Andrew Erickson: Running through walls for journalism

The best advice I received this year came from a high school senior. Toward the end of a high school journalism club meeting, as the students were putting the finishing touches on the Weekly Cobra layout, we talked about the uncertain future of journalism and my uncertain future within that uncertain future. “It doesn’t matter […]

Westside Special Olympics’ artistic gymnast to compete in World Games

Natasha Burgos knew her gymnast, Caelyn Griffith, was on vacation. But the good news couldn’t wait. The local gymnastics coach called her friend and Griffith’s mother, Clausine Honda, and gave a family summer camping trip a happy interruption: Griffith had been selected to compete in the 2015 Special Olympics Summer World Games. Griffith’s selection was […]

UCLA running back recruit arrested, booked on charge of evading arrest

This post was updated on April 19 at 4:50 p.m. UCLA running back recruit Sotonye “Soso” Jamabo was arrested and booked early Sunday for evading a police officer with a vehicle, according to police records. According to a statement from Kemp Chief of Police Robert D. Walker, Jamabo was driving a Ford pickup eastbound on […]

Former NFL player Robert Thomas returns to UCLA as coach, student

It’s not recognition like it was during his UCLA playing days, but a few students have noticed Robert Thomas is back on campus. “A few older students,” he said, laughing. “It’s a good feeling, I guess.” The former All-American linebacker and Pac-10 Defensive Player of the Year started this quarter as a student coaching assistant […]

Q&A: Statistics analyst talks prestige bias in March Madness

The story of Scotland Leman’s March Madness study begins in a Blacksburg, Va., bar. That’s where the Virginia Tech statistics professor and a few colleagues went to watch then-coach Seth Greenberg’s press conference shortly after the Hokies (22-12, 9-7 Atlantic Coast Conference in 2010) had been snubbed of an at-large NCAA tournament bid. Greenberg openly […]

Former UCLA basketball player Zach LaVine dominates NBA Slam Dunk contest

Bothell High School boy’s basketball coach Ron Bollinger had already wrapped up nearly two hours of grueling practice, but he couldn’t go home. Instead, he had to supervise a private, impromptu slam dunk contest. Then-senior guards Perrion Callandret – who now plays for Idaho – and Zach LaVine, as well as junior big man Josh […]

From UCLA to the NBA: Former Bruins form coalition in pros

Matt Barnes (SF) 45th overall, Memphis Grizzlies, 2002 After four years of solid, but not elite, play at UCLA, earning an All-Pac-10 honorable mention in 2001, Matt Barnes made a name for himself in the NBA as a scrapper – a solid defender, impressive rebounder for his size and sometimes streaky shooter. It wasn’t easy […]