102 Comments
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Dimitri Dorlis's avatar

The comments seem like a good spot to put this as well, but after the game last week I went offline and came back essentially this morning, and it was very touching to see everyone rally around a member of our community going through a difficult time. Say what you will about how much we all bicker, but that was very heartwarming.

I hope you are able to find some peace, Tamara, and may your mother's memory be eternal.

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Principal Terry's avatar

I appreciate that Tamara was comfortable sharing personally with us about an extremely difficult situation. It speaks very highly of our community and the level of trust we have in one another. We have become friends in spite of our lack of proximity. I appreciate the banter but even more appreciate our care for each other. Thanks to you Dimitri and Joe for heading this group and promoting its valuable culture.

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Tamara's avatar

Terry, you are an angel my friend 💙💛🙏

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kingjim1954's avatar

Terry I believe we are a we. We watch the games with emotion like those we had with our friends watching in Pauley. It's a welded bond.

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Tamara's avatar

Thank you, from my heart 💙💛 This community is so much more than basketball or football, it is a family to everyone here. My mom loved UCLA so much and we went to every game together. She was so proud that my brother and I both earned degrees from UCLA. Much love to you Dimitri, and God bless you always 💙💛🙏

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kingjim1954's avatar

Tamara, I'm sorry I missed it and my condolences to you and your family. My mom passed on the 13th and my two "kids" plan to accompany me to ABQ for her funeral. May our mom's rest in peace!🙏

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Tamara's avatar

Sweet Jim, thank you from my heart 💙💛And my heart goes out to you in the loss of your beautiful mom. Know she will live in your heart forever. Be safe in your travels and may your mom's loving soul be filled with peace. God bless you and your family ❤️🙏💔

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kingjim1954's avatar

Thank you, my friend!

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BruinMom17's avatar

Jim, so sorry to hear about your mom. My mom died in 2020. My dad in 2012. It is so difficult to lose a parent. Please accept my condolences. Glad your kids are able to join you for the funeral. May your mother rest in peace.

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kingjim1954's avatar

Thank you Bruin Mamma. Yes it is so hard. The perpetual love that was always supposed to be with us becomes really gone. We lost both of or dads in 1999, Katie's mom passed while I was in school and she at Davis. I'm blessed that my kids are willing to help me travel back.

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gbruin's avatar

I'm so sorry to hear this, Jim. What a tough time for our dear friends here. Safe travels, and my deepest condolences to you and your family.

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kingjim1954's avatar

Thanks, Greg.

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bruinballer's avatar

Jim, my heartfelt sincere condolences upon your loss. Again, may the warm memories of her love for you and yours help you during your time of grieving.

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kingjim1954's avatar

Thanks, BB, your thoughts help.

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bruinballer's avatar

Sorry that I missed that yesterday, Tamara, as I came halfway through the game. My heart and my condolences go out to you and yours in this difficult time. May the great memories and your love for each other tide you all during your grieving.

Sounds like you all made her very proud and happy!

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Tamara's avatar

Thank you my sweet friend for all of your caring and loving thoughts 💙💛 I have surrounded myself with memories of my mom... so many treasured times. Much love and God bless you bb 💙💛💔🙏

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ArmyBruin's avatar

In the post-game, Cronin stated that Mara plays like that quite often. That begs the question. Then why is he sitting? WTFU, Mick!

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W412's avatar

I think sometimes he mistakes his head and his butt. The things he says and does can be so perplexing.

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mgibby's avatar

He wins, doesn't he?

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W412's avatar

Four game losing streak, no championships, poor recruiting, and repeating the same mistakes show his wins amount to a hill of beans.

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mgibby's avatar

Ucla hasn't won a National Championship in Men's Basketball since 1995. Poor recruiting? LMAO 🤣 🤣 🤣. He gets 4 and 5 star recruits. There's no pleasing the Grimm Weepers.

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Matthew Scott's avatar

A reminder, the best pro baseball players fail 7 out of 10 times these days and Dan Dakich or someone on his show pointed out changing gm's and coaches is not a proven track record for success. Washington w/new owner, GM and Coach and Quarterback have been the latest anomaly in that area.

