Re. Foster’s (LA Times) Hackish & Dishonest Reporting On UCLA

by Nestor on Nov 20, 2010 8:52 AM PST

I just want to blog this for archival purposes so that we have yet another (couple) data points on what an unprofessional hack Chris Foster from the LA Times really is. So Foster "reported" following the loss in Seattle:

UCLA had just trudged off the field after a 24-7 loss to Washington and while Coach Rick Neuheisel was doing his post-mortem with the media, he lost a recruit. Lakewood Mayfair tackle Darryl Jackson left a phone message for a reporter saying he was decommitting and going to Oregon State.

It sounds all so dramatic but unfortunately for Foster the story is just not true. We have it from good authority that Darryl Jackson didn't decommit from UCLA after the Washington game as Foster tries to suggest so pathetically in that report. From what I have heard from people with much more impeccable track record than a dishonest hack like Foster is that Jackson had called Neuheisel two days before the game (sometime on Tuesday ) to inform him of his decision to switch over to Oregon State.

Foster also conveniently left out the fact that even if Jackson would have come to UCLA he would have been coming in as a "project" recruit who would have grey shirted in Westwood.

Foster's hackery didn't end there. He then reports this today:

Quarterback Richard Brehaut left the game in the third quarter after taking a hit to the head. UCLA officials first said Brehaut was "confused" and his return to the game was "questionable." He did not return.

After the game, Coach Rick Neuheisel said, "We lost Richard to a concussion." Yet, asked a few minutes later whether Brehaut had a concussion, he said, "We'll let the doctors determine that."

So Foster is selectively zeroing in on Neuheisel's quotes to imply that CRN benched Brehaut out of frustration completely leaving out Brehaut's own assertion that he couldn't remember the plays he ran following that cheap hit (yes a forearm straight into Brehaut's head was a cheap hit). Of course Neuheisel might have not been completely sure that it was indeed a "concussion" but he and UCLA took the right step since Brehat exhibited concussion like symptoms. Yet Foster splices up the story in a way to imply Neuheisel was not being straight forward in that issue.

These are just two small data points. However, cheap shots and little bits of lies and misinformation like these instances have been adding up. If you click on the tags under this post you will see how a clear picture is emerging re. the efforts by this clown and his editors from his paper's joke sports section. Not hard to discern the pattern from various instances how these guys have been operating with an agenda to undermine UCLA football every opportunity they get. Clearly a hack like Foster has no freaking sense of shame and it's too bad he is still allowed to "cover" the UCLA beat just so he could launch routine misinformation filled attacks on the Bruins.

GO BRUINS.

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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Comments

I know we shouldn't read Slimers but.....

He did a job on the football coaches, BRUIN websites and bloggers and Dan Guerrero. He is a real JERK! Sorry! He also reported that a “classless” Bruin dressed in UCLA “garb” used a bad word toward a reporter. Slimers said it was directed to Splashke – but I think it was directed to Slimers. Although, Slimers, Splashke – what’s the difference. Does anyone in the media like us (newspapers, that is)?

by Forever a Bruin on Nov 20, 2010 8:06 PM PST reply actions

He can go Cheney himself

I don’t read his words and don’t plan on it. He is not worth our keystrokes anymore.

by Nestor on Nov 20, 2010 8:28 PM PST up reply actions

Do not read their columns or click on the links. These people are UCLA hating hacks.

Their columns really don’t amount to much more than trolling activity except that they don’t do it on blogs, but for one of the country’s largest newspapers. I urge everyone on this board to boycott both Simers and Foster. Their columns might as well be posts on some USC fan chat board.

by have2comment on Nov 20, 2010 10:12 PM PST reply actions

A bit off point,

but regardless of the cause and effect, a de-commit, even of a marginal player, just adds to the recruiting difficulties going forward. Crushing losses to Pac-10 rivals Oregon and Stanford certainly do not make recruiting easier, nor does an inept performance on national television at Washington. I really like our young recruits, like Zumwalt, Marsh, Riley and Barr, but we need a lot more help, and those loses, really hurt. The Washington game reminds me that if the program was just a little bit better, we would have three wins (Kstate, Arizona and Washington) that were there for the taking, and would given us a brighter outlook, instead of the dismal feeling we have now. The only bright spot is the comparative score versus Oregon St. which gives us some hope against SUC, which we need to win the local recruiting wars, even against a program on probation. They looked pretty inept yesterday, and make Oregon St. look like a Pac-10 power. I still think that CRN has a better chance at turning the program around than a new coach starting from scratch, but doubt is beginning to creep in. I also still think that until we have talent to dominate the line of scrimmage, our team will not be a consistent winner. We may have the makings of it among our younger players, but they need help from the incoming classes. I also wonder how teams like Boise State and TCU can develop nationally ranked programs in their godforsaken venues, and we can’t. Are they so much better at valuing the diamonds in the rough than our coaches? This is pure venting on an early Sunday morning. Happy Thanksgiving to the entire Bruinsnation.

by 75NatChamps on Nov 21, 2010 7:36 AM PST reply actions

Not true

It’s situational. If you have limited rides to give out in a given year (which we do) you need to make them count, mostly in terms of filling holes in the roster. Out of our 10 current commits, 3 of them are offensive line. While OL is important, we do clearly have other areas of need. It’s not a “bad” decommit until we can’t find someone else at a position that needs help.

by Tydides on Nov 21, 2010 10:09 AM PST up reply actions

Times

Foster has no excuse at all. This is not reporting, and we definitely see better from supposed lesser newspapers.

Simers is not a reporter. He’s a columnist with a schtick, and his schtick is being a completely clueless jerk. He really may be a clueless jerk on a personal level, but we’ll never know. He does that all the time, not just with UCLA. In UCLA at this time, he has found a foil for turning out a whole season of worth of columns and those who get angry about it are playing the role of “straight man” in his comedy. He indicates that he actually reads your emails, because it gives him more material.

It sucks for sure, but it’s time to stop taking him seriously. He’s a buffoon and seems to know he’s playing one. I hardly ever read him anymore, but I think I get it. On occasion, he’s been pretty funny playing that role, but taking it seriously just encourages him more.

by Peter47 on Nov 21, 2010 2:38 PM PST reply actions