SB Nation User Blog: impaulv

UCLA in Asia

impaulv — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:17:42 -0000

So you know how you always hear that UCLA is big in Asia? Well, it is and not always in ways you'd expect... Thought I'd share a few random pics.

So I strolling through Tokyo on vacation & saw a sign. A UCLA sign. I naturally got very excited....

Well, some of you can already see what's wrong with the pic, but I didn't notice. I had visions of restocking my UCLA supplies. I was short a coffee mug a co-worker ran off with... My friend & I draw closer & closer...

Oh yeah, something's definitely not kosher..

Yeah, definitely not what I expected. I asked my Japanese friend about it. Apparently UCLA has a reputation for having great academics & beautiful women. Go figure :-)

Next in South Korea, nothing quite as racy...

Just, as my girlfriend put it, "really cute shoes!"

And that was my little weird slice of home half a world away.

4 UCLA Players Suspended for K-State

impaulv — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 23:21:04 -0000

4 UCLA Players Suspended for K-State

Don't know what they did (my money's on underage drinking, but that's purely speculative), but I'm glad CRN is enforcing the rules:

Hopefully they'll learn from the experience & stay on the straight and narrow. A shame because this game would have been a great experience/confidence builder for them...

Trouble for the U$C* Basketball team?

impaulv — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 06:32:10 -0000

Trouble in TrOJieTown? In the latest news, looks like senior Marcus Johnson will be jumping ship and going pro...

According Scott Wolf, Johnson told Floyd he will be going to the NBA. This after being granted an extra season of eligibility.

I'm not sure how to view this. Is he hard up for cash? Does he know something about the $C* bball program? Does he really hate school?

Making this even more interesting, in my opinion, is the fact that Johnson doesn't have a very deep body of work. Next year was suppose to be his time to shine looking at the depleted $C* bench. He transfers from UConn, has some issues, plays decently. Why go pro right now? Definitely not 1st rounder, and most likely not even 2nd round. Interesting... Guess there's just more room for Lil Romeo to shine!

Be very, very quiet: Pete Carroll is hunting blue chips

impaulv — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 22:59:14 -0000

Be very, very quiet: Pete Carroll is hunting blue chips

Cheaty Pete is scared? Well, I would be too if a rival school picked up 3 of 5 targeted recruits...

Thursday's Madness MVPs

impaulv — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 18:48:32 -0000

Thursday's Madness MVPs

Collison gets some recognition for his defense on that last play vs VCU

Only @ UCLA: Honesty from a Head Coach

impaulv — Tue, 27 Jan 2009 21:50:00 -0000

he deserved a T. He was taunting the kid...

-CBH (as per Dohn)

So AA2 actually deserved the T. I thought at the time that AA2 got in that guy's face in a pretty abrupt way, so I wasn't too surprised when they T'ed him up especially after the way he acted in reaction to the ref. However, the point I wish to make here isn't that AA2 deserved the technical or that he's a bad guy (because I firmly know him to be of outstanding character through his body of work) but that our coach has the integrity to tell the truth about the matter.

Did Coach Howland have to say anything about the matter? Probably not. Did he? Yes, and he told us what happened. He didn't try to make up some BS excuse like "coaches" at other schools. I'm pretty sure that at some point since the game CBH had a firm talk with AA2 to figure out what exactly happened and then took corrective action, providing guidance. That is the sign of a great coach and program, well in keeping with the tenets of the great Wooden.

Family Ties: Obama calls Oregon State coach

impaulv — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 01:24:35 -0000

Family Ties: Obama calls Oregon State coach

President-elect Obama calls OSU coach to say congrats. Also, "Obama was not the only one to phone Robinson after the big victory. UCLA coach Ben Howland chimed in."

Love it.

Institutional Arrogance...

impaulv — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:37:55 -0000

Via an article on Yahoo Sports:

“With all due respect, those are two great programs,” Carroll said. “But I don’t think anybody can beat the Trojans this year.”

Actually, somebody already did beat the Trojans. Oregon State, on Sept. 25, a 27-21 shocker that has left Carroll declaring something he couldn’t prove. And then there was USC running back C.J. Gable, taking it one step further.

“We know we would crush Florida and Oklahoma,” he said. “We know that.”

Whoa!

TALK ABOUT ARROGANCE... I'm sure they "knew" they would crush Oregon State...

I'm prepared to respect the team's accomplishments, but then the players have to come out and say stupid stuff like that. But I guess when you have such fine examples set by the leadership, there's not a lot to expect. The funny thing is just earlier I read a story about Gable sulking about not getting enough playing time...

Horrible sportsmanship.