Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

Women's track and field coach Jeanette Bolden is doing double-duty this summer, coaching the U.S. Olympic women's track team. Coach Bolden is no stranger to the Olympics herself.

An Olympic gold medalist as part of Team USA's 4x100m relay at the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, Bolden placed fourth in the 100 meters at those Games and was a member of the 1980 Olympic team. Bolden recently finished her 14th year running the women's track program at her alma mater UCLA, where her squads have won three NCAA team championships and were runners-up at the 2005 NCAA Outdoors. In all, she has been part of five NCAA Champion teams, both as a coach and athlete.

Coach Bolden is currently in Eugene for the Olympic trials. Here are some excerpts from her recent press conference:

Q: What's it like for you from a head coach's perspective now that the Trials are here?

A: It's a situation where I am excited, nervous anticipating what is going to happen. I think the Olympic Games is an experience that I will never forget from an athlete's perspective. I think I will probably be more excited from the coaching end because now I have like 18 events to get excited about, opposed to my one or two events of the 100 meters and 4x100 (as an athlete). I want to make sure that all the "I's" are dotted and the "T's" are crossed. I'm excited and really hoping that the things I've learned in my past years as an athlete and now as a coach, I can maybe encourage someone and give a little bit of wisdom.

To read the rest of the Q&A, click here.

We wish Coach Bolden and the U.S. Track Team all the best as they go for the gold in Bejing.

When Kathy Olivier stepped down as women's basketball coach earlier this year, some of us started discussing who would now possibly be the weak link in the UCLA chain. I was doing some research to see when the last time each current UCLA team won a championship. Per Wikipedia (note: men's swimming and gymnastics are no longer team sports):

Men:

Football - 1954

Basketball - 1995

Golf - 2008

Soccer - 2002

Outdoor Track - 1988

Tennis - 2005

Volleyball - 2006

Water Polo - 2004

Baseball - None to date

 

Women:

Golf - 2004

Gymnastics - 2004

Indoor Track - 2002

Outdoor Track - 2004

Softball - 2004

Tennis - 2008

Volleyball - 1991

Water Polo - 2008

Basketball - None to date

Swimming - None to date

Soccer - None to date

 

Of course, this does not take into account second place finishes, Pac-10 championships, etc.

Yep, it's really tough being a Bruin.

I came across this earlier today. Per the fishwrap.

Investigators from the NCAA and Pacific 10 Conference and officials from USC have met with Louis Johnson to discuss his allegations that a sports agency funneled money to basketball star O.J. Mayo through an intermediary before and during his one season at USC.

In a seven-hour meeting Monday at the Los Angeles office of one of Johnson's attorneys, NCAA investigators led the questioning of Johnson and reviewed receipts that the former Mayo confidant had provided to ESPN for an "Outside the Lines" report that aired last month, Johnson attorney David M. Murphy said.

Some interesting notes:

Anthony V. Salerno, another of Johnson's attorneys, said the government agencies have begun investigating the case. He also speculated, based on 15 years leading his own law practice, that the U.S. attorney's office doesn't routinely involve itself in "a petty case" without "an internal sense of what's significant enough to spend their time on."

Salerno said federal prosecutors and investigators were aware of the potential for a larger-scale probe into how sports agencies attach themselves to young basketball stars.

"My sense is the government is drawing the line now," Salerno said. "They don't want to be seen as ignoring the problem. It happens so much, and this is the rare case where they have access to the facts, Louis' story. The curtain's been pulled back. It's too strong to ignore."

And:

Unlike the federal probes, Murphy said the NCAA and Pac-10 investigation was "clearly looking more toward anything USC may have done or turned a blind eye to." USC could face sanctions including a forfeiture of victories, probation, scholarship losses or a postseason ban if it is proven that Mayo accepted money in violation of NCAA rules.

I now open the floor for discussion.

I came across this story this morning. Not really much more in terms of new information, but I found myself shaking my head over this little tidbit.

The NCAA would love to document their answers, which were due to have been turned over last Friday to Lloyd Lake, the man suing Bush and his parents. But attorneys for Bush and his family objected to the discovery questions for various reasons and answered only about nine of them, according to Brian Watkins, Lake's attorney.

“They are doing whatever they can to avoid this,” Watkins said. “They're completely bogus objections.”

One thing was decided though:

Both sides met with Judge Joan M. Lewis yesterday to settle another matter: a date for Michaels to give his deposition (June 9). They met in Lewis' chambers, but both sides acknowledged complaining about the lack of discovery provided by the other side.

Swan said Lewis suggested each side bring a motion to compel discovery if there were problems.

