Bumped. GO BRUINS. - N

AP Photo

We keep contrasting the approach and attitude of a player like Drew Gordon to the attitude of players like AA, PAA, DC, LRMAM, LMR, etc. The differences are easy to see. I am discouraged with Gordon leaving our team, but mostly, I am regretful that a player with Gordon’s talent doesn’t have AA’s or LMR’s work ethic and team-first approach.  That would have been an awesome combination and a great asset for our team.

So we can ask why Gordon didn’t have the same attitude as our former BB Warriors.  To me, though, a bigger question is why we ended up with an attitude like Gordon’s in our program, and why is appears so hard right now to get some of our younger players or new recruits to buy into CBH’s system.

My answer is that the the dynamic of UCLA basketball has changed, that we are attracting a different type of player, and CBH has become a victim of his own success. I will expand on this point after the jump.

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Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

The haters bother me.

I know they shouldn't, but when the idiotic media says things that might hurt our program, it just bothers me.  It's not fair to our players or the coach.

I was tempted to write to the trOJan Times in response to its stupid trolling letter section, but smarter folks point out the fallacy of responding.  That's getting hooked, and I'm not supposed to stoop to that.  Don't debate with a drunk or a 5 year old.

But I hate thinking CBH or the players read those things and take them seriously.  I want CBH and the team to know that they have supporters out here, and we are proud and grateful for their accomplishments this year.

A while back, in response to another unwarranted hit-job, Nestor suggested hitting the buzz-up button for certain posts, to get our opinions here more widely viewed, and to make sure that the internet readership gets a better appreciation of how true Bruin fans view their team.  And I've done that a couple times.  But I don't know if that messsage gets to the ones for whom it's intended.

I want to make sure the message gets to CBH, and the team, and the AD.  So I wrote them a note:

Dear Coach Howland,

 As a Bruin alum and an ongoing supporter of all things UCLA, I want to thank you and this year's basketball team for another great season.  I was happy with the team's accomplishments this year, and was especially impressed by how this year's seniors conducted themselves on and off the court.  Your basketball program, in the great tradition of Coach Wooden, has reached a level of consistent success and class, for which all Bruin fans are very proud.

Although the controversy-mongering news media may print critical articles or letters, they do not represent the feelings of real UCLA fans.  I want you and your players to know that true Bruins are grateful for what this team accomplished, we are excited for what our basketball program has become, and we remain steadfastly supportive of you and the future.  

Enjoy the off-season, if you get one.  Go Bruins!

(signature)

I didn't want to highlight what the stupid paper published, but I do want CBH to know that the media crap isn't representative and counter it specifically.  This way, I don't have to deal with the stupid paper, but I can still let my voice be heard.

I'd encourage anyone on BN simply to send a note to CBH that real Bruin fans are behind him, and that the ulterior motives of the LAT and certain others in the MSM are not how we, his real constituents, see things. 

bhowland@athletics.ucla.edu

dguerrero@athletics.ucla.edu

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

As always, this has already been better expressed by the well-written thoughts by Class of 66, but here's my addition...

I stayed out of the game thread last night (it had been good karma lately) and then I went to bed right after the game, knowing that the post-game thread was gonna look like someone just kicked over an anthill. But I watched the whole game and was very disappointed in the team’s execution and intensity and the result.  But it ended there.

This is where it’s gut-check time for the Bruins. And I’m referring to the fans, and not the team. CBH and DC, JS, PAA, and the team have enough maturity and basketball acumen to see what happened and to figure out what changes and improvement are needed. What kills me is seeing “loyal fans” rain down hatred on our team.

Last night was the perfect storm. It’s post season time, so tension and hopes and stakes, and interest from the bandwagoners, is at its highest. We played our hated rivals – where nothing beats winning and nothing hurts like losing. We played very poorly, some in part to the laudable intensity and effort from $cjc, and much from our own lack of intensity and lack of execution. All this together spins up the frustration and anger and pain from the fans. And this engenders all sorts of emotions…

When I read Nestor’s comments this morning, I see a Bruin fan who, in the aftermath of last night’s game, is hurt and disappointed by his team’s performance. We all were. I think calling them “heartless” is too strong, but I do not question N’s loyalty to these guys, and I expect that he will back in the game tomorrow. What makes me scream are comments that attack our players, attack our coach, wish that freshmen with unrealistic expectations heaped upon them not return for us, and quit on these guys before the NCAA brackets have even been assigned.

We’ve been over and over this a million times this year (no links - just do a search) how this team has some serious holes compared to the last couple years. Replacing LRMAM with ND has been a liability on defense – our team’s biggest strength. Replacing RW with JH has been a step down. Replacing KL with PAA has left us a little less secure in the middle. Replacing vocal and inspirational leaders with this team’s leaders-by-example may have hurt the intensity the team brings night to night. But I don’t question the intentions of ND and JH and PAA or anyone on the team – they are doing their best. The results may not always be there because they cannot always play up to the level of their predecessors.

Despite these and other losses from last year, there are many who seem to think that we are entitiled to the same success as last year. News flash, Bruin fans – last year’s team didn’t win a banner, and I don’t think this year’s team will either.  But I'll still be rooting for them.  Of course we all want another banner. But for true UCLA fans, the banner is not the goal. The goal is to have the best team with the best individuals with talent showing the best character and giving their best effort on the floor. That’s what Coach taught, and that is what I believe CBH practices as well. When all of that comes together just right, the banners will take care of themselves.

There are fans of success and fans of UCLA. You guys need to figure out which team you are on, because you cannot be on both.