Let's start our walk this Thursday with a little note from ESPY awards. I never waste my time watching that show because it seems silly and to me it seems to pretty much symbolize what has gone wrong with WWL (which spends lot more time on showbiz aspect of sports than zeroing on pure athletics and pure competition ... perhaps a post for another day). Anyway, going back to the ESPY apparently Samuel L Jackson was hosting the show last night and had this to say Mark Sanchez:

"I admire you for leaving USC so early to go to the NFL. Most people wouldn’t want to take a pay cut like that."

Does someone have a youtube of that moment? Have been looking for it but haven't stumble into it. If you do please post in the fanshots. Not sure who was writing Jackson's lines last night. Obviously that one wasn't all that difficult given it's becoming somewhat of an open secret joke in all of college sports.

Staying with football as hicallliber fanshotted, incoming RB Dalton Hilliard will have knee surgery. From the OC Register:

Incoming freshman running back Dalton Hilliard will have right knee surgery Friday, a UCLA spokesman confirmed today.

Hilliard has a "loose body" floating around in his knee, which the Bruins’ medical staff believes is from a pre-existing condition, the spokesman said.

The 5-11, 195-pound Hilliard is one two running back signees for the Bruins, who saw two running backs transfer following spring ball.

Good luck to Hilliard. From what I have heard he might be ready for the start of the season. As always, we just want to make sure he doesn't rush back. RB position is going to be one of the most competitive sports this August, where we have decent depth. The most important thing for Hilliard will be to focus on rehab and get fully healthy because he has the potential of having a solid future at UCLA.

Speaking of bright future, DC is making hell of a first impression in the NBA summer leagues (emphasis added):

Darren Collison (NOH): The Hornets' first-round pick has brought the discipline and patience of his UCLA pedigree to the pro game. He matched George Hill mano-a-mano in his first game, then came back Tuesday night with 23 points. He's also a perfect 16-for-16 from the stripe in his two games. 

Somewhere Coach Howland is smiling. More Ben Ball news and other notes after the jump.

Also in the department of summer hoops, Ben Ball warriors are going at it in Howlandwood:

A pair of pickup basketball games broke out at the Student Activities Center courts today.

Incoming freshman forward Reeves Nelson teamed with Drew Gordon, James Keefe, J'mison Morgan and Michael Roll. Nelson looked particularly strong driving to the paint. Gordon, who suffered a knee injury at the USA U19 team trials in late June, seemed to be just fine - showcasing his leaping ability on a few dunks. Roll was the primary ball handler, while Keefe and Morgan manned the paint.

Former Bruins Ryan Hollins and Earl Watson were on a team together, while incoming freshman Mike Moser played on another.

Hmm. I hope DG is a little careful at these games. He plays with no fear and wreckless abandon. Hope he is fully healthy (and if that's the case it's great news). As for RN I can curious to see how he looks this October. The reports I have read on him ranges from a redshirt freshman candidate (read raw prospect) to someone who could give us solid mins this coming season. Either way it is going to be fun to see all these young guys form a new nucleus of a whole new edition of Ben Ball warriors.

Lastly, speaking of summer sports in Westwood, if you are a huge fan of soccer you might want to know, Inter Milan, the legendary soccer club from Italy is practicing at UCLA this summer (HT Westwood Wizard). Farzad Mashood from the Daily Bruin has a cool practice report. We get that no everyone likes soccer but there are lot of soccer fans here on BN and its especially relevent to us given how incredibly strong both our men and women's team have been over the years. So, if you want to blog about this kind of news and give us updates via fanshots or fanposts, don't hestiate. We'd love to read about any sports that has a connection to UCLA.

GO BRUINS.