Our Favorite Bruins: Part I
by Nestor on May 10, 2010 5:30 AM PDT
in BN Community
Email
Print
We have shared stories with each other on why we all bleed blue and gold and what those four letters mean to us. We have had a massive discussion on things we, as Bruins, hold dear to our hearts. I figure now is a good time to build out a list or have a nice thread discussing a list of our favorite Bruins of all time.
I have thought about putting together a consensus list of the greatest Bruins of all time. The more I kept thinking about it, the more realized how ridiculously difficult and herculean effort that would entail. Moreover, it is difficult to do because there are number of us who were not fortunate to watch some of the Greatest Bruins of all time in person. So I thought it would potentially be more fun as a community building effort to share with each other individualized list of our twenty favorite Bruins we each were fortunate enough to watch.
So with that in mind I am going to break this into a two part post. I will first share with you in this post list of 15 Bruins, who I consider to be among my top-20 Bruins of all time. Then in Part 2, I will share with you my 5 favorite Bruins of all time. So I will lay out a list of 15 of my top-20 Bruins (6-20) after the jump.
Note I am not ranking this list from 6 to 20. It is downright impossible. At least for me. So I am going to go ahead and list them alphabetically:
- Alfred Aboya: Again not a lot to add about PAA at this point. You should all know what PAA stands for. He was one of the prototype examples of what being a Ben Ball warrior was all about. He was all about rebounds, tough defense, providing text book example of how to hedge according to Howland's scheme. Plus he occasionally gave us highlights like this:
What was amazing about him was how he maintained his composure and class despite often being target of cheap shots (especially up in Seattle). PAA graduated from UCLA in three years. He stayed on for his fourth year pursuing a graduate degree in the school of public policy (a program that is not easy to get into). For all the future Bruin bigs, wanting to make a name for themselves in Howland's program, they should be just watching tapes of PAA (the only request being taking it a little easy on their team-mates during practices!).
- Toby Bailey: Kevin Love perhaps had the best season ever by a UCLA freshman. Yet it was Toby who captures perhaps the most incredible moment as a freshman for the UCLA basketball program. At least for me that court long pass from Ed O for that reverse dunk in Seattle, is burned in my memory drive for rest of my life.
Of course Toby had many more great moments throughout that year. I can only imagine if he was living in today's world, he might have gone pro after that magical year ending in that epic night in Seattle.
- Darren Collison: Well this history is recent. Don't think I have to recount all the great memories DC has given over the years. DC has gone on to doing some amazing things in his first year in the NBA. Yet for all his on court accomplishments what I appreciate even more from DC is how he has stayed connected with Coach Howland's program and how much he has talked up UCLA and Howland since moving on to the next level.
- Matt Darby: Guess he is the third safety in this list. That's one reason why UCLA few years ago came to be known as the "Safety U." My introduction to Darby (from Virginia) was that epic game against Nebraska in 1988. All I can remember from that game was perhaps the most vicious (legal) hit I have ever seen from a Bruin safety on an opponent receiver. You could hear that collective "ooooooooooooooooooooh" from the entire Rose Bowl when Darby laid that hit on the Nebraska receiver. He went on to have a pretty special career in Westwood and was part of perhaps the most telling moment in the history of UCLA-Southern Cal game:
The Bruins came short that day (that was the Maddox-Marinovich shootout). But Darby got his revenge the following year (1991) when the Bruins started the eight game win streak against the Trogans.
- Donnie Edwards: Donnie is the best Bruin Linebacker I have ever seen in person. Perhaps Akeem will someday get to his level but there was something special about Donnie. He was so fast and so ferocious. He could take over a game. Of course there was also the story about him getting suspended because someone left a free bag of $150 worth of groceries at his doorstep. Donnie went on to become a great pro playing with the Chiefs and Chargers. What was also special about him that he so smart that he graduated early and kept playing (like PAA did later on) while pursuing his graduate degree at UCLA.
- Danny Farmar: Danny Farmer was Cade's favorite target. He was simply MR. CLUTCH. He gave us some incredible memories during that 20 game winning streak. He made all kinds of plays all over the field. Add to that he was a great volleyball player. Simply one of the best athletes I have seen play receiver at UCLA.
- Marvin Goodwin: Marvin is another great Bruin safety I was blessed to watch in person. Perhaps nothing stick out to me more than that game saving/Rose Bowl clinching interception in the closing seconds he had against Rob Johnson at the Mosoleum. Goodwin was the next great Bruin safety following Eric Turner leading us to a Pac-10 championship. Perhaps Rahim Moore will assume that next role experiencing the same kind of results within next two years.
