The Main Course from the Bruins’ Spring Scrimmage was served up to you on Sunday, but there’s always room for dessert when you’re talking about the piping hot UCLA Spirit Squad

Today was a good day for Bruins Ryan Hollins (of the Celtics) and Jrue Holiday (of the 76er’s) both of whom helped their teams to close-out victories and entrance into the second round of the NBA Playoffs, joining Bruin Darren Collison (of the Pacers).  Bruin Arron Afflalo (of the Nuggets) is also in a good mood tonight, after his team torched the Lakers (and Bruin Matt Barnes), forcing a Game 7.  But now, it can be a good day for you too, as another UCLA Cheerleader pictorial is here to put YOU in a good mood too.

These photos are all from the UCLA Spring Scrimmage, Continue Reading »

UCLA’s Cinco de Mayo Scrimmage proves that the Bruins are ready to FLY, with an air attack that will soar to the GOOOOOOOOOOOOAL!

Regardless of who the starting Quarterback will be for UCLA this season, the Bruins are going to throw the ball, MUCHO.  When Spring Practice began, it looked like the emphasis was on swing and screen passes to Running Backs, but now, several weeks later, the whole package is on display.  During UCLA’s annual Spring Scrimmage at the Rose Bowl, in front of an unprecedented 13,000 fans, the Bruin QB’s hit slants, fly patterns, and check-offs over the middle, as the Wide Receivers and Y-Backs joined the Running Backs in an aerial assault that had the Defense reeling.

All 3 QB’s drove the Offense to paydirt, hitting several different Receivers for TD’s – Devin Lucien, Jerry Johnson, Tyler Scott, and Logan Sweet all got to celebrate.  But the Running Back position didn’t just sit back and watch:  RB Steven Manfro was the star of the game, with a Kickoff Return for a TD, as well as several big plays from Scrimmage.  I thought he did most of his damage on the receiving end of short passes, but a different report says that some of his big plays were Running plays.  Maybe — I couldn’t see the field very well (I was seated low, in the 3rd row, in order to bring you the best Cheerleader photos).  And with Chris “Was that a Catch” Roberts calling the action, Continue Reading »

Do you believe in Squad?  — Today we give praise to the UCLA CHEER SQUAD, the often-overlooked and sometimes under-rated sect of Bruin Cheerleaders who routinely put Spirit in the Sky

The UCLA Dance Team gets a lot of publicity and recognition for being World Class, so it’s easy to forget about the equally-impressive Cheer Squad, who is simply too fine — and flies too high — to ever be overshadowed.  The UCLA Cheerleader Auditions were Sunday, and the illustrious Selection Committee came through again with flying colors.  For the Cheer Squad, they retained the stellar returnees who chose to come back, and they added a couple of new students, who will easily maintain the high standards that have been established here in Westwood.

Included today are 43 photos from Sunday, ALL of which feature the athletically-talented and classically-beautiful Cheer Squad.  The girls who were fortunate enough to make the Squad are captioned with their first names.  Also pictured are a few lovely girls who sadly missed the cut.  No disrespect meant, but Continue Reading »

Crying in my Cheer — The UCLA Dance Team loses 3 sweet girls due to time constraints and conflicts (breaking my heart), but gets 9 beautiful returnees, and 2 fine additions, while the Cheer Squad continues to be Top Tier as well

UCLA Spirit Audition Week can be an emotional rollercoaster.  That coaster started for me 364 days ago, when I met a beautiful girl at last year’s audition, who was planning on transferring to UCLA and trying out for the Dance Team.  It had always been her dream to make the team, and she came that day just to acclimate to the process, and meet Mollie (the Executive Director of the Spirit Squad).  We became close friends, and I shared her journey as she did great at OCC, as well as at her job, where she got promoted and saw her occupational dreams come true as well.  Then earlier this month, she actually got accepted to UCLA, and it was one of the most exciting, happiest moments that I can remember.  All that was left, was to make the Dance Team.

Then two days ago, I got the heartbreaking news that she wouldn’t be able to audition, as her work demands precluded her from being able to dedicate enough time to the Dance Team.  After almost a year, all our shared hopes and dreams were dashed to dust.  I wanted SO BADLY for my dear friend to be under Mollie’s tutelage as a proud member of the Dance Team.  I was devastated that the decision had to be made.  I understood, but that didn’t make it hurt any less.