But John Harbaugh and Brian Billick and their 2 GMs in that Short Ravens tenure have a decent track record of being consistent winners, playoff contenders.

I'd throw in The Steelers with Noll, Cowher, Tomlin . They kind of fit the criteria for keeping a coach rather than firing him because of a down season.

Milwaukee Coach won and then was fired 2 seasons later. Now they have Doc, who has a horrible track record other than when he won with Pierce, Garnett & Allen + a Rondo who was true point guard and a host of vets who gave up money to be part of a championship team.

I'm the most optimistic fan on the planet when it comes to my teams!

Dolphins, Celtics, Bruins (NHL)

MLB is complicated initially Red Sox

Fred Lynn, California Angels, Baltimore Orioles, following Lynn.

Mussina became my next favorite so ultimately becoming a Yankee fan. Now Baltimore Again.

***Even I didn't think this was possible in my wildest dreams;

Cronin performed a miracle his second season here, are you conveniently forgetting that?

Yet the best of the best besides Wooden, totally different era.

Saban, Meyer/Florida/OSU

Coach K, Pitino, Calipari, Izzo, Tarkanian, D Hurley, Harbaugh, both brothers haven't been building insurmountable dynasties!

The exceptions;

Belichick, Johnson (Dallas) Mahomes/Reid *with some very very questionable calls like Brady and Belichick used to get.

the few exceptions

besides NBA in recent decades

After Celtics Lakers 80, Dominance.

Pistons, Daly Dumas Thomas

Chicago Bulls Jordan era

Lakers Shaq & Kobe & Phil era

San Antonio Pop Robinson Duncan Parker Ginoblli

Golden State Curry era

Cleveland /Miami Lebron

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Matthew Scott's avatar

I respect your takes, but in hindsight as much as I wished he'd gotten more minutes. Had opportunities to gain much needed confidence through more playing time. 99% of his time on the court of games I've watched, he has not showed enough physicality to deserve more minutes.

I'm sure playing against Kyle, Bilodeau, Johnson, while smaller in stature, their build and center of gravity, they out-muscle him pretty consistently. He's probably put on at least 15-20 lbs of muscle yet he's still getting manhandled by guys Kyle's size or stronger.

Remember how few minutes Peyton Watson got in his one year? Another good example is Trent Perry. At times he looks pretty good for a freshman, but at other times he looks lost and totally overmatched!

Even in the comment section, I see everyone knocking him (Mara) "gotta to make those" for his misses. Missed layups, missing baby hooks. He did not even give the appearance as far as body language of being the least bit confident. Confidence in respect to athletic ability is sometimes more important than skill.

His body language and confidence went from a 3 to 9.9 in just those 21 minutes last game. Hopefully it carries on for the remainder of the season. But will that translate to more consistent play or just an anomaly like the game Jake Kyman had against Washington years ago on the road. 7-12 from 3. Then he transferred to Eastern Washington and in 32 games he led the team in scoring only 5 times, back to back 25 pt games against at USC, at Air Force. Then he had 15 at Cal Poly 21 at Montana and 19 at home vs Weber St. Averaging just 10.4 for the year.

I hope I'm proven wrong about Mara. I'm definitely in agreement that he definitely deserves more minutes but will he be able to show he deserves consistent minutes. After Kyle's performance against Iowa he should be getting more time also but he didn't last game to the benefit of Mara.

And believe me I'm always trying to be the optimist when it comes to the players, teams and coaches. I remember everyone downplaying the woman's team for winning the NIT years ago. But just trying to comment positively about that I was scorned saying yeah they're 65th best in the country! Yippee!

I said can't we at least happy that they beat every team they faced in that lesser tournament. It's like downplaying your own kids accomplishments because they weren't the best or champions.

A lot of people were saying Cronin had lost the team. Not here, although some said it. But in comment sections on YouTube and other sport sites. I think Mick challenged them in a way that sparked them into playing up to their capabilities. Maybe I'm just putting my optimistic spin on things. Some said his calling them soft should have been done in the locker room and shouldn't have be done in public especially naming a few. That's debatable, but I see it working.

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mgibby's avatar

I think Mara has enormous potential. Hopefully he keeps bulking up and stays in the program.

