SB Nation User Blog: insomniacslounge

Phil Steele predicts UCLA FB to finish year ranked #24

insomniacslounge — Sun, 07 Jun 2009 21:27:18 -0000

Every year, I look forward to the release of Phil Steele's college football preview. For me, t's kind of like the Reese's Peanut Butter Cups of sports mags, combining detailed and thorough analysis with gambling trends and insights. As well as being comprehensive, it's also usually rather accurate as far as preseason mags go.

The issue came out this week, and Steele has UCLA as his 3rd most improved team for 2009 and to my surprise, predicts that they will finish the year ranked #24 in the country. His reasoning includes 16 returning starters and expected improved play from the O-line and QB position. He also believes UCLA won't commit as many turnovers this year (god, I hope not) which will translate into more wins.

Considering that our O-line still needs to get a lot of work together and Prince is a first year starter, this seems like a pretty bold prediction to me. As a point of reference, the #24 team in the final AP poll last season was Michigan State with a 9-4 finish (including a bowl loss). Personally, I would be thrilled if the Bruins were to finish the regular season 7-5 (especially if it included a win over USC) and returned to the postseason.

In any event, I think it's great to see that a respected, national writer sees progress in the development of our football program.

UCLA FB loses two more players

insomniacslounge — Thu, 07 May 2009 07:38:12 -0000

Per Tracy Pierson, WR Dominique Johnson and RB Raymond Carter are set to transfer out of UCLA. I'm disappointed to see Johnson go, as I think he has an immense amount of untapped talent. Whether he was ever going to realize it or not remains to be seen, but I would have liked for him to given it another shot while in a UCLA uniform.

Carter's story is unfortunate as injury robbed him of a chance to show what he could really do. Maybe he'll be able to move down a level and get some playing time for a D-II (I'll never call it FCS) team.

Wooden Released From Hospital

insomniacslounge — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 07:24:46 -0000

Wooden Released From Hospital

Good to see that Coach will be able to watch the Bruins from the comfort of his own home.

A Big Night For A Little Bruin

insomniacslounge — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 00:43:15 -0000

Bumped. Another example of what makes being a Bruin so special. GO BRUINS. -N

Like any Bruin, one of Tyler's favorite things in the world is going to UCLA basketball games. He's already in prime Bruin Den form: screaming his lungs out on defense, raising a finger for free throws, and always, always staying to dance to "Rover" at the end of victories. Unfortunately because of his chemotherapy treatments, he hasn't been able to go to as many games as either of us would have liked. This week, he had a long, full day of treatment Wednesday; and while I had already purchased a pair of tickets for the UCLA-Cal game, I really wasn't expecting Tyler to be up to going. I don't know why I ever doubted my Gutty Little Bruin, as he was decked out in UCLA gear and ready to go about 8 hours before tip off.

As you know, the Bruins put on quite a show last night, and Tyler had a great time watching UCLA put away the Bears. As an added bonus, the UCLA Dance Team (which is aware of Ty's situation) invited Tyler to join them for the Alma Mater and for his favorite, Rover. He was a tad nervous at first, but once "Rover" started playing, he cut loose and had a blast:

Full Flickr photoset here.

A huge thank you to the UCLA Dance Team. They turned what was already a fun night into a cherished memory.

Tyler was obviously thrilled with getting to be on the court at Pauley Pavilion. He kept singing "Rover" and dancing as we walked out to our car. Then, just as we got to the car Tyler said, "Dad, you know what else was great about tonight? I was really pleased with UCLA's defense!"

I can't imagine being any prouder.

SPTRs strike again

insomniacslounge — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 04:35:52 -0000

Did anyone else watch the Pac-10 refs take the Arizona-ASU game into their hands with a b.s. illegal screen call on Hill in the final seconds? To compound matters- the Arizona coaches were understandably irate, but rather than let them vent, the refs decided to T up the bench for complaining about a horrendous call.

I won't shed any tears for the Wildcats, but I will hang my head in shame that such a prestigious conference has so many inept officials.

Also, the fans were robbed in this game. Arizona should have had a chance to tie it w/ under 10 seconds to go which would have given Jamelle Horne another chance to foul an opponent 30+ ft from the basket for some game winning free throws.

Maurice Jones Drew and Marcedes Lewis Coming Home?

insomniacslounge — Thu, 10 Jul 2008 07:45:58 -0000

Maurice Jones Drew and Marcedes Lewis Coming Home?

