Due to a port workers strike, three thousand Herky the Hornet bobblehead dolls were halted on their journey to Sacramento State.The bobbleheads, which were originally scheduled to be distributed at a Nov. 2 game against Montana State, will most likely make their appearance at this Saturday’s game against Humbuldt State.

As of Nov. 17, the bobbleheads were stuck in the Oakland port, waiting to be transported to Sacramento. According to Sacramento State Marketing Director Damon Dukakis, (as of Nov. 17) there was a 95-percent chance of the dolls being distributed on Saturday.

For Dukakis, the shipping delay caused problems with an advertising blitz — spearheaded by the bobbleheads — aimed at increasing attendance for the Montana State football game.

“We had (local) commercials on ESPN and ESPN 2 that had to be changed at the last minute,” Dukakis said.

The bottom line for Sac State football fans is they got only a single, flesh and blood Herky for the Nov. 2 game against Montana State. The turnout of less than six thousand spectators represented a season low at the time.

“You look at how the bobbleheads could have increased attendance,” Dukakis said. “If anything (because the bobbleheads were not available) this could have had a deleterious effect on attendance. I’d like to promise that they’d be here for the Humboldt State game (Nov.23), but I can’t,” he said.

Despite the bobbleheads being held-up, Sac State fans did not go home empty handed on Nov. 2.

“We did give out shirts instead of the bobbleheads, because they were late,” Herky said. “Hopefully that didn’t discourage anybody.”

Herky, who waited anxiously to have bobbleheads made in his likeness, felt disappointed by effects of the strike.

“I was a little disappointed because my parents and a lot of the people who were expecting them, like my friends, weren’t able to get bobbleheads,” Herky said. “I was a little disappointed that the fans weren’t able to get them. Hopefully we’ll be able to get them by the last game.”

The port workers dispute began in October when shipping companies shut down West Coast ports in response to a purported union orchestrated slowdown — workers were accused of allowing cargo to pile up at docks, and were summarily dismissed.

Crews returned home without pay, and activity at the docks ground to a halt.

For thousands of miniature Herkys, the labor dispute meant their immigration from China to the United States would be interrupted by a two-week layover in ship’s cargo holds or at a docking port.

After twelve days of failed negotiation between the PMA and labor unions, the shipping lockdown had an adverse effect on the nation’s economy. The federal government stepped in and President George Bush ordered a federal court to end the struggle.

Shipping resumed, but a humongous backup of imported goods awaited dock workers.

The ports ship around one billion dollars worth in goods daily and after two weeks, a tremendous backlog of material awaited transportation.

Perishable items, such as seafood and meat, received top priority. Other items, such as the bobbleheads, because of their timeless plasticity, could remain at the docks indefinitely.

Many Sac State football fans are disappointed by the shipping lockout.

“If it’s free, I’ll be there,” Sac State senior Dzuong Nguyen said. “That’s a great way to get people to go to a game that’s not very popular. I would definitely show up if they were going to give them out.”

Although the bobbleheads are not quite in the hands of fans, if they arrive in time for the Humboldt State game, they will be bobbing their heads, instead of bobbing on the water.