Ced Bozeman

by paulucla on Mar 10, 2006 6:17 AM PST

Hear Hear Paul. -N

As I was playing in my three-times a week open gym on Wednesday, hobbling around on my knee that was operated on last August, afraid to plant with any authority, happy to just break a sweat, try to help my team win, etc., I kept thinking about Ced.

Here is a kid who has had nothing but hard knocks since he walked on campus, often times maligned by many fans despite the injuries and poor coaching. Here is a kid who has continually fought back for this program, and only tries to do whatever it takes to help this team win. Here is a kid who has willfully turned over the reigns to this program to Jordan and Arron, and been nothing but supportive of their efforts. Here is a kid who who is ADORED by Ben Howland, one of the best coaches in America. Here is a kid who could have used this year to try to showcase himself for the NBA, but instead has played nothing but 100% unselfish basketball, sacrificing personal recognition for one purpose: winning.

I hope for a successful run in the tourney for many reasons, the biggest of them all being for Ced Bozeman, whom, despite all the ups and downs, will forever be one of my favorite Bruins. I don't measure our kids on wins and losses, I measure them on how the play and how they carry themselves off the court. Ced Bozeman's career has earned an A+ in my book, regardless of how the next few weeks play out.

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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Ced Bozeman

Already - one of my all time favorites along with Cade and Ed. Great post Paul. Gave me goosebumps. GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Mar 10, 2006 6:19 AM PST 0 recs

What exactly was the point?

What exactly was the point this post from a first time poster? Paul was "keeping it real" commending Ced for his attitude and hard work (I cringe writing the word "hard work" since it makes me think of a certain someone) in Westwood. I think Ced more than deserves this kind of posts on a UCLA blog. If you have a problem with it and want to belittle his play when he was receiving no direction or coaching from Lavin - then you have some serious issues. Exactly where you are getting this notion that Ced would be jacking up shots if not for the fear of being benched by Howland. That is a silly take. Perhaps if he is playing within himself and playing team basketball because he really believes what Howland preaches? I mean there is a reason why Howland loves this kid.

by Nestor on Mar 10, 2006 9:38 AM PST 0 recs

LOL

Um, okay.

You are just wrong on several points. Before he got "injuried," the staff had decided he would start the season at point (last year). People forget he led the Pac10 in assists the year before and is a great defender. The coaches were not happy with JF's effort. I know many don't believe me when I say this, but it is straight from the mouth of an assistant coach. Would JF have eventually taken over? I do not know. Probably.

More importantly, Howland has actually wanted Ced to shoot MORE this season. He's shooting, what 40%+ from 3? Despite these gaudy numbers, he refuses to take a bad shot. Instead, he moves the ball, plays defense, and does all the little things we need with guys like JF and AA on the floor.

I never said I love Ced for his skills. I love him for his attitude. He is a consummate winner and team player. He has given everything he has to the UCLA basketball program throughout his career despite all the ups and downs, coaching change, injuries, etc., and he doesn't deserve to be ridiculed now that his career is winding down by "fans" like you.

by paulucla on Mar 10, 2006 11:18 AM PST 0 recs

Pissing match ...

with few hours left to Arizona I am not going to get into a pissing match over the merits of your silly post denigrating Ced's jumpers in his first two years (under Lavin). Honestly ... I don't really care whether or not Ced willfully gave up his pg spot to Farmar. He was never really a true pg (Lavin hyped him into being one). And this is not about whether or not Ced is "NBA material." That is a dumb question.

We appreciate Ced just like we appreciated Tyus Edney or Ed O'Bannon - none of them turned out to be "NBA material." So freaking what - they are all great Bruins. And Ced is one in our book. Let's leave it at that.

And if you utter one bad word on Wooden you will get banned instantly - period.

by Nestor on Mar 10, 2006 1:51 PM PST up 0 recs

Uhm no ...

It was more like:

Main Poster: Ced is X, Y, and Z

Comment: Who cares whether Ced is X, Y, and Z. Ced is definitely not A, B, and C.

Paul commented about Ced's character and perseverence saying, "I don't measure our kids on wins and losses, I measure them on how the play and how they carry themselves off the court." Nowhere in his original post he talked about Ced's skills as a pure jump shooter or his skills as a pg under Lavin. You brought those up and are now trying to back track.

And I agree with Nestor - even jokingly making fun or criticzing Wooden should get you banned.

by bluestreet on Mar 10, 2006 2:13 PM PST up 0 recs

Black/white

You are right, this is black/white, full or empty. Ced's character is not up for debate, nor is his dedication to Bruin basketball for the past five years. That was the point of my post. But you want to bring up his poor shooting three years ago when I am talking about his perseverence and dedication. Do you understand our reaction now?

by paulucla on Mar 10, 2006 2:28 PM PST up 0 recs

No worries

Even a wanker like Bill Plaschke is trying to jump on the Bruin bandwagon today. We are all trying to focus on a game - not getting all worked up over a first time poster's shots over one of our beloved seniors.

Hopefully we can see some of your thoughts on Jordan, Arron, Luc - other key contributors who teamed up with Ced to get up to this point. Oh by the way Ced from some message board posts will be ready to play tonight.

I hope you are going to wish him well hoping he leaves UCLA on a nice note. Thats all Paul, yours truely and rest of the Bruin fanatics (alums) are hoping for. If you have a problem with that - then lets pick up the issue during the off season. Now back to focusing on Ced and rest of the crew beating Arizona. GO BRUINS.

by Nestor on Mar 10, 2006 2:29 PM PST up 0 recs

LOL again

I never said he willfully gave up the PG spot. I said he willfully gave up the reigns to the team. He is the senior, yet I have never seen or heard of any chemistry problems from him, and a lot of guys wouldn't take to kindly to JF's often belligerent attitude. Ced is a quiet leader, plays his role, and I admire that. So next time read what I say, instead of what you think I said.
It doesn't matter whether I think Ced is NBA material. The point is that almost every kid thinks he is, and many kids in Ced's position would have seen this senior season as his only chance to show off his NBA potential by padding stats and trying to lead the team by scoring. Ced is the very rare exception to that rule, and I admit that.
I don't care whether he was "stroking all his jumpers" in his early years, and that's the point of my post. The fact you are bringing it up after all he has been through, and all he has done this season fighting through injuries, playing the quiet leader role, the glue on the floor, etc., pisses me off.

That is all I have to say on this topic. My focus is back to SUPPORTING the kids who are giving everything they have for this program, not arguing with a so-called "fan" bringing up Ced's poor shooting from three years ago.

by paulucla on Mar 10, 2006 2:17 PM PST up 0 recs