In a year that has been so improbable, another major sports
streak fell on Tuesday night.
The Washington Redskins lost on Sunday, and President Bush was
still re-elected.
And this happens only a little over a week after the Boston Red
Sox won the World Series.
So in this recent time period of the unthinkable, I’m a
believer again.
I think UCLA will beat USC this year.
Yes, in football.
There’s a logical argument there, too. But first, the fun
part.
And yes, I’m the same writer who ripped the football team
to shreds last week. I’m also the same writer who said the
season ends after the Nov. 13 road game at Oregon, trying to
eliminate the USC game from the schedule.
But this year is different.
The party in power in the White House had never won the
presidency in a year the Redskins lost their last home game before
the election ever, in any year in the history of the Redskins. The
other way around has worked also. In years the Redskins won their
last home game before the election, the party in power at the White
House always won the presidency.
For those of you who have been asleep or literally studying
non-stop for midterms over the last week, the Redskins lost to
Green Bay on Sunday, but Bush still won the election on Tuesday,
without a Redskins win or any intervention from Katherine Harris or
the Supreme Court.
And most of you know it had been 86 years since the Red Sox had
ever won the World Series, which somehow happened last week.
In comparison, USC has only beaten UCLA five years in a row.
So if those streaks can end, why not UCLA’s? There’s
been plenty of other weird trends in sports and life to back me up
““ not just the Red Sox and Redskins’ streaks coming to
a close.
All three Florida powerhouse college football programs ““
Florida, Florida State and Miami ““ lost on the same day
(Saturday).
The extreme liberals on our campus haven’t fled to Canada
yet, like many said they would if Bush was re-elected.
And we had that lunar eclipse last week. That has to mean
something.
Plus, this year, unlike the past couple of years, I can make a
logical case for how the Bruins will finally beat USC.
UCLA has an offense, and more importantly, the team has a
defense now. Need proof?
The defense shut out Stanford. Bad defenses don’t get
shutouts. Ever. And while the offense didn’t play that well
last week, they’ve shown they could put up points earlier in
the year.
USC is more vulnerable this year than last year. I know
they’re undefeated, but the Trojans just don’t look as
good as last year. They struggled heavily against Stanford and Cal.
And UCLA easily beat Stanford and played a competitive game against
Cal.
Also, UCLA will have three weeks to focus solely on USC for the
big rivalry game. The Trojans play their other big rival, Notre
Dame, the week before they play UCLA.
It can happen. It will happen.
The city of Boston did not burn down because of the World
Series’ celebration. With all the riots everywhere after
teams win championships, and as long as that city had been waiting
for one, you would think Boston would have had the riot to end all
riots.
Speaking of riots and fires ““ will anyone mind if Westwood
goes up in flames after UCLA beats USC this year?
E-mail Gil at gquinonez@media.ucla.edu