- Skip Hicks: Deshaun Foster was probably the most athletic Bruin RB we have had in last two decades. I think Skip Hicks is the most complete running back we have had in a Bruin uniform in the same period. Hicks was one of the cornerstones that built the foundation of that special 20 game winning streak. Yet for all his success he could have been even more special if not for an injury he suffered in his freshman year. I still remember his debut as a true freshman against Osborne's Nebraska Huskers during 1993-94 season. He was tearing up the Husker D and we were all wondering who that kid was (we weren't as well versed in freshman backs during those pre-internet days). IIRC Hicks went down that game with his injury setting him back the entire year. He came back and went on to become one of the most productive RBs in UCLA history. I used to love watching Cade connecting with Hicks on those wheel routes.
Hopefully we will see lot more plays like that in this upcoming season.
- Maurice Jones Drew: I just wish MJD had a chance to play for a competent head coach and an elite offensive coordinator such as Norm Chow. If he did he would have left UCLA with a real shot of winning the Heisman. He spent a huge chunk of his career at UCLA bailing out Karl Dorrell and Tom Cable late in the game:
Then again it has all worked out well for him as he has emerged as one of the best backs in the NFL. Just like DC you can't find a bigger Bruin fan in terms of representing the four letters than MJD. MJD is easily the best Bruin from the football program from this past (lost) decade.
- Don MacLean: He signed with Jim Harrick's UCLA program with a single mission: bring the Bruins back on top of the Pac-10 and make us a nationally relevant program following the demise under Walt Hazzard's reign. Donnie Mac lived up to it by leading the Bruins to a Pac-10 title in his senior year (91) and taking us to the Elite Eight.
What I loved about Donnie was his understanding about the Bruin basketball tradition and understanding how it important it was to get it back on track. He had an arrogance about being a Bruin (in the mold of the Big Red) and we all ate it up. Don's passion for all things UCLA now shines through during his basketball commentary. I love listening to MacLean analyzing and breaking down games because I often get the sense he is not just a former great but also a fan of the program like rest of us.
- Lorenzo Mata-Real: Just like PAA, LMR symbolized what Ben Ball warrior was being all about: being a selfless team player, focusing on defense, rebounding, fundamentals, and showing all out tenacity all over the court. He had a pretty special time as a Bruin:
LMR also showed what it meant to be a senior leader. When KL checked in as a freshman and immediately went to the starting lineup, instead of pouting about his role, LMR embraced it and embraced KL has his team-mates. We took that kind of selfless gestures for granted at the time but looking back and experiencing what we have in last two years, LMR's overtures and the way he carried himself for his four years stand out as even more special.
- Jonathan Ogden: The greatest OL I have seen play college football. No one else is close. Not in my book. What was also amazing how Jonathan how incredibly gracious and humble he was as a student athlete. Met him and talk to him while we were students and every time around the last thing he wanted to talk about was football and instead wanted to talk about school.
Ogden was the anchor of perhaps one of the greatest UCLA OL in last three decades which also featured future props such as Vaughn Parker. If you want to get a sample of Ogden's greatness just take a look at the highlights from that Rose Bowl team from 1993-94, which gave all the time in the world for Wayne Cook to find JJ, and opened up monster holes for Bruin RBs. It is amazing that the Bruins were able to get him from all the way out in DC. He lived up to all the hype in college and then went on to become one of the best ever OL in the NFL. - Luc Richard M'Bah A Moute: What's there to say except to point out the series of PLAYS against Gonzaga in those closing seconds when after the made basket he sprinted towards the other end of the court, stretched out and stripped the ball of the defender:
Just for kicks here is another vantage point:
I mean really what else is there to say about LRMAM?
- Eric Turner: ET was an amazing safety for the Bruins in the late 80s. Just like Rahim does today he would QB the defensive backfield back in the day. Not sure how many of you watched that shootout between Tommy Maddox and Todd Marinovich but if you get a chance to see that heartbreaker again (I am sure FSN will be replaying it at some point this summer) just note what happened to the Bruin defense after he had to leave with an injury. ET was the heart and soul of our defense back then and better man off the field. Rest in peace Eric.
- Russell Westbrook: Another guy who doesn't need a lot of description at this point. We just have to scream "LET'S GO" and we can instantly relive all those incredible memories he gave us in two short seasons in Westwood:
Note he is the only Bruin in this list who spent just two years in Westwood. It takes a lot to become someone that special for me. RW without a doubt fits that bill.
So those are my 15 of my 20 favorite Bruins of all time. I am sure I left out number of them who would have been more deserving. Of course this list looks completely different for those who attended UCLA at a different time or started rooting for Bruins in another era.
