Wednesday, December 2, 1998
Black uniforms break tradition but mark start of Lavin era
COLUMN: Coach initiated into UCLA history with long line of wise
choices
College basketball is laden with tradition, none greater than
that of UCLA. John Wooden, Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard, Lew
Alcindor, Bill Walton, Larry Brown, Reggie Miller, Don McLean and
Ed O’Bannon are all synonymous with Bruin basketball. Pauley
Pavilion is the Parthenon of college hoops. UCLA is known worldwide
as a powerhouse in men’s basketball. If it’s powder blue and gold,
it’s UCLA.
As of Nov. 27, add black to that mix.
In his third year as head coach at what is the premier coaching
job in college sports, Steve Lavin has proven to be well on his way
to acceptance into the exclusive fraternity of his Bruin brethren,
forever entrenched in UCLA lore.
He is everything that Bruin fans want in a head coach. He’s
young, stylish, hardworking, debonair, positive, energetic and one
hell of a recruiter. He’s the first coach since the Wizard of
Westwood to guide the Bruins to more than one win in consecutive
postseasons. He’s making a name for himself as a great coach.
He’s also making a statement by bucking the system – the UCLA
system, that is.
With the decision to have the players suit up in black uniforms
for certain road games this season, he’s letting the world know
that this is his team and these are his players.
UCLA alumni and fellow traditionalists may have a problem
getting used to this, but the uniforms are a great idea. It gives
the team a new identity, and it marks the official beginning of the
Steve Lavin era.
Coach said that the idea for the black uniforms came to him two
years ago, when the Duke players were adorned with similar jerseys
in Pauley Pavilion.
The Daily Bruin has already received numerous letters, calls and
e-mails regarding the black uniforms, an overwhelming amount of
which are negative. I can’t fathom what the Los Angeles Times or
the UCLA sports department has had to deal with. Something else I
don’t understand is the rationale behind these claims.
I know tradition is important, especially at UCLA, but change is
positive. Though the powder blue and gold uniforms mean a
tremendous amount sentimentally, the fact remains that they are not
very aesthetically pleasing.
And the bottom line is money, as in merchandising. At least
that’s what Lavin must have claimed when he pitched the idea to
Athletic Director Pete Dallis and Chancellor Albert Carnesale. He
had to justify it as more than just his way to ring in a new
era.
But I’m on to you, Steve. I know that this is just the next step
on the long flight of stairs you must climb to reach the pinnacle
of success, otherwise known as John Wooden.
It started with two amazing recruiting classes and an uncanny
knack for ameliorating smoky situations (remember Kris and
Jelani?). It will eventually end on a ladder, under a basketball
hoop, cutting down the nets following a NCAA Championship.
The uniforms must stay, as certain traditions need to be
escorted away – their moments of glory locked away in some
newspaper clippings in a file cabinet. There is a more important
battle to be fought here, and a more important tradition to be
renewed. Steve Lavin needs to take these Bruins, in these uniforms,
to a national title.
I will guarantee that if UCLA gets to the Final Four, these same
fans that are lambasting the dreaded black uniforms will be the
same ones sporting the new threads come April. Old traditions die
hard – but if a new, improved tradition begins, nobody can
complain.
The black uniforms are symbolic of the struggles and the turmoil
that the program went through in the wake of Harrickgate in 1996.
As the last of Harrick’s recruits leave, the team is in Lavins’
sole possession. He makes all decisions, and he will be the one to
congratulate when times are good. He will also be the one to
reproach when the outcomes are bad.
But it’s all him. From the players to the team managers to the
shoes, socks and uniforms, it’s Steve Lavin. And I back him 100
percent.
If he wants to make the switch to black road uniforms, more
power to him – he’s made some damn good decisions thus far.
Lovett is a seasoned sports journalist who favors interleague
play, high salaries, wild card teams and high-scoring games in all
sports. He can be reached at elovett@media.ucla.edu.Evan Lovett
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