca Rosen Lum Feb. 4--Four candidates are vying for the District 4 seat soon to be vacated by Supervisor Mark DeSaulnier of Concord. -- Concord Mayor Susan Bonilla declared her intention early. -- Gary Eberhart, Mount...

Writer keeps in character for sequel.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Kimberly S. Wetzel Feb. 4--Author Kaye Gibbons has always been candid about her life. She's had no qualms telling people that the lead character in her book, "Ellen Foster" -- a girl with an alcoholic father and a mom who...

Annie's fund honors child's giving nature.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Sophia Kazmi Feb. 4--Anouska Fitz-Simon loved to help her fellow kids. The 10-year-old raised money for UNICEF, and with her twin sister Elspeth would beg their parents for extra money if they found out one of their classmates'...

Oakland's radio plan troubles neighbors.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Guy Ashley Feb. 4--OAKLAND -- A planned $1.4 million upgrade of the city's emergency radio system is drawing flak from officials who say it could drive Oakland away from a unified East Bay communications network and complicate...

City Council scales back plaza condo project.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Alan Lopez Feb. 4--The El Cerrito City Council has approved a condominium development at El Cerrito Plaza, with one of the project's two buildings scaled back one floor. The reduction in height will likely reduce the total...

Cal finds a diamond in the rough in Robertson: The former De La Salle guard was recruited mostly by mid-major schools until the Bears came calling.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Feb. 4--EUGENE, Ore. -- It's typical of a coach to express confidence in his players. So when De La Salle High School boys basketball coach Frank Allocco said Cal was "getting a steal" last spring when it secured a...

Assemblyman stands behind 'Jessica's Law'.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Chris Metinko Feb. 4--Assemblyman Guy Houston, R-San Ramon, came to Livermore's Marilyn Avenue Elementary School on Friday to urge voters to support reforms to the state's child-sex laws -- more sweeping changes than state...

PUC calls for PG&E to pay for problems: State panel seeks fine and refunds for delayed bills and overcharging based on estimated usage.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Rick Jurgens Feb. 4--State regulators said Friday they want PG&E to refund $117 million to some electricity and natural gas customers and pay a $6.75 million fine because of systematic billing errors. Customer complaints of...

Warriors' progress reflecting on coach: Golden State is pleased with Montgomery's direction, and while some players have reservations, his job remains secure.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II Feb. 4--OAKLAND -- Most fingers of blame, as fans and media grapple over what ails the Warriors, are aimed at coach Mike Montgomery's forehead. The Warriors are five games under .500. That's Montgomery's...

SBC Park to change its name yet again: Stadium opened in 2000 as Pacific Bell Park and renamed SBC Park in 2004 will become AT&T Park on March 1.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Clanci Cochran Feb. 4--It's official, sports fans: The San Francisco Giants' stomping grounds is changing names again. SBC Communications Inc. acquired AT&T Corp. in 2005, producing AT&T Inc. Because of the merger, SBC Park...

Desperate Warriors pull off a major rout.
February 4, 2006... Byline: Marcus Thompson II OAKLAND, Calif. _ The Golden State Warriors are a desperate team. So desperate, Warriors coach Mike Montgomery altered the starting lineup, benching Mike Dunleavy for Mickael Pietrus. So desperate, guard...

Terrell Owens sweepstakes is sucker's play.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Eric Gilmore His interview Wednesday on ESPN was winding down. But there was still time for Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb to offer some words of wisdom to teams considering a trade for Eagles wide receiver Terrell...

Steelers coordinator Whisenhunt awaiting call from Raiders.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Cam Inman DETROIT _ No one hung out longer in the postgame interview room than Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Ken Whisenhunt following the Steelers' Super Bowl XL victory over the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. He had a lot to...

Executive leaves animal foundation.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Denis Cuff Feb. 5--WALNUT CREEK -- The top executive at Tony La Russa's Animal Rescue Foundation has quit, two years after opening the group's $16 million shelter for cats and dogs. Brenda Barnette of Concord resigned from her...

Middle schools consider a K-8 future.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Shirley Dang Feb. 5--Across the nation, large urban school districts are embracing an educational reform as old as the Victorian corset: schools that teach kindergarten through eighth grade. Perhaps as a throwback to the little...

Center quietly guides patients in new direction.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Danielle Samaniego Feb. 5--Upon first glance at this Pleasant Hill neighborhood known as Poets' Corner, you wouldn't know one of the premier mental health facilities in the state is there. And that's exactly how neighbors and...

State bills aim to control scope of eminent domain.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Bonita Brewer and Scott Marshall Feb. 5--In June, when the U.S. Supreme Court ruled government has the right to seize homes to make way for private redevelopment, it set off fear in the hearts of homeowners and lawmakers alike. ...

Golden era captured in black and white.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Susan Fuller Feb. 5--WALNUT CREEK -- A bit of the youthful exuberance and aristocratic glamour of Camelot came alive Saturday, as a festive crowd opened an exhibit of photographs called "The Kennedy Years" at the Bedford Gallery....

Helping hand extends to Afghanistan.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Linda Davis Feb. 5--An Alamo businesswoman, with the help of an Afghan colleague, battled red tape, distrust and other obstacles, but succeeded in building a school and medical clinic in a small village in the province of Herat in...

For Madden, Hall of Fame is a mouthful: Former Raiders coach is at a loss for words after election to class of 2006.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Cam Inman Feb. 5--DETROIT -- John Madden gushed about his election Saturday to the Pro Football Hall of Fame in just the fashion you'd expect from the former Raiders coach-turned-broadcasting legend. He opened by saying, "Whoa....

Rookie jockey has shot to ride off with GGF title today: Garcia poses challenge to Baze, who has won 20 of past 21 crowns at track.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Feb. 5--SAN MATEO -- Apprentice jockey Martin Garcia is just enjoying the ride. Entering today's final race card of the Bay Meadows meeting, Garcia has a great shot at dethroning perennial Northern California riding...

Cal's victory is ugly but satisfying: The Bears show toughness on defense, forcing Oregon into 21 turnovers and 24.5 percent shooting from the floor.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Jay Heater Feb. 5--BERKELEY -- On a day when the Cal women's basketball team shot a paltry 29.2 percent from the floor, it still showed a 39-point improvement. The Golden Bears avenged a 70-41 blowout loss earlier this season...

Cal keeps first place in sight.
February 5, 2006... Byline: Jonathan Okanes Feb. 5--EUGENE, Ore. -- The possibility of Cal winning its first Pac-10 championship since 1960 is becoming more realistic with each passing week, and Saturday the Bears took an important step forward despite their...