Instead of disagreeing with what I wrote, what would be interesting for everyone is hearing from you who are your favorite Bruins? What I would suggest to you is think about who are your 5 all time favorite Bruins. Then set that list aside (save it for Part 2) and then share with us a list of 10-15 (or more) if your favorite Bruins you had opportunity to as a UCLA student, alum or fan.
So let's get to it. Start building out this thread. I will post my favorite-5 sometime next couple of days if not sooner.
GO BRUINS.
74 comments
|
1 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Here are twenty...and these don't even include the top five!
Here are twenty of my favorites in alphabetical order. I’ll save my top five for part two of this discussion. Most of these guys need no explanation thanks to our familiarity with them, so I’ll just point out some reasons I chose athletes who may not be such obvious choices. The track & field athletes are ones who showed great sportsmanship and represented our country extremely well on the international stage of the Olympics. Jackie Joyner-Kersee in particular was a great ambassador and thoroughly dominant in her sport. Gymnast Chainey Umphrey was a buddy of mine at Dykstra Hall who was very friendly, considerate, and intelligent. He went on to compete in the Olympics, earn an MD from UCLA, and become a practicing doctor. Cobi Jones grew up in my hometown and persevered to succeed at virtually every level; he wasn’t the star player on our high school team (he was overshadowed by fellow future national team member Eric Wynalda) and he only made the Bruins as a walk-on, but he graduated with the UCLA record for most all-time assists. He wasn’t considered a major prospect following college, but he kept pushing himself, earned a spot on the Barcelona Olympic team, ended up setting a record for U.S. Soccer national team appearances, and competed in three World Cups. Natalie Williams was a classic all-around great athlete who guided the Bruins to two volleyball national championships. Football and basketball players such as Sean LaChapelle, Mitchell Butler, and Gerald Madkins didn’t get a tremendous amount of media attention, but they were solid players throughout their careers and, from what I could tell, were decent people outside the arena of competition. Many of the athletes on this list — Arron Afflalo, Cade McNown, Rick Neuheisel, etc. — exhibited a “never say die” attitude and injected that spirit into their teams.
Arron Afflalo – basketball
Evelyn Ashford – track & field
Mitchell Butler – basketball
Gail Devers – track & field
Donnie Edwards – football
Carlton Gray – football
Jackie Joyner-Kersee – track & field
Sean LaChapelle – football
Carnell Lake – football
Tommy Maddox – football
Gerald Madkins – basketball
Cade McNown – football
Reggie Miller – basketball
Rick Neuheisel – football
Eric Turner – football
Chainey Umphrey – gymnastics
Bill Walton – basketball
Earl Watson – basketball
Russell Westbrook – basketball
Natalie Williams– basketball
Looking back at the quality of people who made this list (and thinking about the many great athletes who aren’t on this list) leaves me in awe. It was an honor to attend a school with such a tradition of excellence!
Props for putting in Earl Watson
Guy busted his butt and played hard and with fire despite having a “coach” who didn’t know what he was doing, and had no work ethic himself. I will always have a lot of respect for Earl and his ability to work hard and acheive under difficult circumstances.
by silverlakebruin on May 10, 2010 8:21 AM PDT up reply actions
I forgot Kenny Easley, perhaps the best UCLA football player of all time.
Kenneth Mason Easley was born in 1959 and attended high school in Chesapeake, Virginia; and starred in football at UCLA 1977-1980. He has been called the finest safety in football history. Easley was all-Pac 10 four times, All- America three times. In four years he had 19 interceptions and 374 tackles. Easley also returned punts and kickoffs, and briefly, punted. In 1979, he blocked a Washington punt. Easley stood 6-3, weighed 206, ran the 40-yard dash in 4.5 seconds, and had a 32-inch vertical leap. He was quoted in 1980: “I’d like to be remembered as someone who cares for other people.” He played for the Seattle Seahawks 1981- 1987, was all-pro four times and named to the NFL Team of the 1980’s. Illness ended his football career. In June, 1990, he received a kidney transplant. Four months later he was jogging. In January, 1991, he shot 73-75 and won an amateur golf tournament in Pasadena, California.
Oh my gosh!! What an impossible task......
but I will give it my best shot. Since it is favorite, and not best, it will be easier. Here you go: (Not in order, but not alphabetical either)
1. Don Rogers:
2. Gail Goodrich
3. David Greenwood
4. Russell Westbrook
5. Lisa Fernandez
6. Troy Aikman
7. Jamir Miller
8. Jordan Farmar
9. MJD
10. Kenny Easley
11. Angelica Seleden
12. Reggie Miller
13. Jonathan Ogden
14. John Barnes
15. Jimmy Connors
16. Pooh Richardson
17. ""Rocket" Rod Foster
18. Cade McNown
19. Eric Karros
20. Jerry Robinson
Tough…………I could make another list of 20 with much more to spare. Fun though.
top 5?
