Many years ago, as a kid, I ate Wheaties, the "breakfast of champions." After high school I was lucky enough to attend UCLA, the school of champions. Now as senior citizen I see my alma mater securing its place as the home of mediocrity.

Didn't Dan Guerrero say that a team with a record of six wins and six losses (seven losses after the Oregon game and eight losses after playing Illinois) deserved to go to a bowl game? Now Ben Howland says UCLA will accept a bid to the NIT if one is offered. Hey, Ben, is this how you honor John Wooden's legacy?

As Odysseus said, "We don't hang NIT banners at UCLA," so I direct this question to Gene Block: Is pride a thing of the past at UCLA? (Maybe a better question is: Do we have no shame?)

Diversity has long been honored at UCLA. New points of view are almost always welcomed — with the hope, of course, that they are based on critical thinking. There is, however, one exception — mediocrity. It has no place on our campus and has never been welcomed.

Does UCLA'a administration still feel that way? We're waiting for the right answer. So far, the evidence is lacking.