It's Been A Long Time Coming

1993-Three years after the birth of my little sister. Some guy named Clinton was running things in Washington and in November the Rose Bowl was on the line for both teams. This years version was to be held in the Colosseum and prior to the game some Bruin students tampered with(I say improved) the world famous Hollywood sign. All week I was counting down till Saturday and when the day finally came, I was nervous. I had a gathering next week with some relatives on my father's side (the sc side, ugh.)If we lost this game my father and I would never hear the end of it.

The Bruins dominated the first half and it was looking good. Wayne Cook wasn't fucking up and Stokes was in prime form. Halfway through the fourth quarter sc mounted a come back. Now usually I can remember all sorts of details and names when it comes to sports especially my Bruins but for this moment it wasn't about who won or lost but it was about the emotion that was expressed between me and my father.

Rob Johnson was leading sc to a tying score in the last minute of the fourth. As sc completed a long pass to make it first and goal my father and I both looked at each other with a look of complete diaspointment. After the game I figured we would dip into our all too familiar discussion of disappointing Bruin football.

First and goal, sc runs. Stopped short at the five (I think) *Thinking of how all my classmates will ridicule me on Monday.*

Second and goal. Another run and again stopped short of the goal line. *Oh man my aunts and uncles will never shut up!*

Now usually this is the part of the show where I bitch and moan about another close lost. But thanks to Mr. Marvin Goodwin that wont happen. On a third and goal he steps in front of an sc receiver to clinch the victory for the Bruins. My father ,who hides his emotions, starts cussing and screaming like a drunken sailor on shore leave. I was amazed that this idol of mine who famously frowns upon cussing was dropping f'bombs like there was no tomorrow. We hugged. We danced. We sang. It was the closest I have ever felt to my father.

This One is Going to Be Short

(I know I'm late, VERY hectic weekend-M)

2006-Second year of Petco

#2 Ranked and National Tittle game bound USC-9

Unranked and underdog UCLA-13

GIVE ME MY MONEY!

(I had a Trojan boss)


BEAT SC.

They Should Make This Movie

1992-Fourth grade. This years version had the 15th ranked trojies against a unknown walk on quarterback in only his third start going for the good guys. A year ago John Barnes was sneaking into the student section to watch the game. Now he was under center with a front row seat to the action. UCLA was at .500 and a win would guarantee a winning season. I had the opportunity to go but unfortunately had to cancel.It would be the first of many times I would miss Bruin games due to my sister. But to be quite honest I didn't really expect much that game. I mean, I knew we would win but, damn like this.

John Barnes not only did well, but he left a mark on this series that will never be forgotten. All he did was go 16-28 for 384 and have touchdown passes of 29, 57, and 90 yards. The 90 yarder was the one for which he'll especially be remembered for. After coming back from a 14 point deficit to start the fourth quarter, the Bruins were at their own ten with about 2 minutes to go. Barnes drops back to pass and hits J.J. Stokes for 90 yards and puts a dagger into the trojan hearts. Improbable. I should have been there but thanks again to my little sister, the memory I have of this game is watching it with pops on Prime Ticket. A fine one nonetheless, but I should of been there. I have since forgiven her. She knows she owes me a memorable sports moment and has agreed to never wear cardinal and gold. I guess I'll take what I can get.

BEAT SC.

Oh, Now I Understand

1990-Second grade. I had been to other games in the past. I actually believe my first game was in the 88 season. (I'll have to check with pops on that one) Anyways, I was more than stoked to see my first rivalry game. It would be the proverbial duel of the quarterbacks: Tommy Maddox for the good guys and Todd Marinovich for the hated ones. The game was memorable due to the fact that it was a high scoring affair with sc winning on a touchdown (that still shouldn't count) 45-42.

The high point for me came before the start of the game. This was the game that I received my very first piece of anti-sc gear. It was a huge button that both Joe Bruin slamming tommy trojan into a trash can and around all this were the words "TRASH THE TROJANS!!" Pretty tame (compared to the FUSC shirt I now own) but when I was first given this I was blown away. I never knew that two schools could have so much hate for each other let alone understand why my pops and uncle would send each other x-mas cards consoling the loser of the game. It was right there in front of me.