Jackie Robinson
Arthur Ashe
Kareem Abdul Jabbar
Bill Walton
John Wooden
Some other notables:
Cade McNown
Aaron Afflalo
Ed O’Bannon
Troy Aikman
Carlos Bocanegra
Benny Feilhaber
Jimmy Connors
Karch Kiraly
Baron Davis
Kevin Love
Jackie Joyner-Kersee
Gail Goodrich
Amy Acuff
Gail Devers
Read the post again
Save your “top-5” (if you can make one) for Part 2 of this post, which I will probably publish later this week.
Oh, whew
I had to read closer to realize that there’s still a top-5 to come. Good. :)
I was about to say…
I'm interested in seeing the list
I’m already pretty sure about two of the five. If there was some way of putting a list of 6-20 (which I agree with the choice to do it alphabetically instead… it’s just too hard to rank them all), Ogden and MJD in my opinion would have to be making a major push towards that top-5.
You should def. share/brainstorm your candidates for 6-20 or beyond
It will make the thread that much more fun.
Some familiar names, some not
Karch Kiraly – volleyball
Sinjin Smith – volleyball
Tyus Edney – basketball
Bruce Davis – football
Reggie Miller – basketball
Lisa Fernandez – softball
Dr. Dot Richardson – softball
Troy Glaus – baseball
Leah Homma – gymnastics
Ato Boldon – track/field
daunting task
I have to keep mine to football and basketball
In no particular order
1. Baron Davis (hilite machine.. :58 seconds in is the naughtiest follow jam off the backboard from Watson I have ever seen)
2. Reggie Miller (no better shooter ever. I loved how he shot 30 footers without thinking twice and there was not a 3-pt line.)
3. “Rocket” Rod Foster
4. Ed O’Bannon
5. Tyus Edney
6. Don Maclean
7. Mike Sherrard
8. J.J. Stokes
9. Carnell Lake
10. Kenny Easley
11. Eric Turner
12. Troy Aikman
13. Cade McNown
14. Jonathan Ogden
15. Jamir Miller
16. Gaston Green
17. Maurice Jones Drew
18. Lew Alcindor (although before my time at UCLA.. I can’t leave the greatest ever off)
19. Jackie Robinson (too important to not get in even if he played before I was ever born)
20. JR Henderson, Mitchell Butler, Matt Barnes, Gerald Madkins, Earl Watson, Trevor Wilson, Charles O’Bannon, Pooh Richardson, Mike Sanders (my slew of 4 yr players I grew to love)
the behind the back, wrap-around dribble to himself (last highlight) was sick too
I remember watching that play and not believing what I’d just seen…even after the fourth and fifth viewings.
by insomniacslounge on May 10, 2010 6:18 PM PDT up reply actions
In no particular order - some new names
1. James McAlister (football and track)
2. Keith Erickson (basketball and volleyball)
3. Matt Barnes
4. Keith Wilkes
5. Curtis Rowe
6. Marques Johnson
7. Dave Meyers
8. Ann Meyers
9. Freeman McNeil
10. Sidney Wicks
11. Curtis Rowe
12. John Vallely
13. John Sciarra
14. Wendell Tyler
15. Shane Mack
16. Eric Karros
17. Keith Wilkes
18. Ed McNeil and Pat Cowan
19. Brian Price
More recent list for me, but from more sports
This actually ended up being really tough because as there are plenty more basketball and football players that i have been a big fan of over the last 15 or so years of being a UCLA fan, but i’ve become so involved in a lot of the olympic sports in my time here that i had to include a few of them as well. No particular order for me.
1: Aaron Afflalo (MBBall)
2: Darren Collison (MBBall)
3: Jordan Farmar (MBBall)
4: Jason Kapono (MBBall)
5: Earl Watson (MBBall)
6: Baron Davis (MBBall)
7: Billy Knight (MBBall)
8: Cade McNown (Football)
9: Freddie MItchell (Football)
10: Danny Farmer (Football)
11: MJD (Football)
12: Lindsay Pluimer (WBBall)
13: Jasmin Dixon (WBBall)
14: Nikki Blue (WBBall)
15: Nana Meriwether (WVBall)
16: Amanda Gil (WVBall)
17: Nellie Spicer (WVBall)
18: Garrett Muagututia (MVBall)
19: Megan Lagenfeld (Softball)
20: Amanda Kamekona
by truebluebruin24 on May 10, 2010 9:54 AM PDT reply actions
To be fair
As much I liked KL, he wasn’t close to making my list. One year is just not enough to build a bond. I think two years are not enough either. RW is a clear cut exception.
