CALLING DR. LOVE

Just What the Doctor Ordered:  Sun Devils don’t shine in Pauley, as Love and Shipp dissect ASU, 84-51, but it’s already time to start prepping for U of A, who just Kevorkianed usc 80-69 

“You better call up the ambulance,
I’m — deep in shock;
Overloaded, Baby, 
I can hardly walk…

Somebody get me a Doctor!”

Oh what a night!  The Bruins win big, and the trOJans lose big, at Galen.  That would be more than enough to make any evening a success, but THIS particular night had a few more good things going for it.

The joyous night began with the UCLA Spirit Squad returning to the Student Store to meet fans, sign posters, and pose for photos.  This new tradition is the best thing to ever happen to the Book Store — Wait, make that “to ANY Book Store.”  There are a few games left, and we urge you to come and take advantage of this unique opportunity, to meet the girls — and guys — behind the Magic.

Tonight we met one of the Male Cheerleaders, and we were blown away.  Not anything like you might have expected, especially if you get your reality from Will Ferrell and Saturday Night Live.  This guy is built like a Marine, has the intense focus and drive of a Marine, and the Class of a Marine.  Guess why.  And he says that UCLA Cheerleader Boot Camp was just as tough as the real one.  Okay, no he didn’t.  In fact, after everything that he’s been through, even a nighttime trip to the Galen Center wouldn’t scare him (like it would any normal person).  All we can say is that next time some psychotic trOJan tries to murder us, we hope this guy is close by.  And if you were still trying to hold onto a “certain” misconception about male Cheerleaders, there is a certain female Squadmember who would sternly set you straight, at least about “the man with the crown.”

(We seriously hope that NO BRUIN takes offense at that last paragraph.  If you do, then you must be reading it wrong, i.e. in those cases where it isn’t a MIS-conception, there would be nothing wrong with that anyway).

But the pre-game meet and greet and the on-court slaughter are still not the whole story.   Here’s the best part:  We lucked into a great ticket, that had a fantastic vantage point for photography, as well as an intelligent, well-informed Bruin Basketball fan to sit next to.  Oh, and did we mention that she was a beautiful Doctor-to-be (hence, today’s headlines)? 

We are SO used to sitting next to fat, sloppy, nacho-snorting idiots/trojans who don’t know one player from another, but who still torture surrounding fans with their own play-by-play, that we would be thrilled to be next to empty seats.  So it’s not like the bar is set really high.  However, could you imagine Jennifer Love Hewitt stepping right out of a Hanes commercial (well, not wearing just underwear) and taking the seat next to you?  And then she’s not stuck up, or rude, or ignorant about Russell Westbrook?

What an unexpected pleasure.  And we don’t mean any of this in a weird way —  Her Parents (who graduated from UCLA around the same time we did) came and joined us in the Second Half.  We are just trying to say “thanks,” for making the game so enjoyable, and we are going to “think positive” about her upcoming hopes and dreams on her way to becoming a Medicinal Legend.  She certainly cured something on Thursday night — Our Chronic Disappointment at our “seat neighbors.” 

She was especially knowledgeable about Russell Westbrook, who once again contributed a highlight-reel play, with a sweeping shot block from behind.  Russell had 4 Steals, 10 Points, and 7 Assists in a solid all-around game, as he and Darren Collison combined for 17 Assists and only 1 Turnover.  Collison’s funk is a thing of the past, as he added 14 Points and 2 Steals.  Also “back” is Josh Shipp, who scored 21 including 5 of 8 from Downtown. 

But it’s still Kevin Love that is making it all happen.  Love scored 20 and pulled down 10 Rebounds, and excited fans with a full-court Assist after a MADE Sun Devil basket.  The Bruin Offense worked better than ever before against a Zone, with Love getting lots of touches, and the Guards getting open shots because of that fact.

The Sun Devils made one little run in the First half to cut a 17 point lead down to 10, but then the Bruins went on a huge flurry to take a 22-point lead into the Locker Room.  The key stat is FG%:  The Bruins were at 66% after three-quarters of the game — It’s tough to beat ANY team that’s doing that, let alone the Bruins in Pauley.

The only problem of the night was a MEDICAL one (no, not our broken heart):  Lorenzo Mata hurt his wrist, and reportedly couldn’t make a fist after the game.  Losing Mata for the Arizona game would be critical, as the ‘Cats’ semi-easy victory over sc proves.  Arizona is the hottest team in the West right now, with Chase Budinger really flourishing, and the Bruins will need all their big men to be available, if they intend on continuing the streak that began after that distasteful wake-up call a couple of weeks ago.

Okay, so here are 20 photos (as promised), with captions, enlargability, and a special favoritism shown to Russell Westbrook (for the Doc).  As far as favoritism for the Cheerleaders — NOT THIS TIME.  Out of hundreds and hundreds of photos, only a fraction of them came out “un-blurry.”  There is not enough light in Pauley.  So, the shots that we choose to share are selected because they are the “crispest” shots we could get — Not because we are in love with one particular girl more than another.  And don’t give us any crap… or we’ll be referring you to the Marines.  The Few.  The Proud.  The Totally Cool.  Go Bruins!