SB Nation User Blog: Barnes2JJ

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Has Leukemia

Barnes2JJ — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:18:55 -0000

Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Has Leukemia

But his attitude is great and the prognosis is encouraging. Yet another sobering reminder that there is much more to life than what happens on the field or court.

Go get 'em, Kareem.

Richard Bergman on Pauley's Renovation

Barnes2JJ — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 15:08:53 -0000

Richard Bergman on Pauley's Renovation

An opinion/column in today's LAT from Richard Bergman about Pauely's renovation and the financial challenges relating to it.

Bergman's opinions are important because, as the LAT indicates, he served as chairman of Pauley Pavillion's Campaign of Champions Executive Committee from 2006 until March 2009 "when he was asked by the university to step down after he voiced his objections to the new design and financing plans."

The LA Times is Pure Garbage

Barnes2JJ — Sat, 25 Jul 2009 15:33:37 -0000

The LA Times is Pure Garbage

Go ahead and click the link. It won't take you to the miserable LAT and I won't give you the link to the Times, either. There is a method to my madness.

As you know, Ed O'Bannon recently filed a class action suit (he is the lead plaintiff, I believe) against the NCAA because he believes that they are raking in millions of dollars without compensating college players who are the "stars" of the old games they show on TV. This topic, as well as the suit against EA Sports, has generated, IMHO, some extremely interesting discussions here on BN and elsewhere. It's a truly interesting topic and I think a lot of us are interested in how these suits turn out.

The LAT recently reported on Ed O's suit and published a letter today which followed the story. Here's the letter, in full (again, no link for you, my friends):

Game over, Ed

Ed O'Bannon is just another washed-up athlete looking for a free ride.

Maybe if O'Bannon had studied and earned a degree, instead of using UCLA to hone his mediocre basketball skills, he might have a high-paying job instead of selling used cars in Nevada.

But I guess it's easier to file a lawsuit and hope the NCAA will settle than get up every morning like the rest of us to go to work.

John Mark
Newport Beach

Let's get the obvious out of the way first.

First, the author is likely a Trojie (note the privileged NB address) and he's also ignorant (sorry for the redudancy).

Second, Ed O didn't have "mediocre basketball skills." My memory is fading but I seem to recall he did pretty well in a certain NCAA tournament in 1995 and was recognized for somethinig mroe than "mediocre" skills at the conclusion of the final game of that tournament.

Third, I believe Ed eventually obtained his degree from UCLA.

Fourth, I am pretty confident he does "get up every morning like the rest of us" and goes to work. He has a job, Mr. Totally-Off-the-Mark.

But why, in the name of God, would the stinking LAT publish a letter which doesn't comment on the merits of the suit (which is an interesting topic) and instead it elects to publish a letter attacking Ed O personally by someone with no command of any facts? I've given you the link to the Rivals.com column for a little balance and relief here.

This idiotic letter literally ruined my morning and made me write this rant. And I am writing the LAT over this and you should, too. Normally, I let the crap in the paper roll right off of me. But this is outrageous.

UCLA (Football) to play Rutgers in 2016 and 2017

Barnes2JJ — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 20:02:38 -0000

UCLA (Football) to play Rutgers in 2016 and 2017

You've got to scroll about halfway down for the short blurb.

Nice to see us branching out and playing some different (football) programs. I'd like to see us continue the Notre Dame series at some point, and maybe Boston College, but that's just a couple of teams on my long wish list.

Happy 4th everyone!

Coach Neu in Iraq (today's LAT)

Barnes2JJ — Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:58:59 -0000

Coach Neu in Iraq (today's LAT)

I believe BN has previously mentioned Neu's visit to Iraq but this is a new column out today in the LAT about his trip. No snarkiness, no nastiness about Neu or UCLA, just a good story and a good read.

And the rats keep jumping ship

Barnes2JJ — Fri, 12 Jun 2009 15:35:02 -0000

And the rats keep jumping ship

Quality playing time next year for Lil Romeo will no longer be a fantasy or a joke (well, it will still be a joke). It is now a necessity with virtually the entire recruiting class gone.