Shocking omission for us all - Coach John Wooden (inference was players, but
he’s my all-time favorite Bruin.
Many of us didn't get the chance to watch his teams play during his coaching career
Looking at this as our favorite Bruins that we got to see play (or coach, if you choose to approach the topic that way), many of us would leave out Coach out of either being very young or not yet born when he retired after the ’75 Final Four.
formerly bruinhoo
Here's My List
John Sciarra
Tom Ramsey
Mark Harmon (still a damn shame he didn’t get to play in the Rose Bowl game)
Kevin Craft (I have so much admiration for this guy)
Tyus Edney
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on May 10, 2010 10:22 AM PDT reply actions
Honorable Mention
Wendell Tyler
Eddie Ayers
Theotis Brown
Jeff Dankworth
Rick Bashore
Manu Tuisasopo
Los Angeles Rams and the UCLA Bruins!!!!!
by Minnesota Bruinfan on May 10, 2010 10:24 AM PDT up reply actions
Qualification critieria
This came up in regards to the one and dones above.
The question I have is what makes a Bruin? May want to set the bar a little higher than they played at UCLA. May want to say they graduated from UCLA. I would say it is quite alright if they come back and graduate after leaving for a professional career but seems to be important to me.
It makes a famous QB that is probably going to be on a lot of top 5 lists….that recently came back to get his degree even more tops in my book. This will reduce the candidate pools in baseball, football and basketball significantly. It will place some people on hold until they come back and get their degree. But should the tops have graduated?
by Bruin Dad and Grad on May 10, 2010 10:56 AM PDT reply actions
As I said in the post
You are more than welcome to offer your list or write your own post/thoughts on your favorite Bruin ever. Thanks.
Some old timers
What about Walt Torence ( Basketball All- American, 1960 NCAA runner-up ), Rafer Johnson and C. K. Yang ( Track and Olympians ), Gary Beban and Bill kilmer ( Football ), and Arthur Ashe and Jimmy Connors ( Tennis).?
Again
Read the post closely. The list above is just mine. It is not meant to be exhaustive. Those are the guys I consider to be my favorite. Instead of saying who was left out, offer up your own list. Share the list here. Write up your thoughts but pointless to say the list above is incomplete because there is really no right answer here. Again READ the post closely.
Also
Don’t just name great Bruins, they must be YOUR favorites, for one reason or another.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
As well
They should be your favorites that you actually got to see play.
Being that I am of the younger generation, with a heavy dose of KD/late Toledo/Lavinoma in my time, I’ll be loosening the criteria some to include Bruins that I got to see (and like) during their professional careers, as well as/in place of their time in Westwood.
formerly bruinhoo
here's my list
MJD – My favorite RB…slightly ahead of
Deshaun Foster – amazing moves
Cade – nuff said
Jonathan Ogden – made me want to play on the OL
Brian Price – That guys is a beast & hes a Buc now.
Jordan Farmar – I will always remember the play against Gonzaga
Aaron Afflalo – amazing leader with a huge heart
KL – Was at the game against stanford and he handled both lopez twins…amazing guy who always shows UCLA love.
Westbrook – My favorite play was when he dunked on some guy from Kal
Earl Watson – he was an amazing PG who was unfortunate to play at UCLA during the uncoached years.
The entire 2008 football squad for that amazing win at the rose bowl against UT…that was an amazing atmosphere.
greg mcelroy
skip hicks- true baller first play i ever saw him break like a sixty yarder against oregon after being hurt forever.
- williams from the 1990 squad- got a picture with this guy when i was real little
sean lachapelle- number 88 forever, memories
carlton grey- first memory of a great ucla db
javelin guidry- used to be a friend of the family, cool lunch one day
brandon lloyd- sharp shooter
ed obannon- nuff said
tyus edney-see above
christian taylor- true warriors mentality
danny famrer-
jj stokes- first game i remember at the rose bowl was the sc game in which he had 3 or td’s
troy glaus- tallest short stop i had ever seen
kevin craft- took a real beating for us
cade mcnown- jumping for a tochdown against wassu
eric scott- dropped hella passes but still loved him for some reason, oh yeah i got one his pratcice shirts at the rose bowl after a game
kevin jordan- silky smooth
jonathan odgen-ate dinner with this guy when ucla used to do the dinner with the players before the season
freddie mitchell- same as above, also the nastiest injury i had ever seen, remember that game at houston, i think his foot came up near his head
john barnes- to jj stokes
Brandon Lloyd???
