Polo’s streak blows others out of water

It was a streak that mostly flew under the radar, largely
because it happened in a sport that isn’t very popular to the
average sports fan.

No, it wasn’t nearly as impressive as John Wooden’s
88-game winning streak from decades ago.

But after that one, it was one of the greatest streaks in UCLA
sports history and definitely the greatest in this decade, which is
saying something considering this is a school that has seen 11 NCAA
Championships since 2002.

With a loss this past Sunday, the UCLA women’s water polo
team’s winning streak ended at 40. That’s right ““
40.

Think about that. To put that in terms of sports the average fan
understands, an undefeated collegiate basketball team would win, at
most, 39 games in one season. And in men’s basketball, that
hasn’t happened since 1976, when Indiana went 32-0.

Even when compared to the other 10 UCLA national champions I
previously mentioned, only one had a winning streak even close to
what the women’s water polo did ““ softball, which won
30 in a row in the 2003-2004 season.

What the UCLA women’s water polo did was historic, and
it’s even more mind-boggling when you look at it more
closely.

Only six of those 40 games were decided by two goals or less.
But 15 of the 40 were decided by 10 goals or more.

It was an awesome streak, but the selfish fan in me wishes it
were even longer.

It would’ve been extremely fun to see the streak last
until the team played some home games this season. (UCLA’s
first home game is on Friday.)

It would’ve been fun to see the streak going because this
year’s team is talented enough to potentially run the
table.

This team, because of all the former Olympians on the roster, is
still fun to watch.

But the chase to defend an NCAA title with one loss
doesn’t have the same ring to it as aiming for a 60-game
winning streak.

I know I’m getting way too greedy. I know some of you are
reading this as me knocking the women’s water polo team in
some way (and are probably in the middle of writing me some
profanity-laced e-mail).

Hold your horses.

This was a breathtaking streak. One that, in this day and age of
increasing parity in all college sports, might not happen
again.

Forty wins in a row. Wow.

Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;

College basketball fans rush the court way too often
nowadays.

The latest example came on Monday, when No. 4 Villanova beat No.
1 Connecticut.

Normally, upsetting the No. 1 team in the country would be
acceptable grounds for rushing the court.

But not when you’re a top-five team who is skilled enough
to beat anyone at home.

Not when you’re a team that’s receiving first-place
votes. And not when your team has legitimate national title
hopes.

UCLA fans, take note of this too, even if you don’t get a
chance to rush the court until next season. It looks bad when a
historically strong program rushes the court.

Ңbull;Ӣbull;Ӣbull;

Most people watch the Winter Olympics for the figure skating,
the skiing, speed skating or some other traditional sport.

Meanwhile, I have found my new favorite winter sport ““
curling. I can’t get enough of it.

Curling is essentially shuffleboard on ice and with brooms. And
people get Olympic medals for it, giving me some hope for earning
an Olympic medal in the future. Anyone up for making a UCLA curling
team with me?

It’s riveting TV. How can a gliding rock bumping into
another not be? How can any sport where the athletes look as old as
my parents not be intriguing?

For those of you haven’t noticed my sarcasm yet (probably
the same people who are still e-mailing me for saying that USC only
won one football championship in recent years), it’s baffling
to me how curling is an Olympic sport while baseball and softball
were removed from the Olympics only months ago.

Don’t get me wrong. Curling’s probably fun to play.
So is shuffleboard at times.

But an Olympic sport? Give me a break. Or at least some rocks
and brooms to try the grueling sport myself.

When hell freezes over, join Quiñonez for a curling
match at the L.A. Coliseum. E-mail him at
gquinonez@media.ucla.edu.

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