After adding Arron Afflalo to my interests on Facebook, it hit me.
Not the obvious fact that I have a schoolgirl crush on him (though that may be true), but that I love UCLA, and specifically what basketball does for this school.
Don’t get me wrong, the guy is amazing (no, we have never spoken), but it’s what he symbolizes that gets me. His skill and passion for the game have led the Bruins to back-to-back Pac-10 titles and three consecutive runs into the NCAA Tournament. I’ve been here almost four years now and it’s as though the 11-17 (I think that’s right, but I don’t know much about sports) season my freshman year never happened. 11-17 you ask? I know, I forgot about it, too. But I bet it was absolutely miserable.
Howland has done amazing things with this program and I feel honored to be here during the Bruin rise to national prominence yet again. Seeing John Wooden at the games is remarkable, and it is especially heart-warming during an undefeated home season. The funny thing is, if the basketball team ever has a losing season again (notice I said “if”), there will still be other aspects of Bruin sports that I can direct my interest toward. One day Bruin football will undoubtedly rise again to BCS contention and that makes me smile. I mean, we beat USC ““ anything can happen. Even if that isn’t going my way, we have a killer women’s water polo program to fall back on.
The athletics at this school make it stand out from other top institutions. 100 national titles is unfathomable for schools like Harvard who has a mere 10 titles.
I’m at that crossroads in life ““ we all will face it ““ where my time as an undergraduate is over in a matter of days and, like many of you, I will continue on at some other institution. Were UCLA nestled in the hills of Marin County, I would perhaps opt to finish my schooling there, but sadly, it is in Los Angeles.
I have had about six months too much of L.A. and am ready for a change of scenery. As sad as I am to leave such a fantastic institution and some amazing people, I am overjoyed to be far, far away from the bustle of Hollywood, nauseating traffic, and especially the sexual harassment and verbal abuse from my ex-boss-coke-addict we’ll call “John.” The perfect weather is not so perfect and variety spices up life anyway.
I love UCLA; I hate Los Angeles. I know that typically garners strange looks from folks, but it makes perfect sense to me. I actually bet many of you feel the same way. You miss NorCal too.
As much as I may never want to live in L.A. again, I will forever be a Bruin. Sappy, I know. But assuming Boalt lets me into their illustrious law program, I can still never fathom being a Golden Bears fan. Sure, I’ll attend some games, balk at the subpar reporting skills of the Daily Cal writers and maybe even learn to enjoy the Bears. But mark my words, when the Bruins come to town, know whose side I will be on.
Conveniently for me, blue and gold will suit my inconspicuous nature just fine; but inside, I’ll be cheering for Krikorian, Howland, Scates, … Krikorian, and even Dorrell.
With that said, I will always love Arron Afflalo. I will continue tracking his successful NBA career but not with as much vigor as the Bruin team. Funny thing, I consider myself an eternal pessimist, yet I know for a fact I will always pick UCLA to make it at least to the Elite Eight for the rest of my life.
Granted, one day, far away, they will not make it into the tournament, and when that day comes, I will take my summer vacation in March and distance myself from the madness-mumbling about a fluke the entire way.
Finally, after a three-year love-hate, tumultuous relationship, I say adieu to the Daily Bruin. Though grateful for the career opportunities and skills learned, more importantly, I am grateful for the dates secured as the sultry (and by sultry I mean crazy) reporter. I may be saying farewell to my stint as an editor, but it is only the beginning of my life as an avid Bruin alumna.
You can e-mail me at ewagner@media.ucla.edu if you wish you were a little orange basketball.