Wandering around the UCLA campus this past week, an unusual
public figure could have been seen working out at Drake Stadium.
Among the countless many who use the track throughout the day, San
Francisco Giants superstar Barry Bonds has been conditioning at
Drake in an attempt to fully recover from three off-season knee
surgeries.
The 40-year-old Bonds has been sprinting and cutting since last
Wednesday, working out at the UCLA track under the direction of
renowned Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim orthopedist Dr. Lewis Yocum
and physical therapist Clive Brewster. Yet the seven-time NL MVP
still hasn’t resumed baseball activities, and is merely using
the track for informal training sessions while he resides in the
L.A. area.
Bonds’ use of UCLA facilities is yet another example of
famous athletes coming to Westwood to either stay physically sharp
or recover from a previous injury. Athletes have even used UCLA for
recreational purposes. For instance, former Lakers great Magic
Johnson rented out Pauley Pavilion during the summer four years ago
and arranged an informal basketball league where professional
players could come to practice against top tier talent.
But in order for an athlete to take advantage of UCLA’s
facilities and officially train here, he or she must first receive
clearance from the university after signing a waiver. This policy
was invoked almost a year ago by both the Athletic Department and
the Recreational Affairs Department to help keep the campus
available to college students first and foremost.
“We wanted to limit how many professional athletes could
use our campus because at some point we have to give students the
opportunity to take advantages of all the resources at their
disposal,” said Rich Mylin, associate director of events,
facilities and operation for UCLA Recreation.
“We do like to cultivate a community with people who
aren’t only in school, but the students have to be our
priority.”
The school hasn’t abolished all athletes from using its
facilities, however, as long as they sign the waiver if they plan
on training with an official staff.
“We don’t allow people to make money off our
campus,” Mylin said. “Basically, if an athlete were to
hire a trainer or some coach we would need to step in and act as a
buffer.”
Given the fact that many public figures ““ celebrities and
athletes alike ““ frequent the campus because of its presence
in one of the country’s marquee metropolises, many would
wonder why the athletic and recreation departments regulate the use
of the campus. But the answer is much simpler than it seems.
“We want to ensure that school can remain as public as
possible,” said Bob Field, associate athletic director.
“By limiting the private use of the school we can keep the
resources available to the public rather than becoming just a
private athletic club.”
The school’s decision was a result of conflicting
opportunities. On one hand, administrators want to keep the
university available to as many people as possible. On the other
hand, there could be a lost opportunity to have notable personas
showing up on campus to enhance campus life.
And having Bonds strutting around campus can’t hurt the
notoriety of UCLA.
“We definitely like having famous athletes and celebrities
around Westwood,” Mylin said. “We view it as an honor
and a validation at what UCLA has to offer as a well-rounded
place.”
As far as Bonds goes, he’s still been seen around Drake in
the morning, climbing steps and running the track. While the
athletic and recreation departments are aware of his presence,
Bonds has yet to ask for any official clearance.
“Technically, he’s just one of hundreds or thousands
of people we have run around the track during open hours trying to
stay in shape,” Fields said.