Seriously? Did you just sneak that in there to see if we were paying attention? LOL!
Freddie Mitchell…yikes man, that was truly a gruesome injury.
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Completely impossible task!
But here’s a try anyway. My criteria are simply Bruin athletes who have been a joy to watch play, who have been inspiring, and who make me proud to be a Bruin…with one special category at the end. So many left off…apologies to you! It’s Nestor’s fault.
Top 6-20:
Tyus Edney (he’s really top 5, but there’s not enough room!)
AA
PAA
LRMAM
LMR
DC
MJD
ATV
Baron Davis
Don McLean
JJ Stokes
Jonathan Ogden
Troy Aikman
Gail Devers
Jackie Robinson
Very Honorable Mentions:
Skip Hicks
Carlton Gray
Brian Price
Russell Westbrook
Lisa Fernandez
One Moment of Glory mentions:
John Barnes
Eric McNeil
Top 5 to come in the follow-up thread…I bet I know Nestor’s top 5!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Definitely Impossible...
I’m reading your list thinking i shoud have added so many more players.
And
I’m reading avtwvi’s below thinking “I left off Reggie Miller and Toby Bailey???”.
Like he says, this would be tough even with 50 names…
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
no kidding
i left off ATV and baron davis… ugh.
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." --John Wooden
nearly impossible but here goes...
at first i thought this was a basketball only list, which would have been hard enough… even 6-50 probably would have been daunting…
my “favorite” 6-20(in alphabetical order)
AA, AA2, DC, Edney, LMR, LRMAM, Donnie Mac, Reggie Miller, RW…
Mr. Aikman, MJD, DeShaun Foster, Cade, Ogden, BP92
and of course some honorable mentions — Mike Roll and James Keefe for bustin their a$$ game in and game out, Kevin Craft for taking so many shots and living to fight another day, Chris Sailer who was on my HS team, Toby Bailey who beat me 1 on 1 at the Wooden Center, Chane the Train, JJ Stokes, Carnell Lake… and Andrea Duran, Natasha Watley, Jamie Dantzscher.
i only wish i could have seen Arthur Ashe, Beban, Hazzard, Goodrich, Wilkes, Wicks… but my top 5 may have a few i only saw from TV highlights… Farmar and Love left too quickly for me.
and here’s hoping rahim and akeem make this list soon. maybe even RN and TH… maybe even malcolm lee…
"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." --John Wooden
My Attempt, which will change the next time you ask
This is so hard to do fast. I will limit list to guys I saw play in person and reserve the right to change my list in the future as I know I have forgotten someone. 5-20 in alpha order.
Troy Aikman. Was there a better transfer to UCLA in our history? I am not sure but boy am I glad Oklahoma went back to the wishbone and let Troy transfer to UCLA. My only complaint about him is his first name, for which I blame his parents.
John Barnes. Our Rudy. Great guy, great game in a bad season.
Darren Collison — One should not forget he along with LRMAM was on the three final four teams and he gets the nod because he stayed his senior year.
Tyus Edny. Much has been said on the role of assistant coaches in recruiting by Nestor et. al. Well Edny is a great example of assistants doing a great job recruiting. Harrick had to be talked into taking the “runt”. And people forget unlike many short players, Tyus was also frail.
Danny Farmer. Man could he jump and was he clutch.
DeShaun Foster. I really had a tough time picking a running back among Karim Abdul Jabbar, Skip Hicks, Gaston Green, etc. I went for Foster because of one memory. My wife went to University of Washington and it was so much fun watching him run for over 300 yards against them. This is another pick I can’t intellectual defend but I do remember saying there is no way he gets 300 yards rushing in a game and watching in shock as it happen. Sort of the feeling of seeing a no hitter in baseball I think.
Brad Friedel. He was a great goalie that helped us win the NCAA Soccer Championship. He went on to play for the US National team.
J.R. Henderson . Okay this is another of my personal choices I can’t really defend intellectually. I liked his versatility and his ability to play so many positions. He was not a starter on the championship team but was literally the bench for the championship game and sort of the bench for positions 2-5 for the last championship season (Cameron was mostly a backup point guard).- He was a guy I feel really badly for him be stuck with Lavin for the end of his career.
Maurice Jones-Drew. A phenomenal player who had that ability to break any play wide open. I read about Gale Sayers as a kid, this is the closest I came to seeing him play, kick returns, receptions and runs, he could break them all.
Jackie Joyner Kersee — The greatest women athlete ever . In addition to her great Olympic accomplishments, was a key player on our women’s basketball teams.