Well, at least I still had Savannah…

Savannah has been on the Dance Team for a few years, and NO ONE on the squad has been nicer to me during that time.  A few years ago, Katie was the first one to be super-nice to me.  Nikki took the torch from Katie, and Savannah took it from Nikki.  So even though my dear friend decided not to try out, there was always the consolation that I could turn to Savannah for that unbelievable sweetness… until I found out on Sunday that Savannah was not returning, also due to time  demands, from other UCLA schooling factors.  And Savannah wasn’t the only one:  Chelsea also was unable to continue, due to class scheduling conflicts.  It is difficult to see the girls graduate and move on — It is even MORE difficult when you grow close to them, and then, knowing that they have eligibility left, they still leave.  I wish them all the best — I just wish they could clone themselves, and stay, while their clones attend to their other business.

But, as always during Mollie’s tenure, the Dance Team will survive these losses.  Nine girls return Continue Reading »

Fantastic Four, the Sequel — UCLA Basketball adds Tony Parker to their other 3 top-rated incoming recruits, giving them the #1 Recruiting Class in the Nation, which Bruin fans know is no guarantee of success, but is still worthy of Hollywood-type buzz

UCLA made it official yesterday, signing 6’9″ Center Tony Parker to a National Letter of Intent, giving the Bruins the #1 Recruiting Class in the Country, as annointed by ESPN.  Ben Howland’s incoming class was already #3, but the addition of Parker vaulted it over Kentucky and one other team to the Top of the Top.

This is the second time in 5 years that Howland has pulled off this amazing accomplishment.  It’s amazing, because he is defying the odds — Howland has Academic standards that most of the other contenders don’t, plus, UCLA’s lack of exposure on East Coast-centric ESPN is a huge hurdle in today’s Highlight-reel environment.  So, yes, it’s amazing, but no, it does not directly correlate to success on the hardwood.  And nobody knows that better than UCLA fans. Continue Reading »

Some fans are GROUCHy as a TRIO of passes miss their MARX, but I say HORSEFEATHERS — That bit of MONKEY BUSINESS is not worth HARPing on, as CAPTAIN Mora’s Hurry-Up Offense Quarterbacks are frequently able to CHICO(ff) and find their Running Back BROTHERS, who have A DAY AT THE RACES at SPAULDING Field, and make DUCK SOUP out of defenders

Three big Interceptions during UCLA’s Spring Practice scrimmage gave fans flashbacks of the last several years of Bruin Football — Just not enough talent and execution from the signal caller, resulting in Turnovers and missed opportunities.  However — These three INT’s were the EXCEPTION, not the RULE.  Most of the passes were safe, as the Bruin Running Backs continue to sprint to the sidelines and receive passes that enable them to turn the corner with a head of steam.

Steven Manfro caught two balls like this that he took to the house. Continue Reading »

One more pictorial reminder to support the Swim With Mike charity

After a good, wet Pool Party, there’s often some mopping up to do.  Today, 16 photos from last Saturday’s annual Swim With Mike fundraiser float to the top.  As you peruse this final wave of damp shots, please don’t let it put a damper on your enthusiasm to support the cause, Continue Reading »

Honey, What Do You Do For Money — Dip-lomatic Immunity today for the USC Song Girls, who stripped down to bikinis and took a dip to help raise money for physically-challenged student-athletes, including the first one in the 32 years of the Swim With Mike Charity to attend UCLA

You COULD say that this article is “dripping with irony” –  This website usually lampoons “dripping with money” SC students, but once a year, a truce is declared, so that some of those very same students can be LAUDED for the extraordinary effort and generosity that they display by participating in the Annual Swim With Mike Charity Event.

Yesterday marked the 32nd year of this worthwhile Foundation’s perennial fundraiser, and by 12:30pm, they had already raised over $800,000, to be given out as scholarships to college students who were high school athletes, and who have suffered devastating injuries and illnesses, including paralysis, blindness, amputation, and brain tumors (just to name a few).

Many of these students use the scholarships to attend USC, but in the 32 years that the charity has been operating, many, many other schools have hosted recipients.  This year, Andrew Luk becomes the first to attend UCLA (which becomes the 8th school in the Pac-12 to benefit from the Program).  When it comes to fighting life-threatening illnesses and crippling injuries, the Rivalry can be put on hold.