BEAT SC.

Beat sc of Course But Since it Was '98, Beat Miami

1998-Sophomore in high school. I had recently transferred schools over my refusal to adhere to uniform policy. Looking back on it I think it was because I was going through my Punk rock phase and I was tired of wearing uniforms to school for the previous ten years. Anyways I had kept in touch with a few people and one of them was a huge sc fan. We would debate everything concerning the rivalry. During the week he approached me about going to the game at the Rose Bowl. Neither of us had tickets so we decided to be hard core and bus it up there and buy tickets from scalpers. Pops kind of got mad that I went with a trojie, but after he revealed he was only messing I was off.

As we entered the Arroyo Secco, it was a scene. Half blue and half red littered the landscape. We decided to walk around and take it all in before breaking the law and obtaining tickets. Realizing that neither one of us would be caught dead at our opponents tailgate we split up. Now I really don't remember what he did but, my fellow Bruins and I partied mightily before the game. We were ranked in number one in this new thing called the BCS and if we won the next two games we would play for the national championship. Now the mere thought of UCLA winning it all in football was enough to drink but to actually be alive to witness it happen was unthinkable.

Two more was all we needed.

So after an hour of partying it up in our respective fan bases we met near the famous sign and picked up some tickets from what appeared to be an sc alum. After jokingly voicing my mistrust in him (even though I really meant it, he was just too stupid to realize it) we entered the stadium. If I remember correctly ( damn alcohol consumption) it was sort of back and forth for the two quarters. Towards the end of the half we recognized some people who had also purchased tickets from the same scumbag that we did. As they were trying to get to their seats some other people had come with tickets for the same location that they had. As the usher was coming to resolve this I noticed that the people we had recognized had shifted their attention to us. After 15 mins of evading Rose Bowl security we decided to split to the south end zone which happened to be full of red. Now this was going to end with me either being verbally assaulted to the point of tears or me running my mouth to epic proportions.

One more was all we needed.

We ended up winning 34-17. I decided to split up again to party it up with the student section. The celebration culminated with cheerleaders bring out a yell horn that hadn't been used since our championship season of 1954. For that one day we were on top of the world. We had not only beaten the scum from across town but, at that point we had done it eight straight years, the longest streak in the history of this storied rivalry, and we were on our way to claiming college football's top prize. All we needed was to beat Miami next weekend in a make up game that was reschedlued due to Hurricane Georges. No matter. We had the nation's longest winning streak. Nothing could stop us now.


49-45 Miami.

BEAT SC.

It's That Time Again

SC.
I hate those two letters. I hate Cardinal and Gold. I hate almost everything and anything remotely associated with that cesspool. (the only exception being George Lucas) Especially around this time because it's rivalry week. So for the next five days I will be recounting the five most memorable games I have seen since I've been in existence. I will try to be unbiased but I won't make any promises. I mean rumor has it God was a Bruin...he made the sky blue and the sun yellow.

GO BRUINS. BEAT SC!!

What I'm Thankful For

Keeping with the theme of the last post, (family) I'm gonna let you in on a little tradition I have with my pops. Every year on X-mas eve, (this year the event will make it's Thanksgiving debut) my mother and sister usually go to my grandmother's house or whatever aunt's house is next in the rotation, to exchange presents, eat, and other things of that nature. Usually, everyone from my mother's side is there and a good time is had by all. Well except for me and pops. You see my aunts and grandmother have always this demeanor about them. Quite simply put they hate men and all things male associated. It guess it started with my grandmother and her father. I don't want to get in to it but there are some major daddy issues . Then I guess it snowballed with the fact that none of my mother's sisters has a husband and the one that does is severely mistreated. So when my father and I make that rare appearance there is always an uncomfortable tension in the air. When I became old enough to stand up for myself I decided that I love that side of my family but I don't need to be there. I told pops we should start our own tradition. We should drink. Heavily. At first he laughed at the idea but when I said we should drink seven sevens' he immediately became interested. So while my mother's side is burning men in effigy, my father and I drink while discussing various topics ranging from the current political climate to Bruin athletics. Now again I don't have anything against that side of the family but I rather take a timeout and spend some time with the man who showed me the holy trinity of seven sevens', Tripas, and UCLA.

