Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook both announced their plans today to enter the NBA draft. This was expected but many of us held out hope that they might return (Westbrook may still). I for one was one of the latter; I felt that there was a slight chance that Love might come back for a second season to the eternal gratitude of Bruins everywhere.

The fact still remains that K-Love is gone but I wish him well in all his endeavors.

What disturbs me about this whole affair is all the so-called "realists" who chide us for believing that our school has something to offer and that a player should head directly to the draft to "get paid." They would be fools not to right? However, their "flawless" reasoning is suspect because it relies on the supposed truth that money is everything.

MONEY IS NOT EVERYTHING! Those of you who hold such a belief can leave now because your vapid existences might not be able to handle what I'm about to lay on you. There are other things in life, like the seven virtues of old. Temperance, generosity, and diligence, those virtues that lend to clarity of thought and purpose. We have patience, kindness, and humility, those that guide our actions with others leading us to realize that the interests of the self might just be connected with the interests to humanity as a whole. Finally, there is honor or the satisfaction that comes from living a life that is righteous.

Those of you who think that money is everything probably do not care about what I'm saying. That is fine, that is your choice but I am compelled to say something here. I'm at a law school now where everyone wants to be partner when they graduate. They care very little about justice or the people who are directly affected by the actions of such lawyers. It's not just in law school either; it's all around us, everyone just wants to "get paid." I'm not here to bemoan the larger problems of society but rather I'm here to tell you that there is more to life than money and that UCLA has more to offer than a mere stepping-stone to the pros. In fact, UCLA has given these players more than you would think.

First, there is the undying gratitude of the Bruins. Being part of a team that becomes something more than a revolving door has its perks. I can name the starting line-up for the Los Angeles Dodgers from the late-seventies/early-eighties by heart (no small feat as a child). That was a team, familiar faces that you pull for year in and year out. They only won it all once and had many heartbreaks along the way but they were our team and we tuned-in to watch them year in and year out. When you go one and done that doesn't happen. The allegiance that you engender in us, although powerful, will be fleeting. This is not because we want to forget or blame you for leaving but rather it is simple human nature. Once we win another title, you will be replaced or diminished in the memory of fans by that team. This is a shame but it is the way people are, they forget.

This might not seem important now but no one can predict the future. You could get hurt or never pan-out in the NBA. What will you have then? You will have some money! If that means everything to you, then I would suggest that you go through life and at the end tell me what is most important. It's not money, of that much I am sure. If you stayed at UCLA and played you would have a place in our hearts forever because you gave up money for one year to fight for us again. I tell you that means something because you would have our earnest gratitude and support forever. I can think of a million different ways why this is nice to have.

Never living up to the hype happened to Ed O'Bannon but Ed stuck around and got the title. When Ed walks into Pauley the crowd chants his name. He figured we had forgotten him. No way. When I buy my first Prius, I'm going to buy it from Ed if I can. Not only is getting 11 the highlight of Ed's basketball career, he has our eternal gratitude.

Don't get me wrong, I appreciate what KL did. I wish him all the best in the world. UCLA alumni and fans have a long memories and he will not be forgotten. I'll miss his never surrender attitude and the way he fought for us. However, although we knew from the beginning that he was probably one and done, the implication is there that he didn't care about UCLA as much as the money and fame. For me, I can use reason to not let my feelings taint the memory but the implication is still there lingering. I try not to think that such a player leaving our great institution after one year does any damage to UCLA's reputation. Unfortunately these feelings will linger and will wait for another Ed to help us hang 12 and make it go away. UCLA has given me everything and therefore I am compelled to write.

Or "The NCAA looses every last bit of credibility it has and falls on its sword for the TrOJays"

Great news for the TrOJays! Apparently all those "connections" of which they are so fond of telling everyone about have paid off. However, it seems to me more like all the money paid off.

The Associated Press reports that a committee will reinstate the 8 University of Oklahoma 2005 football wins that--as part of a punishment for infractions due to players working at a car dealership--were recorded as losses.

The Sooner Coach Bob Stoops tells us that we should be happy because the players not involved get their wins back:

"This decision is a great thing for those individuals involved with our 2005 team," Sooners coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. "Most of the players on our current roster were not on that team, but I know those victories mean a lot to the players and coaches who were here at that time."

Of course he's happy, the team gets its wins back but isn't that the point of sanctions--to punish the institution for letting such things go unnoticed? The NCAA cited cooperation as the key to this ruling:

The NCAA said in its news release that the "the university's cooperation was a significant factor in the ultimate determination of the violations," but the infractions committee did not acknowledge that in its decision.

This drastic change in NCAA policy begs a number of questions:

1. Was this decision for the benefit for the TrOJays who are facing some serious problems over the Bu$h affair?
2. Is the NCAA sending subtle hints to $C to cooperate?
3. Does the NCAA have any credibility left after such a blatant and unexplained reversal of a previous ruling?

My take is that they are letting $C off the hook because of the money they generate. Instead of being happy with the decision, OU should realize that they are being used. The NCAA is paving the way for $C, in that they would look like hypocrites doing what they did to OU initially and then letting $C skate.

This, at least to me, seems unimaginably contrived and crooked. NCAA is a sham, having no moral authority over anything. They are supposed to make sure that college athletics have at least some semblance of respectability. Now they are willing to trade their credibility and ideals so that $C can sell a few more jerseys to gang-bangers. This is disgraceful if true and I for one am going to write the NCAA and tell them. Then I'm going to write the politicians.