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Matthew Scott's avatar

Hopefully Jamie Jaquez can give him a call a tell him how he greatly benefitted from staying and it definitely helped his transition to getting playing time at the next level. I'm sure he also is grateful to the work he put in and it's has to be nice to not have to be bounced up a down from the G League. Guys like Amari Bailey, still stuck in G league. He's on Iowa Jalen Clark's team. I know they worry about a possible career ending injury or maybe having a bad sophomore year that might hurt their draft position. I rember hearing of Mara's vision, passing skills and his decent fundamentals. He just needed experience and strength. It's paying off!

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mgibby's avatar

They're going for 3 in a row Friday at Washington. Let's get it!

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Bruin4ever's avatar

After defeating a very good Wisconsin team, Friday's match at Washington could be a potential trap game for the Bruins. Because after that, they play at U$C, then face Oregon and MSU at home.

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mgibby's avatar

Can't overlook anyone. Oddly enough, Washington's only win in Big Ten Was against Maryland, who drubbed UCLA. And a mediocre USC team beat Illinois. The conference is deep.

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Bruin4ever's avatar

Happy to see Mara getting the opportunity to play meaningful minutes and delivering his best game by far this season. Looking at the game stats, I would've assumed the Badgers' 51% FG shooting (15-for-30 from 3) and 18-for-21 FTs (85.7%) combined with Bilodeau and Johnson fouling out resulted in a loss for the Bruins. But after struggling to score for most of this season, UCLA's offense outscored the Badgers 49-42 in the 2nd half.

Curious to see how Coach Cronin utilizes Mara and the rest of the lineup going forward. And in spite of the SBTRs, the Bruins are starting to look less soft and delusional against their tough B1G Conference opponents.

Go Bruins!

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Gen2Bruin1987's avatar

At least one of the refs was an SPTR and you only need one rotten egg.

Mara was gassed at the end and the only way to get in game shape is to play in games. Hope Cronin gives him more minutes.

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Bruin4ever's avatar

Totally agree. I'd rather see Mara gain more experience and learn from mistakes, rather than waste so much time sitting on the bench. I also hope that he can eventually play his way into the starting lineup.

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BruinMom17's avatar

It was so great for Mara to get a true break out game. He was interviewed by Josh and Tracy after the game. It sounded like the things he does in practice finally translated to game scenario and you could just hear the elation in his voice. CMC pointed out in his post game that Mara often is not treated fairly by the officials which potentially limits his minutes. Must be a frustrating position for the coaching staff.

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Gen2Bruin1987's avatar

You would the Big Ten would be used officiating big centers.

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Alan Fisher's avatar

The worst aspect of this game is not having it easily available on television or radio. I live in Maryland, and none of the networks carried the game. I do not have Peacock, and I do not know how to listen to a Los Angeles radio station. I followed the game as best as I could from the play by play on the Internet -- very unappealing. I have been an UCLA fan since I was in high school (Fairfax, in Los Angeles), and I attended most UCLA games when I was a student and then when I was in graduate school in Berkeley. The Big 157 (or how large the number is now) should carry all the UCLA basketball games!

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BruinMom17's avatar

I feel your pain. We don't get Peacock either. The Mighty Bruin game thread articles always have the radio link for the games plus the Live Stats. The games are called by Josh Lewin and Tracy Murray. I often prefer listening to them instead of the TV commentators TBH.

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W412's avatar

This link can always be checked, too: https://uclabruins.com/watch

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Matthew Scott's avatar

There are streaming services. A friend and I got talking about football and he told me about them just Google redditnbastreams or whatever league you're looking to watch.

Like Napster for music years ago. There are lots of legal sites, like a site like Flixtor. You can pay to be a member. Flixtor isn't a sports streaming site but Google LeBron getting caught watching a game on a streaming service, that's the site I use 99% of the time.

I used to pay ridiculous money for the NFL package but now why pay when you can find it for free. Even YouTube channels have been carrying the woman's games this year. I'm as excited about them as I've ever been for the men's teams, football and baseball. I like the softball and soccer programs, men's and women. Never really watched any of the volleyball teams but in the future perhaps.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Were you DRUNK when you were watching the game? UCLA got EVERY CALL UNDER THE SUN. The, "intentional foul", at the end of the first half was ATROCIOUS! Clark looked like a DYING FISH on land. He was FLOPPING ALL OVER THE COURT!

