I had an epiphany the other day. I think there has been this ever-present light bulb inside my head and finally, it found the energy to go off.
Ready?
We, as UCLA students, take our athletics for granted. Especially in regard to this year, we don’t appreciate them for what they have accomplished, only remembering them for their failures and shortcomings.
Agree with me or not, here’s my argument.
This entire year has seemed like a giant waiting game for that national championship to finally come around. The big No. 100. What no other school has achieved and what we are on the brink of. A waiting game to see who will be that lucky team.
And every time, we have fallen short, causing widespread disappointment.
Women’s soccer, men’s soccer, women’s volleyball and men’s basketball are just a few teams that have had a national championship a few games within their grasp and have failed to get it.
Personally, I have been frustrated with it all season. Being so close but never coming through.
But now, I’m fine with it. Even if it happens again.
See, we tend not to summarize the season in terms of all the accomplishments made; we remember where we lost in postseason contention. We don’t remember that men’s soccer made practically a miracle run to the finals, just that they lost when they got there.
So look at it a different way. Although all these teams have come close, all four teams have also reached Final Fours within their respective sports. That’s incredible. Think of how hard it is to reach the Final Four in basketball, and imagine doing it four times over.
A majority of our sports teams this season have been ranked. Not one or two sports like most other schools. A majority. Any given opponent in any given sport almost always expects UCLA to be stiff competition.
Other schools’ athletic directors must go crazy.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m not asking for a huge change in attitude. I think part of the reason UCLA is so special is because of what we demand of each and every team. There is this impressive standard and expectation to obtain a national title that drives our teams to succeed. It makes new recruits want to come here year after year.
Arron Afflalo, in his own words, came here to win a national championship. If he didn’t think he could get that national championship, maybe he would’ve gone to USC.
We still have a few teams left to go this year, namely gymnastics and women’s water polo. If in the end, these teams fall through, maybe a new way to think retrospectively is due. Be disappointed for a little bit, but then get over it and see that, wow, we accomplished so much this season.
I say a lot of this in light of the gymnastics NCAA Championships Thursday night and this weekend. I’m writing this without knowing the outcome or final scores.
Which is exactly my point.
If they win a national championship, I’ll be happy.
But if they don’t, I think I’m going to be OK with that. As a fan, I’m proud of that team no matter what.
And hopefully you will be too.
E-mail Wenzel at
awenzel@media.ucla.edu.