SB Nation User Blog: Telemachus

Washington @ UCLA Halftime Show

Telemachus — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:02:24 -0000

Washington @ UCLA Halftime Show

Washington @ UCLA Photos

Telemachus — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:38:16 -0000

Honorary captain and Heisman Trophy winner Gary Beban

Having Gary Beban serve as honorary captain must have been worth few points and the team needed every one of them to edge the Huskies 24-23 at the Rose Bowl.

Kevin Prince stands tall in the pocket

Taylor Embree stretches to make a catch

Logan Paulsen rumbles downfield for a 56 yard reception

Fingertip grab by Cory Harkey for six points

ATV had a busy day defending deep balls . . .

. . . as well as providing run support

What more can you say about ATV?

Nelson Rosario has another ho-hum 7 reception, 111 yard day

Terrence Austin makes a circus catch in the endzone

Rahim Moore seals the deal with his eigth interception as the sideline cheers him on

Rest of the slideshow here.

[UPDATED w Sean's Apology] Reporting 101 FAIL

Telemachus — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 21:40:47 -0000

UPDATE (N): Looks like Sean has posted an apology:

On Sunday night, I wrote a commentary about NYC marathon winner Meb Keflezighi. Keflezighi, who is a naturalized U.S. citizen, was born in the African country of Eritrea. The post was intended to be a humorous take on America's inability to groom homegrown runners into winners of major marathons and that in order to boast victory in major races, America must rely on athletes born elsewhere. As I re-read the commentary, coupled with comments from readers on this site and others, I think it's pretty clear that I did not do a good job of writing that nor in researching my topic. As many have pointed out, had I done a bit more research I probably would have realized that almost everything Keflezighi has done in his running career has been in the U.S., where he has lived since he was 12.

I apologize to Keflezighi for slighting his achievement, which is a spectacular one regardless of his nationality, and to anyone who was offended by the post. Regardless of where he came from and how he got to where he is today, Keflezighi's triumph isn't just a great American story, it's a great human story. Hopefully that's not lost on everyone.

Well that is a move in the positive direction. However, the more I read the "apology" it seems half-hearted at best. Also, I still don't get exactly what "humorous" perspective he was going for. It's really sad that he even went there to begin with and had to be pushed to publish this post. GO BRUINS. - N

My open letter to Messrs Keeley and Rovell regarding their comments about former Bruin and American winner of the NYC Marathon, Meb Keflezighi.

Technically, Mr. Keeley and Mr. Rovell, you are both Americans...Kinda

Mr. Keeley, I see from your SB*NATION bio that you are an American, simply by an accident of birth. Mr. Rovell, I can't tell from your bio if you're truly an American, since you don't cite the location of your birth or the date of your naturalization. I guess you probably think we can tell just by looking at your picture that you're a true-blue flag-waving patriot. I have some questions for the two of you:

What's more fundamentally American than arriving in this country at the age of 12, the child of an immigrant family that was escaping a troubled country? What's more American than bouncing back from from an injury in the 2007 Olympic trials, so painful Keflezighi wondered if he'd walk again? What's more American than running in honor of fellow American marathoner Ryan Shay who died during those same 2007 Olympic trials? What's more American than having your brothers lead their San Diego High School team to a CIF title and yourself being awarded Union-Tirbune All-Academic Athlete Team Captain two years in a row? What's more American than being awarded a full scholarship to UCLA and accepting because of both its academic and athletic balance?

My family immigrated to the U.S. a year before I was born. Were they not in the country long enough for me to be considred a full American in your eyes? I mean, maybe I was conceived on the way to the streets paved with gold. My brothers arrived with my parents at the ages of one, five and twelve. My sister did not arrive until many years later. Along with my late parents, they are all naturalized citizens and have succeeded in this country: two family businesses; a community college graduate and LA County Engineer; three UCLA graduates: a Professor of Dentistry, a Public Health Phd, and an IT guy. Mr. Keeley, if you met one of us on the street, Which one of us would you look in our foreign-looking face and say, "You're only technically an American?" Mr. Rovell, would you tell me the difference between me and my siblings, since I am, in your words, an "American-born product" and my siblings are just American citizens?