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mgibby's avatar

Shut up.

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Dimitri Dorlis's avatar

Well, this is a first....

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BruinMom17's avatar

Well this escalated quickly. We went from sincere condolences to those who recently lost their beloved mothers to what I am not sure. Kind of feel like I'm on another site. Oof! IYKYK

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mgibby's avatar

John is obviously a UCLA hating 🤡 troll.

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John Gallagher's avatar

That same, "intentional foul", occurs at the end of EVERY GAME when the team that's behind is fouling, and it's NEVER called as an, "intentional foul". ARREST the Official that called it as an, "intentional foul"! It was the difference in the game.

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mgibby's avatar

Guess you missed Tonje pushing off Johnson to create space for a 3 pointer or Wisconsin players bumping UCLA defenders with elbows multiple times. Don't be a clown.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Take off your UCLA pajamas. It's daytime now. You're also living in an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE.

The CHARGING CALL on Tonje might have been THE WORST I've ever seen. Wisconsin shot 51/50/86, and LOST! This game was STOLEN from Wisconsin!

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mgibby's avatar

You're a grade A doofus. Wisconsin got away with a bunch of uncalled shit when they had the ball. UCLA won fair and square. Stop crying about it, 🤡.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Mack must still have a SORE NECK from throwing his head back all night when he was NEVER TOUCHED. Do they TEACH, "acting", at UCLA? There were also MULTIPLE TAUNTING CALLS that should have been called on UCLA. Tonje LIT-UP UCLA, and he never tried to show-up UCLA even once.

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Matthew Scott's avatar

Are you a KC chiefs fan also who thinks they never get any special calls like Brady and the Tuck rule etc...

Are you a disgruntled Wisconsin fan? You're pushing it if so. It's one thing to maybe disagree over a call or two but to come to the opponents site and attack without using any eloquence is showing your true colors! Immature to say the least. But some aren't just fans, they're full fledged FANATICS!

Is your age and IQ coming close to merging with one another?

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mgibby's avatar

Dude is a crybaby. 💯

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Matthew Scott's avatar

2 more things

"Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt,"

"Ignorance can be educated, drunkenness can be sobered, but stupidity... lasts forever" - said by anyone seeing your comments!

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mgibby's avatar

Exactly. John sounds like an idiot.

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mgibby's avatar

Mara lit up Wisconsin. Boohoo.

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John Gallagher's avatar

And he should have been called for TAUNTING at least once. Go back and watch the game. Mack should have been called for TAUNTING at least twice.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Yet Gilmore got called for a TECHNICAL for being YANKED DOWN by Mack.

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mgibby's avatar

Blackwell didn't flex after making shots? Stop it. You sound retarded.

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John Gallagher's avatar

"Flexing", while running down the court isn't even close to YELLING IN AN OPPONENT'S FACE after you score.

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Matthew Scott's avatar

Its after midnight here, est time.

So I'm breaking the don't feed the _____ after midnight rule but

Are you on SB Nation? Out of curiosity I checked a few of their latest articles and maybe you've been banned? Or maybe you go by a different name there. 

I'm all for free speech, because acceptable speech needs no protection. But there are rules at certain sites.

Now even though I'm calling you out for being over the top, and in my opinion, immature. I see that's become the norm in many comment sections not only in sports but also politics. The name calling takes the place of rational debate. Usually when attacks using the favorite insults start flying, it's a tell tale sign that you've got no ammo left, logic or reason is not in the wheelhouse of many these days unfortunately! Debating an  adversary is more akin to you thinking impugning the person or character assassination is a viable strategy.

Any observers who have intelligence see through that! Were there questionable calls in that game? YES, Are there questionable calls in every game in every sport. YES! But to relentlessly attack an opponents site is either just REAL trolling or just a pathetic cry for any attention you can get. I sense maybe your life lacks any real authentic meaning. Now this is just speculative on my part. But does the phrase glutton for punishment, mean anything to you?

This was a game, one of 35-40 games by the end of the season.  It's not life and death and hopefully on your deathbed these won't be the last things your mind is focused on. That Wisconsin/UCLA game, boy I really gave it to those mighty bruin faithful!

