Fun, Fun, Fun at the New York Times

by Achilles on Mar 18, 2008 11:13 AM PDT in Basketball

It's the paper of record.

The New York Times has a long and enjoyable feature on Kevin Love in Tuesday's edition. The article was written by John Branch.

You can read the online version here:

Photo credit: Kevork Dejansezian/Associated Press

Here is a snippet:

LOS ANGELES -- For years, Kevin Love did not say that he liked the Beach Boys. Growing up in Lake Oswego, Ore., a damp and leafy Portland suburb, it simply was not cool. The Beach Boys were so ... 40 years ago. They were so ... California.

"He doesn't like to admit that he listens to it as much as he does," said Mike Love, an original Beach Boy and one of Kevin's uncles. "Because it might mess with his street cred."

But now that Kevin Love is the athlete of the moment in sunny Southern California, a 6-foot-10 freshman center leading the top-seeded U.C.L.A. Bruins into the N.C.A.A. tournament, he is not worried about hits to his cool quotient.

"Coming down to L.A., Southern California, everybody appreciates their music," Love, 19, said. "I'm not going to say I'm a conformist to everybody's music, but I've always liked the Beach Boys. I just never liked to say it front of my friends back home."

and

What could be determined much sooner is Love’s legacy at U.C.L.A.

"It’s been the ride of my life," he said after a victory last week in the Pacific-10 Conference tournament.

The next night, for the semifinal game against rival Southern California, friends and family filled a suite high above the court at the sold-out Staples Center. Sitting in the front row of the suite was a 15-year-old cancer patient named Ryan Runchey, whom Love has befriended in recent months. Standing in back was DeAnthony Langston, a youth-program director in Watts, who tested Love’s street credibility last year by taking him for a haircut in one of Los Angeles’s toughest neighborhoods. Love never flinched, and impressed even more when he bought a bicycle for a 7-year-old boy he met during another inner-city excursion with Langston.

and

Kevin Love's greatest gifts are not his substantial size and strength, but his all-around skills and savvy. He is often compared to Bill Walton and Wes Unseld, cross-generational links as apt as they are obvious. Walton starred at U.C.L.A. Love's middle name, Wesley, honors Unseld, Stan Love's teammate with the Bullets.

"His game is a throwback," Bruins Coach Ben Howland said, christening Love with a nickname already held by Tim Duncan of the San Antonio Spurs. "He is the Big Fundamental. Someone else might have that nickname, but he's the Big Fundamental. He is so fundamentally sound it is a joke."

Love's favorite play may be the outlet pass, which he throws with decisiveness and precision. Bounce passes are as satisfying as dunks.

"I just get a kick out of it," Love said. "I love scoring as well, I love rebounding. But watching the rest of my team get off, and us working as a unit, that's going to take us the farthest."

Just read the whole thing over at the Times' site (Linked above).

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Comments

When you see the . . . ., you know it's real news

I and think others always dig seeing U.C.L.A. I feel like I'm drinking cognac after washing the car and tipping the paperboy.

Vaya con dios.

by boston bruin on Mar 18, 2008 11:18 AM PDT reply actions

What a cool article

Thanks for the post Achilles.

by bruinhopeful on Mar 18, 2008 11:24 AM PDT reply actions

The Big Fundamental

Never heard that one before. Me like.

by bluestreet on Mar 18, 2008 11:26 AM PDT reply actions

Kevin Love..

..may or may not be ready for the NBA but he is sure ready for life!

God, it's great to be a Bruin!

by whp68 on Mar 18, 2008 12:00 PM PDT reply actions

Thanks for posting this.

What a phenomenal kid. Honestly, you can't ask for more--what a refreshing role model for kids, and adults, if you really think about it.

I admit, I was one of those who was concerned about KL when there was some flak online about his high school G.P.A. and test scores. I didn't leap to any conclusions, understand, but I was concerned. (I am as just as proud of my alma mater's academic standards as I am of its tremendous sports programs.)

The strength and breadth of this young man's character, his work ethic, his directness--all of these reveal true intelligence and honor. Of course, he's a brilliant, amazing basketball player. But he is--to our great fortune--much, much more than that.

Congratulations to Kevin, and sincere props to his family and coaches.

Love My Bruins

by Bruingirl83 on Mar 18, 2008 12:01 PM PDT reply actions

I think he's "one-and-done"

"I'm pro-school," Karen Love said of the stay-or-go decision that looms after the tournament. "But there are those factors, you know. If you're going to be a lottery pick, and we don't know if he is or not, but how can you not go? That's more money than people make in their lifetime. You have a chance to stay and get injured. There's so much to weigh."

Not that I blame him. My co-workers and I were talking about players leaving early for the pros. When we were back in college, we wanted them to stay for the love of the game, for the enjoyment of college, for the degree. But after working in the real world, it's all B.S. There's no way you will ever make the kind of money that 1st round draft picks get using your degree to get a corporate job. So we all agreed that it's always the best to take the millions and go pro. You don't need a college degree when you have millions (look at Bill Gates & Michael Dell). You just need street smarts so you won't lose it all (look at Mike Tyson).

by mark the bruin on Mar 18, 2008 12:34 PM PDT reply actions

KL has that unusual situation

As it's been stated here on BN a million times. His case really is similar to Noah's last year, where his family doesn't need the money and he might stay, if the situation arises.

Now, looking at the NBA/NFL catchprase "upside" there is no guarantee right now that KL is in fact a lottery pick at all. He very may well be, but he is by no means a lock, especially in the same way Noah was after that one run he had in 2005.

Sorry for all the Noah parallels, I hate him.

by bruinhopeful on Mar 18, 2008 12:38 PM PDT up reply actions

KL's unique situation

That would be awesome if he would stay. He should take out a multi-million dollar insurance policy on his body, though.

All I'm saying is that if you make $5,000,000 your first year ($2,500,000 after taxes) playing pro sports vs. making $100,000 your Nth year at a corporate job ($75,000 after taxes), you'll make more in that 1 year that you will in 33 years.

33 years making $100K or 1 year making $5M? Unless you don't need the money, the choice is pretty clear.

by mark the bruin on Mar 18, 2008 12:45 PM PDT up reply actions

Furthermore

With the money, you can always go back to school during the off-season, and/or take online/correspondence courses.

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Mar 18, 2008 2:00 PM PDT up reply actions

But what would be the point?

I am a teacher, so I know the value of education, but it's lame that we think everybody should go to college or that somehow you're not complete unless you have a degree.

by Dodger Hater on Mar 18, 2008 10:32 PM PDT up reply actions

Life

You never know what will happen. A career ending injury, etc. A solid education is always a good resource to have at your disposal. Look at what Baron Davis is doing (although he didn't graduate) with hist work in the media world. He isn't relying on his basketball skills to carry him through the rest of his life, he's learning and working to establish a career after sports.

Bob O. (Signholder #3)

by TuneMan7 on Mar 19, 2008 10:07 AM PDT up reply actions

I often find that

The New York Times covers LA sports better than the LA times...LA times basically just steals SI articles.

O.A.

by Ollie on Mar 18, 2008 12:38 PM PDT reply actions

KL

He's just an all around good guy, from a stable and tight knit family. Stan kept his son grounded while teaching while teaching him hard work,fundamentals and respect, not an easy task for even non famous families.

by LVBruinFan on Mar 18, 2008 2:07 PM PDT reply actions