Direct support for Coach Ben Howland

by gbruin on Mar 30, 2009 10:24 AM PDT Comment 28 comments

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

The haters bother me.

I know they shouldn't, but when the idiotic media says things that might hurt our program, it just bothers me. It's not fair to our players or the coach.

I was tempted to write to the trOJan Times in response to its stupid trolling letter section, but smarter folks point out the fallacy of responding. That's getting hooked, and I'm not supposed to stoop to that. Don't debate with a drunk or a 5 year old.

But I hate thinking CBH or the players read those things and take them seriously. I want CBH and the team to know that they have supporters out here, and we are proud and grateful for their accomplishments this year.

A while back, in response to another unwarranted hit-job, Nestor suggested hitting the buzz-up button for certain posts, to get our opinions here more widely viewed, and to make sure that the internet readership gets a better appreciation of how true Bruin fans view their team. And I've done that a couple times. But I don't know if that messsage gets to the ones for whom it's intended.

I want to make sure the message gets to CBH, and the team, and the AD. So I wrote them a note:

Dear Coach Howland,

As a Bruin alum and an ongoing supporter of all things UCLA, I want to thank you and this year's basketball team for another great season. I was happy with the team's accomplishments this year, and was especially impressed by how this year's seniors conducted themselves on and off the court. Your basketball program, in the great tradition of Coach Wooden, has reached a level of consistent success and class, for which all Bruin fans are very proud.

Although the controversy-mongering news media may print critical articles or letters, they do not represent the feelings of real UCLA fans. I want you and your players to know that true Bruins are grateful for what this team accomplished, we are excited for what our basketball program has become, and we remain steadfastly supportive of you and the future.

Enjoy the off-season, if you get one. Go Bruins!

(signature)

I didn't want to highlight what the stupid paper published, but I do want CBH to know that the media crap isn't representative and counter it specifically. This way, I don't have to deal with the stupid paper, but I can still let my voice be heard.

I'd encourage anyone on BN simply to send a note to CBH that real Bruin fans are behind him, and that the ulterior motives of the LAT and certain others in the MSM are not how we, his real constituents, see things.

bhowland@athletics.ucla.edu

dguerrero@athletics.ucla.edu

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of BruinsNation's (BN) editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of BN's editors.

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Bravo.

I may not have used the term “controversy-mongering” myself, I aboslutely, wholeheartedly agree with your letter. Way to go.

"In this program your passion bucket must be full to play SC." -- CRN, to Dan Patrick, 1/2008

by Meriones on Mar 30, 2009 11:15 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

and...

for all the knuckleheads who say cbh micromanages the offense and is a fool for not running a zone please look at michigan st. they beat the #1 overall seed staying in a man all game long and owning them. and tom izzo runs sets most of the time on O, just like cbh. this style works very well. msu looks to me like some of the ucla teams in recent yrs, didn’t they?

Across The Face

by rb bruin on Mar 30, 2009 12:05 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

MSM

Although the controversy-mongering news media may print critical articles or letters, they do not represent the feelings of real UCLA fans.

..they need to sell newspapers and/or get folks to watch their TV shows. Real fans (not the mouth-breathers) know what’s up.

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by WHP '68 on Mar 30, 2009 12:27 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Here's the letter I sent to CBH and DG

Dear Coach Howland,

As one who was in school during the years that UCLA started winning National Championships, I want to thank you for all you have done for UCLA basketball.

Having lived through Coach’s years, and learned from his teachings, I’m not talking about our won and loss record. I am talking about how you have instilled within our student athletes the higher values that once dominated this program — things like measuring success in terms of effort, not accomplishment and the importance of “team”. That said, only a fool would criticize this program in light of the success it has had under your leadership.

I cannot tell you how impressed I am with the students you have brought to UCLA to wear our colors. To the man, they are people of character; I am proud that they represent my school.

I am particularly impressed by this year’s senior class. Would you please tell each of the seniors that they hold a special place on the all time favorite list of a Bruin who graduated, long ago, and has seen many players come and go. The fact that they stayed for 4 years and took full advantage of what this great university has to offer will reflect well on them long after they stop playing competitive basketball. And, as they make their contributions to society, they will reflect well on UCLA.

I cannot think of another coach, in any sport, that I would rather have guiding the young people at my alma mater.

Thank you for being the “caretaker” of all that is truly special at UCLA.

Sincerely,

/s/

UCLA Class of 1966

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 30, 2009 3:53 PM PDT reply actions 2 recs

Great letters,

gbruin and 66.

It may be that the crap criticisms just roll off Coach Howland, but I’ve got to think that letters such as yours are warmly appreciated. Well done.

I’ll make sure to find time to tell Coach Howland and Dan Guerrero “Thank you,” myself.

by Bruinut on Mar 30, 2009 9:25 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks gbruin for getting this going --

reading your great letter stimulated me to send one, too. I hope others will join us.

