For years, I’ve been complaining about the Pac-10’s inability to reach a deal with ESPN in basketball to put its games on the nation’s most-watched sports network. I thought it was especially important this year, considering how strong the Pac-10 is overall. But I changed my mind on Monday night. UCLA fans, count your blessings. […]
Author Archives: Gilbert Quiñonez
Bucks for talent ““ it’s a fair deal
It’s hard to carry out a discussion about sports nowadays without bringing up how much coaches and pro athletes are paid. Whenever a huge contract is signed, fans and media personalities will gripe about it like it’s the end of the world. Most recently, such people are complaining about Nick Saban agreeing to an 8-year, […]
It’s true: UCLA outshines ‘SC
Thank you, Los Angeles Sports Council, for brightening my day. At an awards ceremony on Sunday night, the L.A. Sports Council announced its top 10 moments of 2006. UCLA and USC were both on the list twice. But UCLA was listed both times for victories, while USC was mentioned both times for, well, losing in […]
McGwire deserves a place in Hall of Fame
Every sports fan has a moment that made him sick to his stomach. For most sports fans, it happens after their favorite team collapses or they see a player horribly injured on the field. Mine came in front of Congress, of all places. “I’m not here to talk about the past.” Hearing Mark McGwire utter […]
Playing in a girl’s world
In a sports world where men rarely compete directly against women, it comes as a surprise to many sports fans when they learn that the overwhelming majority of NCAA women’s basketball teams use men to practice against. The tradition of using men either on scout teams or to help with drills during the women’s team […]
UCLA earns high preseason rank
The preseason college baseball polls have been released, and for the first time in years, UCLA is ranked highly. The Bruins are ranked No. 13 by Baseball America and No. 26 by Collegiate Baseball. The Bruins have not been in the top 15 since 2000, when they went to a super regional and finished the […]
Let’s make the rivalry relevant with a win
The UCLA-USC annual football game is in serious danger of no longer being a rivalry. For this rivalry, which is rich in history and tradition, to survive, UCLA is going to have to win a game from time to time. Not only has USC beaten UCLA seven times in a row, but only one game […]