Good luck with your gap-closing team next year, SC*. See you at Pauley East.

And the hits keep coming for SC*

Barnes2JJ — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:30:40 -0000

And the hits keep coming for SC*

This is from this morning's paper. The LAT has finally taken notice of Timmeh's increasing troubles across town. In fact, Timmeh may actually be forced to use Lil Romeo as a player next year. He was recruited for his playing skills, right?

Good times.

The Times Sorta Kinda Follows Up on OJ Payogate

Barnes2JJ — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:05:51 -0000

The Times Sorta Kinda Follows Up on OJ Payogate

I'm not too impressed by the hard hitting journalists doing all the digging with shovels at the Times.

I think the shovels are being mainly used to bury something or to shovel something usually left in the yard.

The LAT Finally Jumps Back Into OJ Payogate

Barnes2JJ — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:25:02 -0000

Yeah, right. You bought that one?

As you know, after Yahoo! Sports scooped everyone (including the LAT) on the OJ Payo story, the Times wrote a short summary of the story on Wednesday.

There was nothing in the paper, including no mention from Slimers, Crowe or Timmeh's biggest fan, Chrissy Dufresne, Thursday about the story, even while it was exploding across the net.

It's Friday and the LAT actually mentioned the story (and Bruinsnation--yeah!) in the generally unfunny Morning Briefing column today.

On BruinsNation.com: "Yahoo! Sports: Tim Floyd Gave Cash to OJ Mayo."
On ConquestChronicles.com: "Yahoo Sports Continues Their Vendetta Against USC."

Partisan politics are alive and well in Los Angeles.

That's the extent of LAT's follow-up to its brief mention of the story on Wednesday.

By the way, exactly how stupid are the writers at the LAT? The BruinsNation headline is not "partisan" or biased. It simply states what the Yahoo! Sports story reported. The Trojan headline is clearly biased, not to mention whiny ("Vendetta against USC*"). Oh, those poor victims over at South Central. They have it so rough as they commute to their walled-in fortress, er, campus in their luxury mobiles.

Anyway, bashing the Times for its bias is like shooting fish in a barrel. At least BN got a mention.

Trouble Brewing at SC

Barnes2JJ — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 15:12:11 -0000

Apparently, the NCAA (yeah, I know) is possibly taking a harder look at the numerous alleged violations over at South Central.

Here's the link and excerpt from my favorite paper, the Incredibly Shrinking LA Times:

NCAA investigations into former USC stars in football and basketball have been combined into one probe of the Trojans' athletic program, sources connected to one of the cases said Wednesday.

Investigators have been examining allegations involving Heisman Trophy-winning running back Reggie Bush and NBA lottery pick O.J. Mayo. Bush is accused of accepting thousands in cash and his family for failing to pay rent on a home owned by a fledgling marketer while he was playing for USC in 2004 and 2005. Mayo is accused of accepting cash and other benefits from a middleman representing a sports agency before and during the one season he played for the Trojans in 2007-08.

What's the key thing the NCAA looks for in these situations, sportsfans? That's right: Lack of instituional control. That is apparently why the NCAA's probes (plural) have now been combined into one investigation.

You can read the rest of the short article for yourself. In the interest of fairness, I thought it was proper to also include (from the article) the following strong denial from SC, Floyd and Pete Carroll, who is never at a loss for words:

USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett referred questions to the university's legal counsel, who did not return messages. Trojans football Coach Pete Carroll could not be reached for comment.

USC basketball Coach Tim Floyd said he hasn't had any dialogue with the NCAA since May and has "never, ever heard" that the investigations were being combined.

Yeah, I know. SC's "official" policy is not to comment on NCAA investigations. I just think it is amusing that the school has to actually have such a policy.

I know none of you are going to hold your breath waiting for someone actually to crack down on SC. But hey, I'm just reporting the news.