Golden Bears

Chuck Muncie, a star running back with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers who overcame a cocaine habit that ended his career and then devoted his later life to helping others avoid drug abuse, has died. He was 60. Muncie died Monday of a heart attack at his Los Angeles-area home, his family announced. After a stellar career at UC Berkeley, Muncie played in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984 and was selected to play in three Pro Bowls. He spent more than four years with the Saints before joining the Chargers in the middle of the 1980 season.

Chuck Muncie, a star running back with the New Orleans Saints and the San Diego Chargers who overcame a cocaine habit that ended his career and then devoted his later life to helping others avoid drug abuse, has died. He was 60. Muncie died Monday of a heart attack at his Los Angeles-area home, his family announced. After a stellar career at UC Berkeley, Muncie played in the National Football League from 1976 to 1984 and was selected to play in three Pro Bowls. He spent more than four years with the Saints before joining the Chargers in the middle of the 1980 season.

at California, Thursday, Haas Pavilion, 6 p.m. — The Golden Bears (10-2), picked in the preseason to finish No. 2 in the Pac-12 Conference, play at Nevada Las Vegas on Friday before facing USC. California has three players scoring in double figures, led by Allen Crabbe (16.1 points a game).

SEATTLE -- There was no explaining it. UCLA just enjoyed it. The Bruins overwhelmed fifth-ranked California, 70-58, in the Pac-12 women's tournament semifinals Saturday night. They were so dominant that the only real competition the crowd at KeyArena saw was at halftime, when they were entertained by dogs racing to retrieve tennis balls. The victory put the No. 14 Bruins (25-6) in the conference tournament final for the third time in four seasons. UCLA lost to Stanford in 2010 and 2011.

Kyle Boller knows he did not live up to expectations in his first season as California's quarterback. Of course, that's tough to do when the school newspaper dubs you "Jesus in cleats" before you've even taken a snap in a college football game. "He was the anointed one," Coach Tom Holmoe of Cal said. "He was going to come in and lead the Cal fans to the promised land." Instead, Boller's performances quickly transformed Golden Bear fans into doubting Thomases.

When: 6 p.m. Where: Haas Pavilion. On the air: TV: ESPN2; Radio: 570. Records: UCLA 18-6, 8-3 in Pac-12; Cal 14-9, 6-5. Update: Bruins beware: The Golden Bears are the reason UCLA is tied for first place in the Pac-12. California defeated Oregon and Arizona in the last two weeks. "The season is in our hands," UCLA forward Travis Wear said. "We don't want to lean on anyone else. " California guard Allen Crabbe averages 19.8 points to lead the Pac-12.

The Oregon Ducks were quicker, deeper and better shooters. They had more energy than the California Golden Bears. And that was the formula for Oregon to advance to its second-ever Pacific Life Pac-10 tournament championship game. The fourth-seeded and 16th-ranked Ducks beat the eighth-seeded Golden Bears, 81-63, in the first semifinal Friday night at Staples Center. The Ducks (25-7) play third-seeded USC today at 3 p.m.

Sirinda Sincharoen knocks on the door. Nobody answers for a moment, but soon she is allowed to slip inside the dormitory room. She moves stealthily, spreading streamers, balloons and flyers around the room of an unsuspecting teammate on the University of California women's gymnastics team. Sincharoen also leaves behind some written motivational phrases. One of them alludes to getting past the NCAA West Regional that begins at 6 p.m. today at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion.

Patrick Christopher scored all 21 of his points in the first half as California quickly took a commanding lead, and the Golden Bears beat Oregon, 89-57, Thursday night in Berkeley. Christopher scored 14 straight points for his team late in the first half to help Cal (12-6, 4-2) stay in first place in the Pacific 10 Conference with Arizona State. Jeremy Jacob scored 13 points for the Ducks (10-8, 2-4). at Stanford 59, Oregon State 35: Landry Fields had 17 points and nine rebounds as the Cardinal (9-9, 3-3)

Third quarter, down by four points. First down, on the edge of the red zone. Two minutes later, the season was finished. That was the ghastly ending with which California will have to live until the new season dawns. Texas beat Cal, 21-10, in an uninspiring Holiday Bowl on Wednesday, leaving the Golden Bears muttering about how poorly they played and how close they came anyway. The Pac-12 Conference has lost its first two bowl games, with five to play. Arizona State was routed by Boise State, 56-24.

— Pac-12 women's basketball has been a three-team conglomerate all season, with Stanford, California and UCLA dominating. Now UCLA will get a chance to be something more than a junior partner. The No. 14-ranked and third-seeded Bruins labored through a 54-43 victory over Utah in the conference tournament quarterfinals Friday at KeyArena, giving them another shot at No. 5 California. UCLA (24-6) plays the second-seeded Golden Bears (28-2) Saturday, and beyond that there will be a possible shot at No. 4-ranked and top-seeded Stanford.

Things got a little heated between Cal Coach Mike Montgomery and his leading scorer, Allen Crabbe, during a game on Sunday against USC. During a timeout with 16:31 left in the second half, Montgomery yelled at Crabbe and then shoved him in the chest.  Crabbe appeared to be agitated by the incident and had to be escorted into the tunnel by teammates Richard Solomon and Justin Cobbs.  Crabbe returned to the Bears' bench after a...

When: 7. Where: Haas Pavilion, Berkeley On the air: TV: Prime Ticket; Radio: 690 Records: USC 12-13, 7-5 in the Pac-12; Cal 15-9, 7-5. Update: Before Saturday's games, USC and Cal were part of a four-way tie for fourth place in the Pac-12; the top four teams get first-round byes in the conference tournament next month in Las Vegas. The Trojans have won four in a row, the longest active streak in the conference. Eric Wise is USC's top scorer, averaging 12.2 points a game.

California is driven by a talented pair of guards, Allen Crabbe and Justin Cobbs. USC's two point guards, on the other hand, are nursing injuries going into Sunday's game against the Golden Bears in Berkeley, although both are expected to play. Senior Jio Fontan, who bruised his left knee when it hit the court Thursday during the Trojans' win at Stanford, said that while the contact left a mark, he would be able to play Sunday. "But I'm happy to have an extra day," Fontan said.

BERLIN -- The 63rd Berlin International Film Festival handed out its awards Saturday, with the top prize, the Golden Bear for best film, going to the Romanian family drama and corruption tale “Child's Pose,” directed by Calin Peter Netzer. An unflinching look at life among the country's entitled and connected upper class, “Child's Pose” follows a controlling mother's attempt to bribe freedom for her ungrateful son after he kills a child from a poor family in a traffic accident.

California Coach Jeff Tedford said he expects to meet next week with Athletic Director Sandy Barbour to discuss his future after the Golden Bears finish their worst season during Tedford's tenure. Tedford said Tuesday he will begin a thorough evaluation of what went wrong for the program as soon as the season ends Saturday night at No. 15 Oregon State. "The first place I will look is in the mirror," Tedford said. "We'll do a deep dive and figure out where we can improve. " Tedford said he will meet with assistants and each player to get their input on how to improve the situation at Cal. The Bears (3-8, 2-6 Pac-12)

Keenan Allen has heard the chatter, that time may be running out for University of California football Coach Jeff Tedford. "The guy is the winningest coach in school history," Cal's star receiver said. "It is definitely not fair. " Yet, Tedford may have reached a watershed moment when his team plays UCLA on Saturday in Berkeley. The Golden Bears are 1-4, 0-2 in Pac-12 Conference play. That's the worst start in Tedford's 11 seasons. Tedford is under contract through 2015 at $2.3 million per season.