"Riles" have been around the UCLA online message boards for a long time. He was one of the original critics of Steve Lavin. He also was one of the first posters who called out Karl Dorrell. Oh he loves Ben Howland like the rest of BN. And just like BN he was one of the first to get on the hire Rick Neuheisel bandwagon last December. In other words, he is one of those UCLA fans who have always followed/supported our programs based on reality based facts and who has a knack of getting things right. Well the kid posted this magical story on BRO yesterday and he was kind of enough to share it with rest of us here in the Nation. Amazing stuff and congrats to Riles. GO BRUINS. -N

When I was 7, my aunt Patty, a UCLA alum, took me to my first UCLA Football and Basketball games. My belief is that I was the fill-in for her son, who was a UCLA student at the time, but was attending games with his friends. She needed someone to go to the games with...I liked sports (hell, she started me on hockey, too). This became a regular thing. The '86 Freedom Bowl. Arizona road trips. SC @ the Sports Arena. Learning about John Wooden. Hearing about how bad Hazzard was as a Head Coach. Listening to game broadcasts on the radio. Basically, I was hanging around someone on a pretty regular basis that was a big UCLA supporter.

This is what led to me taking on UCLA Basketball and Football as something I was interested in - more than passively. I grew up playing traveling (ice) hockey, and didn't have the time to dedicate to competitive basketball or football. I stuck to watching UCLA in my downtime. I can remember watching 4.8 in an ice rink in Harbor City. I can remember the year after (or maybe it was 97), Charles O'Bannon hitting a game-winner against SC at the buzzer. Karim Abdul Jabbar (Sharmon Shah) go from side to side, and reverse his direction a few times before getting in the endzone. I remember finding UCLA Basketball Forums on AOL when I was 13/14, and reading posts with some good info from MrGladstne...early internet. Thank Science for Bruin message boards and blogs and what they have become.

So all of that said, I've always had a conflict about being a UCLA "fan" - in the sense that that is all I can be. I've never been a student there. I can't debate really on issues like admissions, budgets, etc. I'd sit back and think, "How and why do I support this institution in which my real connection is that of my aunt who introduced me too it (rather matter-of-factly, I might add. USC was never an option.)?" I don't know. I've never been able to reconcile it, to be honest. As it came time to apply to schools to transfer to, I had to think about life as a guy who used to be a UCLA fan. It's weird. I guess I could root for the Ducks. Or the Bears. Or the Gauchos. Longhorns? Maybe. It wouldn't be as fun, though.

In 2001, Patty passed away after a second bout with cancer. I wish she was here to read this note I received yesterday:



GO BRUINS

-Riles

So, you may be telling yourself that you're here for your daily Bruin fix.  But, we know your real passion.

You don't bleed blue and gold.  You love awards shows.  Yep, and Bruins Nation is only sad solace in a cruel world where a writer's strike threatens what you hold so dear.

Oh, dear God, the pagentry!

Admit it.  The sight of a drug addled movie star slurring though his or her acceptance speech is your cat's meow.  You set your TIVO three hours early, just to see the red carpet and to marvel at the spectacle that is Joan Rivers (and her even more talentless train wreck of a daughter).  You bet more money on your Oscar pool than you did the whole football season.

Right?  Right.

Good news, my friends, we have something just for you.  Yes, the 2007 College Football Blogger Awards are upon us.  Thankfully, a tradition started by the good folks from Rocky Top Talk has been continued.  This year, Orson at EDSBS has assumed the hosting duties, so that us bloggers can revel in, uh, ourselves.  And, as last year, MGoBlog's Brian has made that process even easier with a handy nominations gizmo.  Check it out and nominate yourselves silly.  The nomination deadline is January 27.

Why should you care?  Here's what Peter at Burnt Orange Nations says:

Not a blogger make out session?  Riiighttt.  (I keed, I keed.)

More seriously, for us Bruin fans, we have a great chance to recognize some truly great content being generated in the wider college sports blogosphere.  And who deserves the recognition?  Not us, gentle souls.  But, rather, for your consideration, I submit to you Dumpdorrell.com (as best Pac-10 blog).

We bask today in the sun that is Rick Neuheisel and a resurgent, dynamic, genuinely exciting football program in no small part because of the good work of Dumpdorrell.

So, take a moment, and use the gizmo to help give those guys, even posthumously, the kudos they deserve.  And, while your at it, step outside of this wonderful UCLA community (which some may argue is the best in the blogosphere), and check out some of the other fantastic blogs out there.  And there's no better place to start than our carefully selected list of blogs on our Blogroll.

Okay, enough of that, back to UCLA....

GO BRUINS.

I love this time of year.  I really do.

And even the ups and downs from the ongoing coaching search aren't enough to get me down.

In the end, we have a lot to celebrate this holiday season.  We share a passion for a wonderful university.  We've built what I regard as one of strongest communities out there -- something I truly treasure on a daily basis.  This year saw UCLA's 100th national championship.  We are in the midst of a true hoops renaissance.  And our athletic director made at least one solid decision earlier this month (and here's to hoping for one more).

So, on behalf of all the mods, let me wish all of you out there that bleed blue and gold a very Merry Christmas.

And let's enjoy another holiday that may be mostly red and green; but that some of us also make a little blue and gold:





Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

GO BRUINS.

Just something light to ease the tension until Decision Monday.

In honor of Blue and Gold Week Beat SC Week and the Thanksgiving Holiday, I thought I'd say a hearty "thank you" to our friends at Southern Cal.

No, really.  I honestly couldn't ask for a more reliable source of entertainment than our Trojan friends.  Folks, it's the gift that keeps on giving.

So, to recognize this year's UCLA/Southern Cal game, let's walk down memory lane and remember (and ridicule) the best Trojan gaffs and amusing tidbits of 2007.  I was going to do a Top 10, but it turns out that there are more than that.  And 2007 isn't over, so I doubt this is it.  But, here we go:

Obviously, I've got some work to do to update my list of Southern Cal's rampant thuggery, criminality and embarrassment.  So, the next time I have an extra few hours.... or days, I'll get to that.

Anyway, that's just my list.  What do you think?  Did I miss anything?  What would your order be?

Aww, like I said. Southern Cal- the gift that keeps on giving.

GO BRUINS.

There are just too many reasons to be thankful in the universe of BN.

We are all blessed to be Bruins:


Photo Credit: Jack Rosenfeld

And we are thankful to be part of one huge family bleeding blue and gold.

Have a happy and safe Thanksgiving holiday.

GO BRUINS.

You know what to do if some little brat shows up at your door step wearing a disgusting and repulsive "costume":



So things are not fun with our football program. But as bad as things are we still have 13-9, will probably beat those clowns again despite Dorrell, and our program is not at the risk of completely going down in flames.

Plus we have a basketball season to look forward to with a real program which is not built on (free) houses and around a shady jawbreaker from West Virgina.

In other words, Happy Halloween Bruins Nation.

GO BRUINS.

There isn't much to say that isn't already being better said elsewhere.

The fires raging across Southern California from Ventura County to the international border are the lead story on every news web site and in every newspaper -- at least the ones in my neighborhood.

I consider myself fortunate. My own Los Angeles-area home is in no immediate danger. But even though I can't see the flames from my backyard, the sky above my house is dark with smoke and the air is palpably thick with soot and ash.

It's difficult to breathe.

With so many of our readers either residing in Southern California or having some SoCal roots, the publisher and writers of this site decided it would be important to have an open thread today, where readers can share their own experiences with the region in flames.

All of us certainly hope that everyone is safe and sound. If you are, look for ways to help your neighbors who aren't.

Football is important.

Some things are more important.

ABC News

Be safe ...

UPDATE -N: LAT is posting constant updates over here .

UPDATE II -- M: If you want to help, please contact the American Red Cross. The ARC has already set up nearly a dozen shelters with blankets, cots, food, and emergency supplies for thousands of people.

They can use monetary donations. They can use blood donations, especially for those who have suffered serious burns. The toolbars on the left-hand side of each page on their site can help you locate the Red Cross facility closest to you.

If you are one of the folks who had to evacuate, or know of someone who did, the ARC has also set up "Safe and Well" lists, so people can track down their loved ones. Hundreds of people are already signed up.

Prayers of the BruinsNation go out to everyone out there. -- M

UPDATE III - N: Some useful links courtesy of Gaslamp Ball, our SBN friends who blog about their beloved Padres.

UPDATE IV - N: Another post has gone up over at Clips Nation (yes there are enough Clippers fan apparently to form a "nation." j/k Steve! Steve is good guy who also went to Pepperdine U). -N

Well this was too easy (which is what tomorrow's game should be for our football team).

Given another brilliant Meriones find today this was the obvious pick for tonight's video.



If that wasn't enough more here, here, and here.

Once again: She is a Bruin.

See somehow someway we can work in a Bruin angle in just about every thing.

Have a fun Friday night everyone. See you tomorrow as get ready for what should be a blowout Saturday.

Afterall whenever, wherever ... UCLA plays teams like Utah, it should always come up with a blow out win.

GO BRUINS.

I think just like the infamous ESPN Halloween commerical this video is a must see for all Bruin fans:



A mega HT to bruinbabe for spotting that priceleess video and sharing it with BN.

GO BRUINS.

Bumped b/c of all the interest in this topic. GO BRUINS. -N

I was toying around with the thought of putting together a Bruins Nation t-shirt, so that those who are so inclined could sport some fancy one-of-a-kind BN duds at upcoming sporting events.  Or at your wedding.  Or whatever.  Nothing says class like BN, right?

Then I realized something.  I don't know jack about designing, purchasing and distributing a custom t-shirt.

And then there are all the pesky questions, like:

1.  What should the t-shirt looked like?

I was thinking of keeping it simple.  Perhaps something in the traditional powder blue, with the BN logo on the pocket, and either a larger logo, or a short slogan, on the back.

2.  If there is a slogan, what should it be?

Maybe simply "Bruins Nation" or "BRUINSNATION.COM."  Or something short and sweet.  (This ain't the time for anything negative or re KD, though I'm sure that our friends at DD will have something appropriate should the need arise.)

3.  Which of the ridiculously talented readers of BN would be willing help put together the design?

Yes, I'm looking at you.  Yes, you.  You see, creative stuff like this just isn't my bag, baby. And I just know that some of you Photoshop experts have this project written all over you.

4.  Assuming enough people want them, where should any profits go to?

My vote would be to sell them at cost, and thus, to have no profits.  Or, if we want to collect a couple nickels, we could designate a worthy cause, like The Den.  (I've got a day job, I would not do this for personal gain.)

So, whaddaya think?  Any interest?  If so, what say you to the questions above?

GO BRUINS.