Gerald Mandkins, the poor man’s Aaron Affalo. He was a great defender who was very good on offense. Played basketball the right way. One wonders how he would have done without the dreaded UCLA moped injury. (We always lead the nation in that category.)
Freeman McNeil. My first UCLA v. $UC game at the Coliseum as a little kid. He outplayed Marcus “OJ Junior” Allen and UCLA won.
Jamir Miller. As dominant as Brian Price was this year, Jamir was more disruptive and phenomenal to watch. The single best defensive UCLA player I have seen play.
Eric Turner — We are safety U, so had to put a safety on the list. Kenny Easley was arguably better but Turner was one of the ones I saw. I know I am missing many defenders.
Natalie Williams — An imposing athlete that was dominant at basketball and volleyball. She was the first woman to earn All American honors in both basketball and volleyball in the same year
Goodness
I forgot Brad Friedel. Shame on me.
And Jackie…double shame on me!
And Danny Farmer! Man I suck!
Or should I say…Bruins rock!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
We could probably do a Top 10
for each UCLA sport!
And that still wouldn’t be enough!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Yeah that is my "problem"
I know I forgot some and could spend all day trying to come up with a better ranking order. Nestor this is as tough as some UCLA finals.
great thread
I’m glad some of you included JJ Stokes…the sc game where he had 2 90 yard TDs, where he was just throwing trogans off his back right and left, was awesome.
Cade McNown for the huge 17 pt 4th qtr comeback against sc.
Trevor Wilson for head-locking and sc player and marching him around Pauley.
by RealisticBruinFan on May 10, 2010 1:25 PM PDT reply actions
Yeah on JJ
I should have included him but went for Barnes for sentimental reasons as our Rudy. Could not do Trevor though. I remember when he started a fight with the Athletes in Action guys during an exhibition.
yeah I hear you
yeah I hear you on Trevor. he’s not one of my 20 all-time favorite Bruins, but I was going with great Bruin vs sc moments and him head-locking that trogan (I wish I could remember who it was) and marching him around the court just popped into my head.
by RealisticBruinFan on May 10, 2010 3:14 PM PDT up reply actions
my list
Darren Collison
Arron Afflalo
Russell Westbrook
Josh Shipp
LMR
Luc
Aboya
Bruce Davis
Eric Byrnes
Baron Davis
Chase Utley
Reggie Miller
MJD
Cade McNown (lefty!)
Brian Price
ATV
Eric McNeill
20 through 16 in no particular order
Had to limit this to guys from my era and later.
Russell Westbrook
Matt Barnes
Kenyon Coleman
Wasswa Serwanga *
DeShaun Foster
Darren Collison
Brendan Ayanbadejo**
Ricky Manning Jr.*
Ryan Nece
Earl Watson
Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
Bruce Davis
Cameron Dollar
Alterraun Verner
Dennis Keyes
*For the first few games of my freshman year I loved this guy primarily for his name. As the year wore on, I realized that the announcer kept calling his name ’cause the dude was a bad@$$.
**Dude almost murdered me for calling a technical foul on him in an intramural b-ball game but we were cool after he calmed down. Physical freak and like Serwanga, one of the only difference makers during a rough era for UCLA defense.
I know this will be an unpopular pick but he grew up in my neck of the woods (the Fresno area) around the same time I did. Made some stupid decision after leaving school but come on, First Team All-Pac 10 three years in a row.
don't know what happened to the asterisks
but Ricky Manning is obviously the “unpopular pick” I refer to in the note at the bottom.
I think
we need a Top 20 for football, a Top 20 for basketball…and then a Top 20 for everything else!
But hey, what do I know. I’m just the 800 lbs bruin in the room.
Food for thought
Mike Warren (Basketball)
Lucius Allen (Basketball)
Willie Banks (Track & Field)
Paul Caliguari (soccer)
Ken Norton, Jr. (not his fault we didn’t want him on coaching staff?) (Football)
Todd Zeile (Baseball)
Tim Leary (Baseball)
Peter Vidmar (gymnastics)
Corey Pavin (golf)
another fun list
just off the top of my head from around the years I was there: Lisa Marie Scott, Giada de Laurentis, Michelle Kwan, Catherine Bell…and that’s not even counting the cheerleaders/dance team!
good lord, do i miss that campus.
by insomniacslounge on May 10, 2010 6:58 PM PDT up reply actions
Interesting lists, Bruins
There is a period of time during which I must have been in a coma, because I just don’t know some of these athletes other than just as semi-familiar names. Obvioiusly this must have been before BN, because everyone who competes in our school colors gets mentioned at one time or another here, and that is truly the way it should be.