 

Even if Bu$h did answer all those questions, I don't think the NCAA has the "testicular fortitude" to do the right thing.

While living in Birmingham has its share of setbacks, one of the perks is that no matter if you are an Alabama or Auburn fan, one of the most hated schools outside the SEC is U$C. So you can imagine the smile on my face this morning when this passage caught my eye:

Like Bush, O.J. Mayo is leaving the University of Spoiled Children early, but not before leaving a mark.

Or a stain.

You can read the rest of the column here. It would be easy for outside people to dismiss our complaints as sour grapes, but the truth of the matter is that there are plenty of people across the country who are pretty fed up with the NCAA and U$C. It gives me some comfort in an unfair world.

The Seattle Times is reporting that trOJan alum Lofa Tatupu was busted early Saturday morning for DUI. He was pulled over for doing 50 in a 35 mph zone and was found to have a blood alcohol level of .15, nearly twice the legal limit in Washington.

So, in less than a year, there have been two high-profile trOJan alums who have been busted for DUI (LenDale White is the other). These are the times where I thank the powers that be for making me a Bruin.

Bumped. GO BRUINS. -N

Thanks to the miracle of YouTube, those of us who were not at the game yesterday, are now able to see the wonderful send off Lorenzo Mata-Real got yesterday. We have talked a number of times about how no matter what happens in the next month, LMR is a champion. If you listen closely on the video, you will hear that LMR is the first one in his family to graduate from college. I can certainly relate to LMR as I was the first one on my mom's side of the family to attend a four-year college, let alone graduate from one. We wish LMR all the best in the future and thank him for all the joy he has given us the past four years and for being a wonderful representative of UCLA.

I don't know what is going to happen over the next month, but I like our chances. But, I think it's important that we take it one game at a time. Stick to what got us to this point, and we will be fine. Sure, our shooting needs to improve, but I think our players will turn in up in the clutch.

Per the fishwrap:

USC linebackers coach Ken Norton, who was wooed by UCLA to return to his alma mater, said today that he would remain with the Trojans.

Norton, 41, said he spoke with new Bruins coach Rick Neuheisel and defensive coordinator DeWayne Walker about joining the UCLA staff as an assistant head coach. Chuck Bullough is UCLA's linebackers coach.

"I'm flattered. They'll always be a team in my heart," said Norton, an All-American linebacker for the Bruins in 1987 who played 13 seasons in the NFL. "I feel real good about Rick Neuheisel and what he's going to do there.

"The timing just wasn't right. I'm really appreciative of what Pete Carroll has done for me over here, and my business is not finished."

Since I have not yet learned the HTML codes for shading (perhaps after the second part of my class tomorrow), I now need to complete my 200 word minimum.

I would like to say how much I have enjoyed sharing my excitement for basketball and football with all of you.  As I am now exiled from Los Angeles for the next few years, this is my outlet for contact with those who share my passion for my alma mater, as well as my one-stop shop for all news Bruin.  I can't tell you how nice it was during the weeks before CRN's hire to come hear, get up to date on the latest rumors, then go about my business.  I am a more informed fan because of this site, and I have all of you to thank for that.

I don't know what the future holds for us in basketball and football, but I know we are in good hands (wow, that feels good to say that about football after far too many years).  My only regret is that I am too far away to take in all of these wonderful events, but sharing them with all of you is the next best thing.

I ran across this and wanted to pass this along to everyone.  I had the pleasure of meeting Ogden after his rookie year, but I have to admit, when I first saw him, I thought, "I never want to meet this guy in a dark alley."  I have never seen a more physically imposing person since then.

http://cadillacof.msn.com/foxsports/article.aspx?category=nfl&articleid=5861032&GT1=10665

So now onto my filler part.  My feelings on the whole coaching search change from day to day, and right now they are pretty down.  The only name of the confirmed interviewees that I would at least extend a somewhat warm welcome to is Rick N.  I know this is his dream job and he would put his heart and soul into the job, but I know there are bigger and better names out there and I would love to hear that they have interviewed with DG.  My more optomistic side is telling me that the reason for the silence is because Mendenhall is the leading candidate.  My pessimistic side tells me to prepare for the worst.

I know no coach is a sure bet, but at least we can take a chance with someone who has coaching experience and let the chips fall where they may.

I love football, and I want nothing less than waking up on Saturday mornings in the fall, excited about the upcoming game.  I approach every basketball game feeling that we will win.  I want the same for football.  We deserve so much better than what we were given.  I can only hope DG will make a wise decision and not go back on his words.