The biggest draw of this event is the appearance of the bikini-clad USC Song Girls, Continue Reading »

The Bazz that refreshes — Ben Howland lands Top Recruit Shabazz Muhammad, which will increase ticket sales, ramp up expectations, and maybe even improve future recruiting

Another acorn has fallen far from the tree — Just like UCLA’s most prolific Football player Jonathan Franklin was sired by a trojan, now UCLA’s best Basketball player also was spawned by a trojan Dad.  Shabazz Muhammad, the son of u$c Basketballer Ron Holmes, has signed on the dotted line to play his mandated one year of College Hoops as a Bruin.  Ben Howland has brought Muhammad to the Mountain, er, Hills of Westwood, despite the best efforts of Kentucky’s John Calipari and Duke’s Coach K, who were the two runners-up in the Shabazz Derby.  Muhammad cites Coach Howland as the main reason for choosing UCLA, as well as the school’s recent mediocrity, which he sees as a challenge to overcome.

Some scouting services have Shabazz as the #1 recruit in the Country, with NO service ranking him lower than #2.  Shabazz is a Shooting Guard or Small Forward who can just about do it all — Shoot, Drive, Dunk, Rebound, Defend, Pass, and sell popcorn at halftime.  He has dominated High School All-Star games, and Continue Reading »

Ex-trojan O.J. Mayo runs to wrong basket during game — Not his first wrong turn

During a Grizzly game this week, former trOJan O.J. Mayo advanced the theory that he is and has always been a major pot-head, when he got confused after a jump ball, and took off for a fast break… to the other team’s basket.  His Memphis teammate won the jump ball, tipping it to another Grizzly, in the Grizzlies’ front court, but for some inexplicable reason, Mayo sprinted down to the other end, expecting the pass for an uncontested dunk.  Too bad his teammate didn’t smoke as much as O.J. must have, because it would have been a lot more awesome if Mayo had actually made a basket for the opposing team.

Mayo is the player who got his trOJan Coach Tim Floyd fired, when he allegedly took a $1000 cash payment delivered by the Coach.  He was also accused of marijuana offenses, as well as abusing a charity credit card to buy a wide screen TV and other luxury items.  The team received sanctions for all these shenanigans, but Mayo left without any further embarrassment, until this week, when his brain-dead play got him in the headlines for falling asleep at the wheel.  They say Indica makes you tired and impairs your judgment, but when you attend u$c, you have already shown impaired judgment, so the Weed may have had nothing to do with it.  For the video of the incident, just Google “O.J. Mayo.”

UCLA Spring Practice continues, and progress is evident as the Bruins make up for lost time in a race against the clock

The Bruins are wearing pads now, hitting with full force, trying to separate ballcarriers from the ball, and trying to separate from each other as competition for starting positions rages on.  It is still too early to say who is winning these battles, but it sure looks like everyone is getting a chance.  All the QB’s are getting reps, with Kevin Prince apparently first in the rotation, while Jonathan Franklin is still probably the starting Running Back, although Steven Manfro, Damien Thigpen (and especially) Malcolm Jones are looking impressive when they get the ball.

At Wide Receiver, I’m seeing Jerry Johnson and Devin Lucien split wide most often, while (I think) Shaquelle Evans and Logan Sweet are still very much in evidence.  Johnson may be the early standout though, making two great catches today including one on a pass thrown way behind him that he had to twist around to grab Continue Reading »

Angels overthrow Royals 5-0 with no help from their new Royalty, as Weaver’s 8 shutout innings and a 5-run 8th overshadow Pujols going 0-for-3 with a Double Play, Pop Out, and Strike Out in his debut as an L.A. Angel

The Big A was full for Opening Night, because everyone wanted to see Albert Pujols’ first game as an Angel.  Well, they saw it, but they’ll have to wait to see him actually DO something.  The Angels won 5-0, but Albert was a non-factor, lining into a Double Play in the first, Popping Out in the 4th, and then Striking Out.  He got one more at-bat, but was walked Intentionally in the 8th, after the Angels had already broken the game open.

Albert did actually make one amazing play in the field, but the Ump totally BLEW the call.  3rd Baseman Mark Trumbo threw wildly to First, and Pujols stretched for it, missed it, but then picked it up and touched the bag with his foot in a remarkably heady show of composure, but the Umpire didn’t see it correctly and mistakenly called the runner safe.

Albert’s stuggles at the plate turned out not to matter, as Jared Weaver completely shut down the Royals, Continue Reading »