Cheers to you pops.

Been a little busy

It's been awhile so I'll bring everyone up to speed. I believe I was ranting last time about the Dodgers. Since then they have moved into second place. Normally that would cause optimism and bring a smile to my face, but they are six back of the best team in the majors, the Arizona Diamondbacks. Andruw Jones still hasn't found his swing and as usual the offense is slim to non-existent. Sorta looking grim for my world series prediction. Hopefully Torre has some tricks up his sleeve. Speaking of Torre, I noticed Dodger fans at the recent Joe Torre bobblehead night hording said bobbleheads like they were gold. I myself didn't get one and at first I blamed myself for wanting to drink instead of running in to go get one. But on my way to my seat I see one or two fans holding and guarding a surplus of tiny Joe statues. No kids, no other members in their party but,they feel the need to take all the bobbleheads they can get. Real fucking nice Dodger fans. Give me another reason to feel disenfranchised with the rest of the fans in the left field pavilion. (More on that later...)

UCLA football is in a bit of a state of guarded optimism. The top two quarterbacks going into the fall have been shelved. One of them (Patrick Cowan from Pico Rivera!!)is done with college football altogether, thanks to a season long injury that will cost him the rest of his eligibility. With coach Neuheisel and coach Chow installing a new offense and the lack of depth and experience along the offensive line the timing couldn't be worse. Even though there hasn't been this much excitement in Westwood regarding the football team in quite some time, seven wins should be considered as a success. (As long as we beat SC of course!!)

Other than that it's been pretty much school and the norm. Here are some highlights:

*Went to an old friend's wedding in Vegas during the Rockabilly weekender. (Never been more annoyed by hair grease and awful renditions of "American Nightmare" in my life!!)

*The official beginning of BBQ season on 420

*A new all you can eat Chinese food buffet blocks from my house!!!

*Beach trips and Wii parties.

Gotta go.

So yeah

That ( the Dodger piece below you) was taken from a creative writing class I took last year. So let's start off with an explanation of the tittle: "The Passion Bucket". Passion as defined by Webster's Online dictionary: (http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org)

Passion

Noun

1. Strong feeling or emotion.

2. Intense passion or emotion.

3. Something that is desired intensely; "his rage for fame destroyed him".

4. An irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action.

5. A feeling of strong sexual desire.

1) Things I have strong feelings for: Life, whiskey, God, Johnny Cash, and Social Distortion.

2) Things that stir up intense emotion: Good books, great food, rainy days, sunsets with the LA skyline, awesome music, family, UCLA athletics, and Dodger baseball.

3) Things I desire: knowledge, piece of mind, love, and a '59 Impala.

4) Things I am irrational about: Immigration, Abortion, Homosexuality, and Mathematics.

5) Things I have a strong sexual desire for: women who wear glasses, think for themselves, can handle their liquor, and watch cartoons.

Now that we have established what I am passionate about, the next question is why bucket? As a kid I was nuts about getting happy meals. During the '84 Olympics, McDonalds used to give their meals in a play bucket decorated with some eagle who was the mascot for the games, and while I was eating my mom used to dump all my toys in there. After awhile it became customary for me to be seen walking around with a bucket full of G.I. Joes and He-Man toys. But I really didn't think about it until head football coach of UCLA Rick Neuheisel put the two together. He said "ones passion bucket must be full when playing your bitter rival". Of course he was talking about giving it to those jerks down near the Coliseum, but I took it as being passionate for everything you strive for in life. Put your all into everything you do.. Carpe Diem if you will. Seeing this coming from the leader of the Bruin nation left no doubt in my mind that this was a sign. Since then I have adopted this phrase for everyday life.

Well it's dinner time.

Until next time...