Rumor has it that the Jags might be for sale and that billionaire C. Dean Metropoulos could buy the team and move the Jags to Los Angeles.

Everybody involved is in denial mode at the moment, but I sure hope it's true. If LA is to get a team, the Jags would be my top choice from the realistic candidates. Would be great to get to see MJD in person again.

OJ Mayo's Grand Viral Marketing Scheme

insomniacslounge — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 10:55:10 -0000

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

So I started thinking- since OJ Mayo was able to orchestrate exactly where he went to school and by what terms, then maybe all of this recent media coverage in the OJ Mayo case is by design as well. Perhaps all of this is actually a calculated ploy to try to get some endorsement deals. Maybe it's the early stages of some viral marketing. I did some digging around, and well....check this out: (click to enlarge)

via www.insomniacslounge.com

A special thanks to my extended Bruin Family

insomniacslounge — Fri, 07 Mar 2008 21:15:28 -0000

Bumped again. This story is more important than a few vids -Telemachus

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

A year ago at this time, I was in a pediatric intensive care unit where my four year-old son Tyler was on a ventilator after having his trachea crushed by a tumor that was rapidly growing in his chest cavity. My family was suffering and we needed support wherever we could get it. One of the places we found it was in the caring network of fellow Bruins here at Bruins Nation (and also from the moderators of Conquest Chronicles, proving that some things are bigger than rivalries.)

Tyler is now one year into a two year chemotherapy protocol. It's been an emotional year, full of ups and downs. During those lower times (mostly as a result of side effects from his chemo), it's been very helpful for me to have places like Bruins Nation, whether it was for support or, just as helpful, to simply have a distraction to take my mind away from the worries of the real world.

I'm happy to report that Tyler's last two PET scans have shown no evidence of any tumor and his oncologist has decreased his chemo and says that Tyler's response has been the best case scenario, and that he looks great. I'll let you guys be the judge:

He is the mighty Bruin. Triumphant evermore.

Thank you, Bruins Nation for everything. I'm so lucky that Bruin Family really does mean family.

Does Stanford Control Their Own Destiny?

insomniacslounge — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:21:27 -0000

Hopefully this is something we won't have to deal with, but I have a hypothetical question for those in the know:

If Stanford wins out in the Pac-10 and UCLA wins all of their games aside from their remaining matchup with Stanford, then both teams will finish with identical records in Pac-10 play. Since they'll have split their games head-to-head, does anyone know what the next tiebreaker would be to determine who would get the #1 seed in the Pac-10 tournament? If it's record vs better competition (which is how they settle it in the Big East), then we're screwed b/c Stanford swept USC. But I have no idea if that's the same procedure that the Pac 10 uses.

(filler to meet 200 word requirement)
Once again, I hope that UCLA takes care of business and this becomes a moot question. And really, seeding in the Pac-10 tourney is of little significance in the big picture for the Bruins, but for financial (read; gambling) reasons, this has become an important issue to me in the last few weeks; and I now I need to decide if I want to do some hedging during Stanford's last few games. Thanks.

Vegas Doesn't Believe in Wazzu

insomniacslounge — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 00:44:32 -0000

The line for Saturday's Washington State game at Pauley just went up, and the Bruins are a SEVEN point favorite!

I love my Bruins as much as anyone (and I have the bad back from camping outside of Pauley Pavilion for four years to prove it), but that line looks way off to me. We might have to worry about limited minutes from Darren Collison and Mbah a Moute who are nursing injuries; and then there's the little matter of Washington State being a really, really good team.

Coincidentally, I'm heading out to Vegas tonight. So my question is: is it acceptable to bet against your own team if you feel you've identified a bad line in your opponent's favor? It wouldn't compel me to root against the Bruins- that just wouldn't happen - but objectively speaking, money on Wazzu looks like a good bet.

(Full disclosure: I have bet against UCLA twice in my life and won both times. Each time, I was labelled a "sell out" by my friends, and perhaps rightfully so. I responded by taking my winnings and donating them to the Alumni Scholarship fund to assuage my guilt.)

Of course, it could be that my premise is wrong to begin with. What do other people think about the seven point line? Do you guys see UCLA running away w/ it?

Finally, if gambling talk is prohibited here, then I apologize for this thread.