courtesy: Lakers
Bill Macdonald’s been a sportscasting mainstay in Southern California since the Fox Sports West/Prime Ticket Network signed on in 1985.
Ex-Bruin Macdonald living the dream as Lakers’ TV voice.
courtesy: Lakers
courtesy: Lakers
Bruins Mora has big impact in first 2 months.
New UCLA head football coach Jim Mora Jr. has been busy his first two months in Westwood. Click here for my story on examiner.com.
Mora’s impact evident in first 2 months on the job.
photo: Eric Geller
It’s been a two-month whirlwind for new Bruins head football coach Jim Mora Jr. Since being hired December 10th to replace Rick Neuheisel, Mora’s named his coaching staff and turned in one of the best recruiting classes in the country.
Ex-Rams Vermeil & Bruce “serenaded” by Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams.
Stadium issues for the Rams in St. Louis which could render their lease at the Edward Jones Dome null and void by 2014 which could return the franchise back to Los Angeles where it called home for 49 years prior to moving to the midwest in 1995.
Owner Stan Kroenke committing one regular season Rams home game each of the next three seasons away from the Gateway City and heading across the pond to Wembley Stadium in London beginning next season.
All that’s sweet music for some 4,000 members of the Facebook group, Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams, who want their team home.
They made their presence felt at Saturday’s inaugural AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl at the Home Depot Center in Carson.
Amongst a cozy crowd of some 1500 football fans, about 75 to 100 Bring Back the Los Angeles Rams members sat in a section directly behind the National conference bench who were led by ex-St. Louis Rams head coach Dick Vermeil.
Vermeil led the Gateway City version of the Rams to a Super Bowl title after the 1999 season with the help of wide out Isaac Bruce who was on his National conference coaching staff for the game.
Listening to non-stop chants of “L.A. Rams…L.A. Rams!” and “Bring them back!…..Bring them back!” throughout the contest, both Vermeil and Bruce, who both got their NFL roots with the Los Angeles Rams, couldn’t ignore them.
After the game, hearing their chants of “Bruuuuuuuce”, he went over to their section to greet the fans and sign some autographs.
“I played my rookie year with the Los Angeles Rams and played my junior college ball at Santa Monica College.” said Bruce. “I wouldn’t change anything in my career but I sure did miss playing in L.A. during winter when it’s 70 degrees outside.”
Bruce even asked me who the last Los Angeles Ram was to catch a touchdown pass. It happened on Christmas Eve 1994 at Anaheim Stadium. I couldn’t answer it.
“Jermaine Ross.” Bruce said. I replied with, “Chris Miller probably tossed it.” Bruce said, “I think he was hurt. So it must’ve been Chris Chandler.”
We weren’t sure. I checked and guessed right. It was Miller.
As for the NFL returning to L.A., Bruce believes it’s inevitable.
“Surprising it’s been 17 years. This is a great place to play. These fans deserve a team. They’ll have a team here as soon as a new stadium’s built.”
When asked about a possible return by the Rams, it’s all speculation to him.
“I wouldn’t know. That’s business. We have loyal fans in St. Louis. Was a lot of fun playing there especially during the ‘Greatest Show On Turf‘ years.”
Vermeil’s National Conference squad got the best of Tom Flores’ American Conference squad, 20-14.
After the game I asked the coach about those loud L.A. Rams fans in the stands.
Soon, a brand new state-of-the-art stadium will be built in the City of Angels and at that time, we’ll all know if the Rams were brought back to it.
Ex-Penn St. players told Joe Pa near death during NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.
As if trying to catch the eye of pro football scouts wasn’t difficult and stressful enough for former Penn State Nittany Lion players Jon Rohrbaugh and Andrew Szczerba, getting the news their college coach was “near death” made their task even greater Saturday night.
Playing for the American Conference in the inaugural AstroTurf NFLPA Collegiate Bowl Game at Home Depot Center in Carson, California, both players were told about Joe Paterno’s failing health from Tom Flores, their head coach in the game, just before kickoff.
“He was truly a father figure for me and my teammates on and off the field,” said Rohrbaugh, a long snapper in the bowl game. “His line to all of us was always ’Take care of the little things and the big things will take care of themselves. “
The 85 year old winningest coach in FBS history, Paterno, who was the Nittany Lions head coach for six decades, is suffering serious complications from treatments for lung cancer that was diagnosed November 18th of last year, just nine days after being fired in the wake of sexual abuse charges against former assistant Jerry Sandusky.
As of Saturday night, Paterno was still connected to a ventilator at Mount Nittany Medial Center in State College, Pennsylvania. His family was debating taking him off the ventilator Sunday morning.
UCLA gridders fight Illini in Kraft Fight Hunger Bowl
UCLA rolls an unlucky 13 losing at Stanford, 60-59.
courtesy: Paul Sakuma / AP
The unluckiest of numbers Thursday night for UCLA was the number 13. The Bruins had 13 chances to overtake Stanford and steal the PAC-12 opener for both schools in Palo Alto. UCLA couldn’t convert any of those 13 chances losing to the Cardinal, 60-59.
Lady Bruin Volleyballers beat Illinois for 4th NCAA Championship
courtesy: USPW
The Bruins will always “Remember The Alamo” because UCLA athletics is all about winning national championships.
UCLA did it again this past weekend taking the Bruins major college record 108th National Championship with the 9th seeded Women’s Volleyball Teams four set win over number three seed, Illinois.
Jim L. Mora introduced as new Bruins football coach
courtesy: UCLA
Confident his third gridiron coaching hire’s the charm, on Tuesday, UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero introduced Jim L.Mora. as the Bruins 17th head football coach.
“I’d like to welcome Jim and his family to the UCLA Bruins family.” Guerrero said.
Bruins’ Howland permanently dismisses Jr. forward Nelson
courtesy: AP
Enough was enough for UCLA Bruins men’s basketball coach Ben Howland.
Friday, Howland dismissed enigmatic junior forward Reeves Nelson from the team because of numerous conduct issues, effectively ending his career as a Bruins cager.
On Any Given Sports Day 