Best non-sports blog: emphasis on "non-sports"

So I knocked out a little "pre" (that's what we call a story before an event) for this weekend's Jan. 1-esque traffic expected from the Cal/UCLA game at the Rose Bowl.

Factoring in knowledge that quantum physician Stephen Hawking is more qualified to write about sports than myself, guess which paragraph is courtesy "Staff Writer Fred Robledo?"

Football fans facing traffic
By Kenneth Todd Ruiz, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/18/2007 08:58:39 PM PDT

PASADENA -- Growls coming from the Bruins-Bears mauling this weekend inside the Rose Bowl will be accompanied by snarls in the streets.

Tailgaters should plan to start early.

Stadium officials are urging fans to arrive as early as possible for the sold-out game between UCLA and UC Berkeley, as the city expects the event to affect traffic throughout Pasadena before and after the game.

"It's become the hot ticket," said Rose Bowl General Manager Darryl Dunn. "Whoever wins will be in strong contention to be in the Rose Bowl on January 1."

With many eager Cal fans on the move from Berkeley, the choke of traffic is expected to be at its worst in the morning before the 12:30p.m. game, and again in the late afternoon after its conclusion.

Stadium parking lots open at dawn; a free shuttle from Parsons at 100 W. Walnut St. begins service at 8:30 a.m. Parking at Parsons cost $9.

Saturday's sold-out game at the Rose Bowl still has national title implications for Cal (5-1, 2-1), who dropped to No. 12 in this week's BCS poll. And both UCLA (4-2, 3-0) and Cal are still in contention for the Pac-10 title and a Rose Bowl berth.

After coming close - but falling short- on several tries, Berkeley fans are ravenous for re-entering the Rose Bowl, which hasn't seen a Cal presence since 1959.

Bowl neighbors without a pass to navigate police barricades should seek one today from the stadium administrative office or fire stations at 1140 N. Fair Oaks Ave., or 1150 Linda Vista Ave.

Staff Writer Fred Robledo contributed to this story.