11/16, 11/21
New Orleans’ loss was our gain, and we don’t mean the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Guard Baron Davis, a midseason pickup from the Hornets last winter, has already brought a ray of hope to the Warriors, and the 2005-2006 season has barely begun. Let’s hope he can stay healthy. Tonight (Wednesday) at 7:30 at the Arena, Davis and teammate J-Rich take on the Milwaukee Bucks, and then, following a brief weekend road trip to Portland and Los Angeles, Golden State returns home Monday night (7:30 p.m.) to face the New Jersey Nets. Read all about it at Warriors.com — Kelly Vance
Credits: Al Cameron Alexis Gray-Lawson
SAT 11/20
Mountain Do
Rustle through the autumn leaves on Mt. Diablo
on’t wait until Turkey Day to get out in the late fall weather and take a short trek through the East Bay outback — Save Mount Diablo has two Autumn on the Mountain outdoor activity choices you for this Saturday. The first is a three-to-four-hour loop in and around SMD’s Chaparral Spring property. This hike is especially recommended for tree lovers and children — you can adopt a heritage tree, or even an entire grove of them, and the kids are invited to collect buckeyes off the ground to replant as filler for an eroded gully. The day starts at 9:30 a.m. Call Burt Bassler to register: 925-820-5816. The second trip is five miles in the Black Diamond Mines/Rose Hill Cemetery area, managed by the Contra Costa Hills Club. Prepare for steep sections and pack plenty of water and a lunch. Call Dorothy Bradt (925-672-2526) to carpool — meet at 9:15 a.m. at Walnut Creek BART station. Want to know more about Save Mount Diablo? Visit SaveMountDiablo.org — Kelly Vance
11/18, 11/22
Frosh Slosh
When one Lawson isn’t available, use the other one. That could be the motto for the Cal women’s basketball team, which recently lost the services of sophomore center Jessica Lawson for the entire season due to a knee injury (ACL tear). Up steps freshman guard Alexis Gray-Lawson, who’s already making her mark under the leadership of first-year coach Joanne Boyle. Gray-Lawson and Cal teammate Devanei Hampton were both 2005 prep All-Americans at Oakland Tech, and, alongside new center Ashley Walker, are part of what looks to be a very strong freshman class. The Cal women have a busy week coming up. First they play in a preseason NIT matchup tonight (Wednesday). Then they take on Radford Friday evening (7 p.m.) at UCB’s Haas Pavilion. Then it’s back to the NIT preseason event on Sunday, and finally a home game against UC Davis, Tuesday, November 22 at 7 p.m. CalBears.com — Kelly Vance
