For my first two years at UCLA, I was part of the marching band. For most of the fall quarter, it was all about football. By November, we were back in Pauley Pavilion. Rather than play in full uniform with a couple hundred musicians, we had a small pep band dressed in khakis and UCLA Hawaiian print shirts.
Every time I was in Pauley — whether it be for men or women’s basketball or men’s volleyball — I was amazed by the banners hanging around showing all the national championships teams had won in that building.
There were the 11 basketball championships, 10 under Coach John Wooden, the Wizard of Westwood, and one with Jim Harrick. From 1964 to 1973 the UCLA Bruins won 10 basketball titles. There were 18 men’s volleyball titles from 1970 to 2000. Banners for women’s gymnastics showed 5 recent national titles from 1997 to 2004.
Even though it’s cool to have all kinds of volleyball and gymnastics titles, everyone knew that UCLA was and is a basketball school. The greatness in the air from the days of Lew Alcindor and Bill Walton was always part of the excitement.
When I filled out my bracket, I had UCLA winning the whole thing. I’ve watched every UCLA game (except Belmont, I was at the Mexico/US baseball game) in the NCAA tournament. I have to admit I didn’t follow too much during the regular season. I wouldn’t call myself a fairweather fan because I’ve loved UCLA basketball since I remember hearing about the 1995 win and went to my first game in the fall of 1998.
Tomorrow will be all about two of my favorite teams, UCLA and the Dodgers. I’ll be at Chavez Ravine for the Dodgers’ opening day game against the Atlanta Braves and then I’ll nervously watch the champioship game with good friends on Monday night.
Twelve national basketball championship titles sounds really nice, doesn’t it?
Go Bruins.
needless to say, a first sounds much muuuuuuuuch sweeter. I’m a little biased tho.
heheheh.
GO GATORS!!!
Go bruins! Cindy can you believe that i’ve never seen any of our Bruin teams play in person?? Shame on me! But i’ll definitely be rushing to get home tomorrow night to see our team play. Eep! How nerve wrecking and exciting!
Ps- Go dodgers! Stay dry while at the game!
UCLA should take it. GOOD LUCK!
Don’t you think your affinity to a sport team that’s part of your school is kinda stretching it? Who cares? So you go to school at BoreCLA, that don’t mean you have to be a cheerleader for such a lousy school. I used to read your posts for a chicana perspective but now you’re becoming just another cog in the machine, cheering on some of the worst aspects of school life.
It’s revealing that you seem to get more excited now about a game than you did about a million people taking to the streets of LA. I don’t know what that sez about you but it can’t be good.
Tu Amiga.
even though I’m a Terps fan I have fond memories of the 95 UCLA team that won it all… One of the key players on that team was Cameron Dollar- when I was on my Middle School Basketball team, he was on the High School team and used to help us after practice with tips and advice… so my friends and I were rooting for him.
Tyus Edney was the star poing guard of that UCLA team but he got hurt and Cameron had to play a lot of minutes in the final.
I think he’s an assistant coach somewhere now.
Bruins Play Like Wizard’s to Take Title
Rue,
As long as Joakim Noah doesn’t eat anyone’s soul, I think I’ll be okay.
Brenda,
We should go to a baseball game. I used to get paid for playing at those games and get free calling cards. Band was definitely a good experience for that aspect. It looks a little cloudy right now, but I hope it clears up!
Trench,
I hope you’re right!
Yer friend,
Um, cheering on UCLA sports team is nothing new for me. I’ve been doing it since I started there in 1998. I don’t think there is anything wrong with it. And guess what, Chicanas are free to care about a lot of different aspects of life. I don’t see why sports should be any different.
I doubt you know me nor do you really know how excited I got about one thing or another. Still, if you think that says something about me, it doesn’t matter.
I don’t mind criticism, but I would respect it more if you actually included a real email.
Joel,
I didn’t even know Cameron Dollar was from Maryland/DC area. That’s pretty cool that you have some sort of connection with him. I’ve heard that he’s a coach at a community college.
I think he just came here to play high school basketball… there is a private school here that used to recruit “students” who happend to be very good at basketball.
sorry for the loss
Not too long ago, UCLA fans flaunted SC loss to Texas. How the tables have turned, oh well, onto football…
Hey Ruben,
wazzup, tocayo!