I have a couple of names to add to the list, and this goes back a ways.
As a little kid, I had several “all time favorite Bruins,” but my first was Billy Kilmer. I’ve told this story many times, but my first ever football game was against Air Force, and a svelte Billy Kilmer went 80 yards out of the single wing for a TD.
Gary Beban and Bob Stiles. I don’t remember seeing them on anyone’s list. They were tremendous heroes, especially in the Rose Bowl against Michigan State.
Jon Ecker. Does anyone remember Jon Ecker? He hit a turn around jumper in the last seconds to win a game at Pauley. (I think this was during the Wicks, Rowe, Patterson era.) We needed a John Barnes effort, and Jon Ecker stepped up and accepted the challenge. He was the entire school’s favorite for that night.
Larry Hollifield was a great favorite. Not the most skilled player, but he was a very tough player. He wasn’t all that shifty – when he drove to the basket, he drove to the basket and it didn’t really matter if there was an opponent (or a vendor, or a security guy, or a cop car) in the way. He just drove to the basket. He wasn’t exactly Coach’s victory cigar, but we pretty much knew the coach thought things were well in hand when Larry went in.
Eric Ball scored a couple of dozen touchdowns (or so it seemed) in a Rose Bowl game, and in fact that may have been the one in which our current coach, a former quarterback named Rick Neuheisel starred. (Someone please call up that video of him talking to parents from the media room at the Rose Bowl. When he said, “This is the table I sat at when I was interviewed as the MVP of the Rose Bowl. I was a walk on. None of you in this room will be walk on’s but every one of you can one day be sitting at this table, explaining what you did to be the MVP of the Rose Bowl.” Or whatever that speech was. Please some smart person find it and post it. It’s as good a speech as when Henry V says “Once more into the breach, dear friends.”
Rick Neuheisel (in case someone only scans the first words of my list.)
Curt Zimmerman and Dallas Grider: Zimmerman kicked a perfect 10.01 yard one bouncer to Grider who recovered to set up the winning touchdown against just$c in ‘65, still the most exciting sporting event I’ve ever seen (and that includes Koufax’s perfect game)
Kurt Altenberg – who caught Beban’s 48 yard TD pass for the winner.
Steve Patterson. He needs to be mentioned, if only for hitting 29 against Villanova in the championship game.
Terry Donahue and Big John Richardson were stalwart defensive linemen. Richardson was the biggest guy I ever saw, at 225. Donahue weighed 196 as a defensive tackle. Many people don’t have fond memories of him as a coach, but as a player he never quit. He needs to be remembered for being the personification of the “gutty little Bruin.”
Those guys (and many, many more need to be added to some list somewhere. They were, like all the others mentioned, great Bruins who gave me and many others lots of fond memories.
Great idea, and great lists, Bruins. And for you current students, remember these lists when you’ve been out of school for 40 years. It will be up to you to make sure guys like Mata-Real are remembered as they surely deserve to be.
Good Point on Mata-Real and Ball Clarification
It is good to have on your list guys who did something special or were players that embodied, not in ability necessarily, but in spirit what it is to be a Bruin.
I was at Eric Ball’s great game at the Rose Bowl where he scored 4 TDs against the #4 Iowa Hawkeyes. He was at the time a “nobody” filling in for an injured Gaston Green. Neuheisel was not the QB but Matt Stevens was.
6-15
6. Darren Collison
7. Alterraun Verner- I’ll always remember the game sealing pick against Cal in ‘07
8. Pat Cowan- 13-9 ’Nuff said
9. Luc Richard Mbah a Moute
10. Kevin Love
11. Michael Roll
12. Josh Shipp- The over-the-backboard shot was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever seen.
13. Brandon Breazell- Just a tough, productive receiver
14. Mustafa Abdul-Hamid- walk-on to game winner against UW
15. Reeves Nelson- He gave us something to cheer about in November and December, which wasn’t easy to do.
We're havin' too much fun today. We ain't thinkin' 'bout tomorrow.
Matt Darby
I was at that 1988 Nebraska game too. After seeing more than 100 football games in person in my life, Matt Darby’s hit stands out at THE Hit. It was surreal the way that hit echoed around the Rose Bowl.
To this list I would have to add Baron Davis’s last game at Pauley Pavilion. He made some incredible dunks and passes, and you could tell he was enjoying his last game there, just drinking it all in.
Eric Ball
Eric Ball, a freshman, ran for 227 yards and tied a Rose Bowl record in the 1986 Rose Bowl against Iowa by scoring four touchdowns. He had an incredible day and our defense stepped it up. I have never had as much fun at a football game as I did that day.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on Bruins Nation
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
