Goliath the robot attacked in Pacific Heights
Phillip Matier, Andrew Ross
San Francisco Chronicle
Sunday, January 8, 2006
It's not every night you have a mugging on the mansion-lined streets of Pacific Heights -- but it's really unusual when the victim is a 10-foot-tall robot named Goliath, and the suspects are traced to the home of one of San Francisco's biggest names.
Police are still investigating the incident and aren't saying much. But the neighborhood knows all about it, and from the looks of things, everyone involved is hoping it will all quietly go away.
Here's what we know so far.
About two years ago, Robert Mailer Anderson, author of the book "Boonville," installed a giant, metal robot sculpture in his yard overlooking upper Broadway -- just a few houses down from the well-heeled Gettys.
Goliath (as he is referred to by his owner) is the creation of Berkeley artist Nemo Gould. And what a creation he is -- Goliath comes with a light in his head and a red-and-white swirling "hypno-vision" wheel in his chest.
Goliath is also anatomically correct -- some might say overly correct -- with a very long steel gas pump nozzle and hose for a penis.
...Goliath has had his share of rough times.
One Christmas, someone put a bow on Goliath's rather prominent appendage.
Then there was the high school student caught trying to saw off the same appendage.
But this Christmas season was the worst.
According to a police report, on the night of Dec. 19, someone bashed the living daylights out of Goliath, busting open his head and tearing off other pieces as well -- though not his oft-attacked appendage.
The vandals were caught on tape by one of Anderson's surveillance cameras. The tape has since been turned over to police.
"The sculpture is lucky to be alive,'' Anderson said. He estimates damage at between $5,000 and $10,000.
As for who did it?
The case is still open. But there are some clues.
Besides the tape, there was a trail of robot pieces -- including a Santa hat -- that led across the street, in the direction of the home of Oracle founder Larry Ellison.
Apparently, Ellison's college-age daughter Megan Ellison had thrown a party the night of the attack. Putting two and two together, it appears a couple of revelers may have been the attackers.
"It was a very stupid thing to do,'' Anderson said. "Just very grinchy."
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