Mr. Keeley and Mr. Rovell, you are both fully American. *sigh* Unfortunately, you both seem to embody the attributes of what many Americans are becoming. Entitled: "I was born here, so I don't have to do a thing to earn my citizenship and that means more than you naturalized citizens." Ignorant: "Free speech allows me to say anything I want!" No need to do any research and gather facts before jumping to conclusions. Lazy: How hard would it have been to check out Keflezighi's background? Mr. Rovell, even your apology is lacking. You should apologize for not doing one iota of research before jumping on your cynical story line (Keflezighi being a "ringer"). Had you done your homework, you could have written just the opposite story of what it really means to be an American. You fail at "Reporting 101."

Everyone needs to "contribute" to Keeley's comment threads. He owes SBNation and BN an apology for his unfounded slight of a true Bruin. The same goes for CNBC's "reporter" Rovell, despite his weak apology.

Congrats Ducks on a great win. You were one of my two favorite teams yesterday.

Telemachus — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:02:06 -0000

Congrats Ducks on a great win. You were one of my two favorite teams yesterday.

My Favorite Teams, the UCLA Bruins and . . .

Telemachus — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 08:50:21 -0000

Photo credit: The Oregonian

... Whoever is playing justsc.

A huge thank you to the Oregon Ducks for their manhandling of the toejams on Saturday. Though disappointed by our Bruins' loss, but a little encouraged by signs of life from our team in the fourth quarter, I settled down to watch the toejams get dominated in every way. I hope our team will make progress toward the things I witnessed: a savvy QB adjusting and executing on the fly, receivers with sticky fingers getting space and YACs, running backs skating through holes and big defensive stops. Of course, best of all were the dumbfounded looks on the faces of the defeated.

Here's a Halloween video tribute to you Ducks and treat for you Bruins who relish a real Halloween massacre.

Nelson Rosario's one-handed catch. UCLA @ Oregon State.

Telemachus — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 02:23:46 -0000

Nelson Rosario's one-handed catch. UCLA @ Oregon State.

Mid-season assessment

Telemachus — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:37:46 -0000

Last weekend's Cal game was a microcosm of this season. Everything good and bad, all in one game.

You know we'll be able to count on these guys:

Jeff Locke is key to field position strategy

For the season, Jeff Locke has a long of 77 (ranked 1st) while averaging 46.1 yards per punt (ranked 12th), with 10 of 29 inside the 20. 14 of 33 kickoffs have resulted in touchbacks.

Kai Forbath knocks in another field goal

Meanwhile, while we really hate to see him so often, Kai Forbath leads the nation with 17 field goals made and percentage (94.4%).

Unfortunately, we haven't made the plays we've needed to make.

Nelson Rosario has a TD slip through his fingers

Randall Carroll ties to make a tough catch

Terrence Austin stretches in vain

We need to see more of these kinds of plays on a consistent basis:

Johnathan Franklin blasts through a hole for a TD

No catching Johnathan Franklin as he runs 74 yards for a TD

No need for photos regarding our defense; that would be too painful.

Let's take a deep breath and look for second half of the season improvements starting with the Wildcats.

Go Bruins!

Oregon @ UCLA: Death, Taxes and Kai Forbath

Telemachus — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 00:57:56 -0000

Kai Forbath kicks 52-yard field goal

Despite the ups and downs of the season, we can always count on Kai Forbath. Click the photo to browse through the photo gallery or click the "Slideshow" button once in the gallery for a full screen slideshow.

Oregon @ UCLA: Ayers INT and TD

Telemachus — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:09:28 -0000

It happened so fast and unexpectedly, I had no idea what had happened when I shot this sequence. Video after the flip.

Thought this was going to be the momentum changer we needed. Didn't turn out that way. Nonetheless, it was an incredible play by Akeem Ayers.

Oregon @ UCLA: Sights and Sounds

Telemachus — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 06:48:33 -0000

Another tough loss heating up the Bruins blogosphere. Take a little break from that and enjoy the other things that were going on at the Rose Bowl.

First up, sky divers!

More after the jump.

The band put on its usual great pre-game show.

At the half, the 2009 inductees into the UCLA Athletics Hall of Fame were introduced.

Tyus Edney

James "Cap" Haralson (1920's Track & Field, football, basketball and baseball)

Cade McNown

Stein Metzger (setter, volleyball 1993-96, three national championships)

Nicolle Payne (goalkeeper, water polo 1994-98, three national championships)

JJ Stokes

Daiva Tomkus Fuerst (volleyball 1986-89, 1st team All-American 87-88-89, two NCAA Final Fours)

Walt Torrence (guard, basketball 1957-58-59) represented by wife and son.

Too bad we couldn't suit up Cade and JJ for the second half. Wrapping up, here again is the UCLA Band.