Sports

THE ORACLE: I hate sports. Watching the UC Irvine men's soccer team fall to St. John's on Saturday in below 40-degree weather in Queens, NY just reminded me how lame sports can be.

THE HYPOTHESIS: We fans are not as good as the people on the field, court, rink or track. They simply are better athletes than us. That is why we are fans. I understand that sometimes that is hard to accept, but if the case were otherwise, we would not be fans — we would be players. With that in mind, we need to now understand our part, as fans, in the game. Trash talking.

BASKETBALL: Cal State Bakersfield avenges its loss to the Lady Anteaters last season with 85-63 win.

BASEBALL: The story of a female high schooler's selection into the pros spawns questions of gender and sports.

SPORTS: Men's basketball team loses to Idaho, and women's volleyball earns All-Big West Honors.

BASKETBALL: Men's team falls to Eastern Washington, but is impressive in loss to Oregon at Bren.

THE ORACLE: Hats off to you Anteater fans. Hats off to all 4,206 of you who attended last Friday's UC Irvine-Oregon basketball game at the Bren Events Center. I finally felt like I was in college.

THE HYPOTHESIS: As I put on the suit for the first time, I could not help but ask the people in charge of Peter the Anteater, "Has this thing been washed?" Without a moment of hesitation they responded, "Every chance we get."

SOCCER: Co-Big West Freshman of the Year Andrew Fontein has been the biggest surprise this season.

SOCCER: Former 'Eater speaks about UCI soccer, battling injuries, playing in the MLS and facing David Beckham.

SOCCER: Tuesday marks the first time UCI appears in the NCAA men's soccer tournament.

VOLLEYBALL: Women's team finishes second in conference after two thirlling matches; keeps playoffs hopes alive.