Sometimes, we forget to say “Thank you.” This should not be one of those times.

sjh

by Class of 66 on Mar 30, 2009 4:07 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Nestor

Is there somewhere i can email you at?

by lil eg not cs on Mar 30, 2009 5:40 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

yep

email us at bruinsnation@gmail.com

by Nestor on Mar 30, 2009 6:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

gbruin

Thank you from me for posting this. I sent Coach Howland and DG a note tonight.

by Nestor on Mar 30, 2009 6:47 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

what you guys said was pretty moving

i had send a blurb myself, i hope he’s getting more of these than he could ever possibly read!

O.A.

by Ollie on Mar 31, 2009 1:27 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

gbruin

Excellent post, and terrific idea! I have sent messages to both Coach Howland and our AD.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 31, 2009 6:39 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Credit to Fox

After that first hit piece, it was Fox who noted that I sounded serious about this topic and suggested I find some way to organize a response to the negative media reports.

And big thanks to everyone who has sent along support themselves. Hope many others will follow.

greg in denver - UCLA guy for life

by gbruin on Mar 31, 2009 7:25 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Huh?

An old mentor of mine told me that I should never forget to take credit. I’m sure Mrs. The Great told Alexander to go conquer the world, but he still had to do it.

by Fox 71 on Apr 1, 2009 4:43 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

There was nothing Great

about Alexander. We need to stop revering men who want to conquer the world and make everyone do their bidding.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Apr 1, 2009 9:03 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Give him a break, Tasser

When your dad names you “Alexander the Great,” you’re pretty much locked into a career as a world-conquering warlord strongman. You couldn’t really expect him to open a hardware store or something. Maybe he would have been a little less domineering if his dad had named him “Allexander the Above Average.”

by Fox 71 on Apr 1, 2009 9:09 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Not necessarily

He could have been an awesome circus act. Or a magician.

Funny how history repeats itself though…Alexander taking revenge on the Persians for defeating his daddy…Dubya taking revenge on Saddam to impress his daddy…too bad Dubya was twenty years too late.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Apr 2, 2009 9:58 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Emailed Coach Last Year

First time posting, but I’m a long time reader. I actually emailed Coach with a congratulatory message after last year’s Final Four with my UCLA email account and he (or one of his screeners) replied with a short email. Hopefully he gets to see some of our support this year.

by ryc26 on Mar 31, 2009 3:51 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Welcome! Your my boy!

by harveyismyboy on Apr 5, 2009 4:51 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

my support has been given by attending games on the other side of the country

having pride in my team and its coach.

if anything this season and the fools complaining about howland is ridiculous. the program is this year a victim of its own success (a good sign). Number 2 in the conference (almost got a 4th straight championship). Won a tournament game. Not bad considering all the nba players we lost (4th and 5th draft picks were supposed to be a sophomore and junior this year), 2 players transferred cause they couldn’t play enough with all the talent on the team, and we lost some assistant coaches in the last few seasons.

we’ll be back to dominating soon- maybe next year or the year after.

by realfabfive on Apr 1, 2009 8:47 AM PDT reply actions 0 recs

sorry, i forgot who transferred besides stankback?

by harveyismyboy on Apr 5, 2009 4:52 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Ryan Wright

IIFC (which maybe I don’t), he was the most highly anticipated recruit in the DC/PAA/LRMM/MR/RW class.

by bornagainbruin on Apr 5, 2009 7:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yep

We had a pretty big battle with Stanford to get RDub. Wish he had stuck around. Could have used him a bit this past season.

by Nestor on Apr 5, 2009 7:41 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Geez, Nestor

It’s Sunday evening, and you’re on top of responses within 3 minutes. Don’t you ever take a break from the site? lol

by bornagainbruin on Apr 5, 2009 7:47 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

lol

Thank the tab function on mozilla.

by Nestor on Apr 5, 2009 7:59 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

You won't believe this, but I have no idea what the tab function on mozilla is.

I always thought that mozila was something that wiped out Tokyo.

by Fox 71 on Apr 5, 2009 8:12 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Mozilla was responsible for the development Firefox. Firefox is an open-source (free, anyone can access and change the code) browser (similar to Internet Explorer). Tabs are windows within the browser. Each tab opens one webpage and they can be added or removed according to the user. This therefore allows for browsing multiple webpages without leaving any webpage.

by dokein on Apr 5, 2009 10:46 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Civilization has passed me by

I assume what you described is something good.

Now get ready – I’m going to say something in computer. I know how to have one internet thingy open on half the screen and another internet thingy on the other half. Does that mean I, too, get to “Thank the tab function on Godzilla?”

by Fox 71 on Apr 6, 2009 5:59 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

More like Excel

You know how you can just switch between spreasheets in the same window by clicking on Sheet 1 or Sheet 2 at the bottom? That’s what Firefox does with web sites.

But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.

by tasser10 on Apr 6, 2009 10:25 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs