King of Westwood

by Nestor on Feb 19, 2007 8:43 AM PST in Basketball

Bruins are going to play two huge games against the Bay Area schools to close out their home stand at Pauley. Bruins haven't lost at Pauley since playing West Virginia last February. As I mentioned on Friday I have been following the Bruin hoops on a day to day basic since Jim Harrick's first season at UCLA. And I don't believe I have seen the Bruins go undefeated at Pauley since the beginning of that era in Westwood (someone please correct me if I am wrong). Even the 1995 National Championship team dropped a game at Pauley, which coincidentally came against the Bruins next opponent: good ole Bears.

We will get back to the Bears later. However, before we get into Cal, we may as well start pondering something that has been hanging over our head all this season. In all likelihood this will be Arron's last home stand. Yeap, this could be the last week at Pauley for Coach Howland's first recruit at UCLA. Remember this? From Greg Hicks at Bruin Report Online (free article) (emphasis mine):

Arron Afflalo, a 6-4 junior shooting guard from Compton (Calif.) Centennial, is the first recruit of the Ben Howland era at UCLA...

Arron Afflalo, 6-4 JR SG Compton (Calif.) Centennial, committed to UCLA over the weekend.

Afflalo, the top rated two guard in the West Coast class of 2004, gave a verbal commitment to UCLA coach Ben Howland at the Wooden Award banquet, where Afflalo won the Wooden Award for Division III high school players.

We spoke with Afflalo and asked why he chose UCLA. "I looked at all the other schools I was considering," said Affalo. "And there really wasn't any reason for me to leave -- I have everything I need here. The coaches are great, I like the situation at UCLA where I can help get them back on top and I get to stay close to my Dad."

What else can you say? Boy has he already delivered?

AP Photo

I will never get tired of posting that image.

I know the standard for UCLA basketball is nothing short of national championships. But just think back to April 14, 2003. Coach Howland came into Westwood to take over a UCLA team that had it worst season in something like 4 decades. The program was destroyed and burned into the ground by Steve Lavin that even a task master like Howland couldn't coax out more than an 11 win season out of the rag tag rejects Lavin left him at Westwood.

AA could have gone anywhere else he wanted (same goes for Jordan). However, he held firm. He believed in Coach Howland. He remained committed and came into Westwood in 2004 with Jordan, Josh, and Lorenzo. And of course we now know the rest.

I have written here many time before my two personal favorite UCLA athletes of all time are No. 18 (Cade) and No. 31 (Ed). Cade and Ed during their times were the unquestioned Kings of Westwood. I am going to add No. 4 to that group now.

Let me go back to No. 31. I still remember Ed's last game at Pauley. It was one of the most emotional experiences I ever went through as a student section regular for four years at Pauley Pavilion. I still remember when Ed was introduced one last time before that game Oregon. He walked in with his parents, (then) girlfriend, and his son. Yes he came over to the student section and held up his son just like the Lion King. And then when the game was over he went right to the center court and kissed UCLA.

Arron if you are reading this ... I know your mind is on nothing but how to beat the Bears. But do let us soak it all in after this Saturday. And think about the kissing the center court.

You have earned it. After Ed O'Bannon, you have become the new King of Westwood.

Thank you from a Bruin who will always be grateful for what you have meant to all that is Blue and Gold.

We love you.

GO BRUINS.

Tweet Comment 14 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Man, I hadn't even considered this possibility...

I just figured if we win it ALL this year, then AA goes out on top.

If we don't get it ALL, then he stays to give it the old college try, one last time.

I don't buy jerseys until we've won the whole shebang or beaten $C, because I don't ever want to jinx it. Of course, given the price of jerseys ($50 for even a replica? OUCH.), and the limited availability (I'm a M or L, which EVERYONE seems to wear), I miss out on them more often than not.

I never bought an Ed or Tyus jersey. I got a Charles one for my kid sis, but never one for me. Always regretted it, esp. since Tyus was my height (program height of 5-10, my butt).

I bought a DeShaun jersey after his 300+ day, but returned it the next week when the SUV rumors broke. Thought I'd jinxed it.

My wife bought me a Cade one... in 2003, God bless her ever-loving heart.

Now I'm freaking torn. Plus with taxes hitting me like a sledge hammer in the eye, I have to be judicous with spending the next two months.

I came thisfreakingclose to buying a Jordan (#1 always works) or an Arron (#4 for the Final 4)last year, even hiding their jerseys thruout the store, but didn't get back to the store in time to dig them out of hiding.

I don't want to jinx us... but I don't want to miss out on a guy who's reaching Ed-level stature in my eyes.

Thanks a lot, Nestor. Now I'm going to be torn up all freaking week, man.

MIM

by Meriones on Feb 19, 2007 9:22 AM PST reply actions

LA Times: USC v. ASU:

Ben Bolch wrote the summary that began with the quote I mention in the letter I just emailed him.

Dear Mr. Bolch:

"In a season in which they have taken a giant step toward the North Carolinas of the college basketball world. . ."

How do you mean? This season, USC was just ranked #22/23 and have lost 8 games, including twice to its rival (disclosure: I'm a Bruin alum, which is why this probably upset me enough to respond) and now ASU, the worst team in the Pac 10. In contract, NC has been ranked in the top 5 almost the entire season, not to mention its rich past history (which I've included below to add to your research).

You seem to see things as a snapshot of events. This equates to terrible hyperbole, not to mention that your snapshot is blurry. SC is more than 20 teams behind NC in the rankings! So what "giant step" are you talking about? Beating Oregon twice? By a Google search, I see you're on the Trojans beat. I've never read your stuff till today, as I wanted to feel giddy about USC's loss and read more about it. So as a first time reader of your material, I encourage you to take a step back and see the bigger picture before making comments like that above.

Brian

P.S. From Wikipedia regarding NC men's hoops

The men's basketball team was awarded the national championship by the Helms Foundation in 1936 for the undefeated (26-0) 1924 season. The team defeated Kansas 54-53 in triple overtime in 1957 to finish undefeated (32-0) as NCAA Champs. In 1982 they defeated Georgetown 63-62 in the championship game to go 32-2 overall for the season. In 1993 the (33-4) NCAA Champs defeated Michigan 77-71 to win the title. And in 2005 the Tar Heels finished 33-4 and were NCAA Champs defeating Illinois 75-70.

From 1961 to 1997 the men's basketball team was coached by Dean Smith, who is second for most wins in NCAA Division 1 Men's Basketball with 879 wins. Coach Smith led the Tar Heels to NCAA championships in 1982 and 1993. In only his second year at UNC, Roy Williams coached his team to a national championship in 2005 and was named Coach of the Year by the Associated Press in 2006.

And SC almost beat some teams this year! Very similar records.

by boston bruin on Feb 19, 2007 9:33 AM PST reply actions

Ben Bolch

is an assclown.

The idiot is not a reporter. He is a cheerleader.

by Nestor on Feb 19, 2007 10:02 AM PST up reply actions

SC Times

Not surprised that the SC Times would continue to hype their little basketball program. I guess anything to distract people from Bushgate and McKnightgate and any other illegalities they're performing.

by UCLA4Life on Feb 19, 2007 9:39 AM PST reply actions

Chant I want to do on Saturday

I'll be in the student section, and want to do a
"Thank you Ar-ron"
"ONE MORE YEAR"
chant.

I think it works in the appreciation that we have for the guy, while still showing how much we want him back for a run with Kevin.

by dprodigy19 on Feb 19, 2007 10:35 AM PST reply actions

4th in the AP poll

Apparently, Florida is that good to stay ahead us. Means nothing but possible motivation.

by boston bruin on Feb 19, 2007 10:43 AM PST reply actions

It'll be difficult

I can see plenty of reasons for Arron to leave, and plenty for him to stay as well. There is no doubt if we win the title this year, that'll be it for Arron, but one of the big reasons to stay is to avoid the '07 draft, which is turning out to be one of the deepest in recent memory. Arron, whose greatest attributes as a basketball player are mental, may not be appreciated as much in the upside-first mentality of the NBA draft against the likes of lesser players but more "freakish" athletes. Of course, NBAdraft.net projects Arron as the 14th pick for this coming year, and if it turns out that GMs feel that way as well, then I think he's got to seize the opportunity. 14th is a lottery position, and while I believe he would go higher in '08, the lottery would be hard to pass up.

Speaking of NBAdraft.net, that '08 draft also is projected to have Shipp (24), Luc (15), Love (12), and Collison (6), and had Mata in the second round for a while. If that also pans out, I'm going to have a blast watching the draft, followed immediately by a painful reminder of what we're losing. We could get a chance to see what "reloading" under Howland looks like.

by Tydides on Feb 19, 2007 11:35 AM PST reply actions

As I'm sure you know

we technically went undefeated at home during that 1995 championship year, as Cal forfeited all its games that year.

And yes, I agree AA should definitely be elevated to Cade and Ed status, no matter how this year turns out. He is the ultimate Ben Ball warrior; a catalyst to our resurgence back to the elite, and an even better human being than he is a basketball player. I will enjoy watching his game for years to come. No matter where is career turns, he will always be one of my favorite Bruins.

by godblesstyus95 on Feb 19, 2007 12:58 PM PST reply actions

Ben Bolch's response: USC v. ASU

Hey peeps. I earlier posted my email-letter to Ben Bolch of the LA Times taking issue with his leading sentence about the USC v. ASU game (see former post for my reply letter).

Here is the sentence that made me throw up:
"In a season in which they have taken a giant step toward the North Carolinas of the college basketball world. . ."

Here is his response to my letter calling him out:
"I am well aware of north Carolina's history having grown up in Raleigh. My point was that USC has come a long way. I didn't say they were on par with north Carolina. I could take a giant step toward greece in my backyard and I'd still be in LA, wouldn't I?"

Apparently he backtracking from the connotation that SC is comparable to one of the best teams of all time, and instead means that SC were once god awful and are now halfway to being great.

I wouldn't have called him on this if he had said "one of the elite teams this season" but he went for "the world" metaphor, which to me, includes the territories of UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, and UNC, with minor border skirmishes involving Michigan, OSU,and Florida.

My point is, he used hallowed figurative language to suck off SC and then defends it by making an asinine comment about traveling to Greece. I guess I almost went to SUC because its in the same city as UCLA! I welcome suggestions as how to respond, and if it's even warranted.

by boston bruin on Feb 19, 2007 1:12 PM PST reply actions

I am still holding out hope AA comes back

but if this is his last time playing at Pauley, I want to thank him from the bottom of the my heart for all he has done for the Bruins. I will always remember how he brought UCLA back.

by trainwreck84 on Feb 19, 2007 1:30 PM PST reply actions

nestor , man....

i was at ed's last game where he kissed the court. i cried. big giant tears.....hell i was at the mizzou game in boise and at the final four and for some reason nothing affected me more than Ed's senior day. For those of you who made the trip to Indy last year, big Ed was leading cheers in the bruin section and I gotta tell you it gave us all chills. between him, kareem, walton, reggie miller(who i sat right behind at the lsu game)......bruin tradition passion love history and dominance were all on display for everyone in the world to see. it was amazing. and it feels like we are going to be back in this wonderful world of howland and winning for a long long time.
great post dude. GREAT.

by bosscloss on Feb 19, 2007 2:50 PM PST reply actions

Ed O at Indy

Yeah you can this gives me chills.

by Nestor on Feb 19, 2007 2:56 PM PST up reply actions

There are lots more for the list

The earliest for me were the starters from the first championship team. Slaughter stayed on campus for about a thousand years (and may still be there), Goodrich, Hazzard and Erickson all went on to the pros, and Jack Hirsch is rumored to have taken the Subject A test for an incoming phenom (which I doubt, but that was the rumor.)

And so many more.

by Fox 71 on Feb 19, 2007 7:35 PM PST up reply actions

I second that

Those are some special sentiments shared by many. I saw Arron at the U of A football game. As I was walking by him, I looked up as my friend tapped me on the shoulder, bringing attention to Arron walking. I gave him a smile, a thumbs up, "hey, what's up!" and "good luck this season!" He's definitely a special person and player and we'll miss him if he goes after this season.

by bruin95 on Feb 20, 2007 3:19 PM PST reply actions