SB Nation User Blog: gbruin

The Clairvoyant 66

gbruin — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:18:06 -0000

The Professor is on a roll.

First he said we should do something to be sure we keep CBH.

Two weeks ago, he said Phil Jackson needs LMR.

Now LMR gets a shot with the Lakers' summer squad.

So now, CBH and LMR have both been 66'd. Who's next?

I wouldn't normally write a fanpost about a fellow BN member, but this is uncanny. I said '66 was a genius, but clearly I've underestimated him. Either way, I'm just glad Nostradamus is a Bruin. It may come in handy.

Russell Westbrook on Jim Rome today (Tues 7/1)

gbruin — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 16:17:40 -0000

Russell Westbrook on Jim Rome today (Tues 7/1)

The interview is scheduled for 11am PST. Go here to find your local affiliate. You can also hear the interview through the JR website later today if you subscribe.

Graduation 2008

gbruin — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 18:02:02 -0000

Bumped. The comment section is turning into an epic thread. Again consider this an open invitation for all the graduating seniors (or alums/current students) to use this thread to share your UCLA memories and about bleeding blue and gold. And also this is the kind of post the "recommend" button found at the bottom of every post was created for. As I said earlier - hear hear - to gbruin's congrats to all our graduates in BN. GO BRUINS. - N

Hear hear. GO BRUINS. - N (Class '96)

Will the Class of 2008 please stand!!

On behalf of the alumni here in Bruins Nation, let me congratulate the UCLA Class of 2008. This is an amazing honor and you deserve to be very proud of your accomplishment.

Maybe it is my approach to geezerdom (Class '91), but I am excited at the number of current students we have here in BN. Reading through the interesting thread regarding the labor dispute and commencement speakers, I noted that several names I see here regularly (incl. Tydides, jjreicher, deepdish) appear to be graduating seniors. To you and your classmates, congratulations! It would be cool for all of our BN seniors to post his or her degree and major in here - sort of our own BN grad ceremony.

On a personal note, I understand the disappointment some of you feel at not having a noted figure like Bill Clinton speak at graduation. But let me add this personal note...I have no idea who my grad speaker was (some bio prof who talked about bird research). I do, however, remember everything about walking into the Tennis Center with some of my best friends in life. I remember a wonderful party afterward with my friends and our families. And I especially remember standing at the top of Janss' Steps in my robe, looking back at the dorms where things started, and turning to look into Royce Quad (the most beautiful setting at any college, anywhere) and knowing that I was a UCLA graduate and feeling more hope and anticipation and joy than I had ever known. That's what grad day still means to me, and 'll bet the other alumns around here can share similar feelings.

That degree has since opened a lot of doors for me in the medical world, and judging by the company here in Bruins Nation, it will do so in the world of law, business, art, education, public service, engineering, and any other field you can imagine.

So, to our Class of 2008, congratulations on all your efforts. As one of the alumni, it is an honor to have you join us. Enjoy your day, be proud of what you have accomplished, and look forward to an amazing future. You guys rule!

via www.english.ucla.edu

Five Bruins drafted?

gbruin — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:20:56 -0000

http://nbadraft.net/

Not sure how much accurate this source has been - I'd have to go back and compare their previous years' predictions to how the drafts really went down, and I'm a bit too lazy today to do so. But it was interesting to see that NBAdraft.net predicts that FIVE Bruins get drafted by the NBA (remember, there are only two rounds and 60 total picks in the NBA draft).

Interesting to see that RW is considered our best pro prospect right now. I've thought a lot about losing KL and DC, but no so much about RW. Makes sense though, as the guy has mad physical skills, but what sets him apart is his ability to defend. That's key in the Association. Lots of guys can score, but defense is a rare and valuable commodity, especially in a young player.

Also interesting, you have to go down to pick #14 (Roy Hibbert, G'Town) before you find an NCAA player who isn't a freshman or sophmore.

Anyway, this "draft" is all speculation, of course, but it raises some interesting questions. Is RW more likely to leave now if he is projected to be a lottery pick? How does UCLA respond if we lose all 5 of these guys? If RW goes (and we assume DC and KL are going), does that make LRMAM and JS more likely to declare also? Could BH be developing our players too well? (not something Lavin ever had to worry about!!). If heart were all that counted, wouldn't LMR be #1 by a mile? And, most importantly, does UCLA's results in the tourney make a difference in anyone's decision? I could see the guys finding it easier to leave after winning a title. But say they get upset early (pre Final 4), would anyone feel he might have something to prove and come back?

Of course, if I had my way, that would be UCLA's starting 5 for 2008-09. Hey, I can always wish...

Stan Love calls for class

gbruin — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:15:24 -0000

John Henderson is a Denver Post sports columnist who frequently writes about the Pac-10, which is a nice breath of air in a media market that thinks the Big 12 is the only college conference in America. Henderson, an Oregon alum who went to school with Stan Love, wrote a nice article today about the infamous greeting K Love got from the Duck fans in Eugene last month.

His next to last paragraph is important:

"Oregon visits Pauley Pavillion on Saturday afternoon and Stan is hoping UCLA fans show more class than our alma mater did. At some point, your university is going to embarrass you. It forces you to shove your sweat shirts deeper in the closet. For Stan and me, this is one of those times." It's a good guy who can be intellectually honest and responsible, and call out his own when they deserve it. And I'm hoping Bruins fans tomorrow follow suit. I understand the desire for revenge, but I trust The Den and the rest of Pauley won't stoop to anything like what OU brought. Remember, the very best revenge will be a 20 point beat down, a sincere handshake, and a genuine air of maturity and class throughout - leaving OU and it's fans to wish that they could be anything like UCLA.

Carroll getting NFL consideration

gbruin — Wed, 09 Jan 2008 16:13:05 -0000

Always good to see some chaos downtown...

ESPN is reporting on its website this morning that the Atlanta Falcons would like to interview u$c head cheater, errrr, I mean, coach regarding their vacant head coaching position.

Clearly, Atlanta has had a rough time lately, with the loss of their franchise star Michael Vick to the federal penal system, the midseason spontaneous departure of their head coach Bobby Petrino for the college ranks, and a disappointing 4-12 season. Atlanta has already interviewed a variety of NFL assistants, and is now looking to the college coaching ranks in an effort to turn around their recent misfortunes.

This makes me happy. We all have to admit that the Southern California Junior College has been quite successful under Cheatey Petey's leadership, and it would be quite a blow to their program were he to leave. But what I like the most is the angst that must be brewing in condom nation.

With the ongoing (Reggie) Bush investigation by the NCAA, an underacheiving season this year, and most importantly, the arrival of Rick Neuheisel to the Westwood and the immediate shift in the balance of power that has been tilted in their favor for several years, I imagine SCJC fan is feeling at least a little nervous.

I also wonder if Cheatey Petey himself is feeling some of the heat, and if this might affect any decisions on his part. It's not like his prior NFL career was very successful, and if things are to go south for $c, this might be a good opportunity to him to cash in while he is still in a good position to do so.

In any case, Carroll and the Falcons have not met yet, and this is all speculative. But either way, it feels really really good to see how the fans in Westwood are finally looking up, and how the fans at SCJC may be looking around and over their shoulders wondering what is happening to their beloved program.