Banner!

It's been a good month or so for banners!  And by the way, thank you, Utah, for finishing off the Ducks to give us the conference title.  It was an inconsistent year but that's what you get with three freshmen starting.  Now onto the conference tournament and beyond...

Bruins Win... Another Season of UCLA Home Games Is Done

 Mister John happily completed another season of tickets for UCLA basketball as he and Mr. Shane watched UCLA beat Arizona by five points.  It should have been more but that's an argument for another day.

Mister John also posed next to John Wooden's statue.  He didn't want to fold his arms and look like Coach.  He'd rather be himself.

New UCLA Jersey: What the Heck?

I was just reading an article in Time.com (yes, I read articles on-line that don't involve sports) but then I saw this sports related article that dealt with UCLA basketball.  I looked at this picture and almost went Boomchair (when Mary Jane falls out of her high chair, she then calls it a Boomchair).  We represent tradition, eleven titles, honor, John Wooden... not surfer dude.  Sure, maybe Bill Walton would have loved these unis back in the day of touring with the Dead but I don't think that even he would approve.  The link is below.





http://keepingscore.blogs.time.com/2013/02/28/march-sadness-adidas-unveils-unsightly-new-college-hoops-uniforms/

Be True to Your School

The girls are looking quite collegial this afternoon. Mary Jane and Betsy Jo are sporting their UCLA and Oregon gear, respectively.

Let's get back to the Final Four

Trying to Get Betsy Jo to Wave

While Daddy was at the pediatrician's office last week, he realized through their typical update questions that he and Mommy had not taught Betsy Jo how to wave.  Oops... must have been that intolerable UCLA basketball season that kept Daddy from imparting such wisdom unto his little girl like waving and clapping.  (Meanwhile Mary Jane is a waving maniac and a clapping fiend... especially when singing the lyrics of "Who's Going to School Today?")

Here Betsy looks agog at Daddy thinking there is no way that she will wave for the camera.  Daddy tries his best and Mary Jane also obliges but to no avail.

Do notice how well Mary Jane has moved on in utensil usage.  Sorry, no chopsticks yet.  Not until Mommy and Daddy have mastered that.  And don't listen to those who say Daddy doesn't hold a fork properly.  That's just nonesense.

15 Down, One to Go

While I by no means would ever claim that I am a die-hard Kings fan (the Dodgers and UCLA basketball are the top two for me), I do admit that watching this run to the Cup is quite amazing.  The veritable road warriors have won TEN straight on the road.  Heck, even the 5-2 home record right now is quite impressive.  Every game the Kings weather the early storm and then summarily close out their opponents in the final two periods. 

Mad props to all my friends who are clearly more ardent Kings fans than me.  It's been quite a long time... since... well, ever!  And I assuredly am not trying to jinx anyone but I might as well give the team mad props when I can.  I couldn't tell you where Anze Kopitar is from, or who actually played NCAA hockey (I'd leave that Jeff), but hey, I know good sport when I watch it.  And team play is much more interesting than that one-on-one garbage those Lakers play.  How can team ball be so effective at the college level and then it's completely forgotten by the time these guys get to the pros?  Anyway, I digress...

I rarely get to watch the games as they now start at five so the girls aren't even down and asleep until the third period.  And the geniuses at NBC have decided to play the games on there new sports channel which we really don't feel like paying extra for.  I'll save that rant for another day... but for now, Kings win!  One more, guys.

Zone Defense?

I finally made it back to a UCLA home game over at the Sports Arena.  Yeah, that's a bit of a drive and most of the home games coincided with baby functions.  Gee, didn't have those issues most of my first 15 years of having season tickets.  Wow, have I become one of those old, grizzled season ticket holders who complains about everything?  I hope not... I only complain about poor game performance, coaching errors, and overpriced food at the concession stands.

I might drag either Betsy or Mary Jane to one of these games.  There is absolutely no one there so I might just go to the upper deck and sing a few lines of "Wheels on the Bus" between dunks, free throws, and Josh Smith fouls.  Or hunt down Joe Bruin get a picture taken with him.

I'll bust out Mary Jane's UCLA cheerleader outfit.  She looks soooo darn cute in that.  That will get us on the Jumbotron.  That's what life is all about: getting your mug on the big screen.  Oh, don't deny it.  You probably proposed hoping that the pressure of the thousands of people would coerce your significant other to make the optimal choice.

Anyway, enough of my meandering words for the evening.