I can sum it up, or Thomas Sowell can sum up my points

"One of the painful signs of years of dumbed-down education is how many people are unable to make a coherent argument. They can vent their emotions, question other people’s motives, make bold assertions, repeat slogans – anything except reason.~"Thomas Sowell

PS Thank You!

in my rant I had to look up and check spellings and phrases because in this world you can make a great argument only to have some grammatical errors, it will be dismissed entirely for a few minor mistakes! Be well and

Pick your battles wisely!

Good advice for myself, in hindsight!

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John Gallagher's avatar

When was the last time UCLA lost shooting 51/50/86? I'm pretty sure that the answer is NEVER.

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mgibby's avatar

Wisconsin will lose 100% of the time they score 83 and allow 85.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Welcome to the B1G, UCLA. It's ALL about getting LOTS of teams into the NCAA Tournament. UCLA needed a win BADLY the other night, and as usual, B1G Officiating took care of it.

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John Gallagher's avatar

By the way, ENJOY your #9 Seed, UCLA.

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mgibby's avatar

Can you see the future, doofus?

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Matthew Scott's avatar

I think he's basing it on Joe Lunardi's current #9 ranking for us that was last updated Jan 21st. While Wisconsin's was #4. Bracketology is updated every 3 or 4 days. It starts before the season even begins. lol 🤭

I'm not a Expert Seeder but I'd think those ranking will change over the next 10 games!

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mgibby's avatar

Exactly. They're very fluid.

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Matthew Scott's avatar

We don't need especially high seeds to make runs we were the first 4 in in 2021 and Beat Mich St.,

BYU, no#2 Alabama no#1 seed Michigan and lost on a half court shot to Gonzaga. So were not really worried about seeding and our 11 national championships are a nice incentive to get no#12!

Yes Harrick was the last , Howland got us close a few years in a row.

But it's much better than Wisconsin's 1 Championshipor

You once in recent times reached the championship game in the NCAA tourney in 2015 to but lost to Duke 68-63.

But you have a storied past of championships

Boxing (8): 1939, 1942, 1943, 1947, 1948, 1952, 1954, 1956

Men's Ice Hockey (6): 1973, 1977, 1981, 1983, 1990, 2006

Men's Cross Country (6): 1982, 1983, 1985, 1988, 2005, 2011

Women's Ice Hockey (7): 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2019, 2021, 2023

Women's Cross Country (2): 1984, 1985

Men's Basketball (1): 1941🥳🥳🥳🥳

Men's Soccer (1): 1995

Men's Indoor Track (1): 2007

Volleyball (1): 2021

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John Gallagher's avatar

TAKE DOWN the statue of John Wooden, and put one up for THE REAL person that got UCLA most of your Men's Basketball National Championships.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Sam Gilbert

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John Gallagher's avatar

By the way, Wisconsin's TWO ROSE BOWL WINS over UCLA, although not National Championships, were in a word, "refreshing".

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mgibby's avatar

Why are you here, 🤡?

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mgibby's avatar

Just shut the hell up. Bo Ryan and Greg Gard have more class than you.

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John Gallagher's avatar

My dog has MUCH MORE intelligence than you, mgibby!

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mgibby's avatar

I fucking doubt it. Your dog has way more intelligence than you.

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Matthew Scott's avatar

I just recently saw Bobby Knight talk of him. I was born in 1967 so this was new to me. Yes maybe there was some less than above board transactions, but I'm sure other programs in college sports have had similar characters. Look at the real world. If money is involved there's a very good chance corruption is going on. Congress is full of insider traders.

Why would a game that generates tremendous revenue not be the same?

We tend to overlook how pretty much everything in this world has been corrupted by power and money. The gambling in sports now really calls into question officiating. Point saving scandals of the past, Pete Rose betting on games. Brett Farve doing some fraudulent money schemes, several players being involved in drug distribution at high levels. A few like Aaron Hernandez, Rae Carruth, Ray Lewis involvement in 2 murders ar a super bowl party. How many Joe Mixon types have domestic abuse charges. We live in a pretty messed up environment. Id argue there are more serious criminals wearing suits and ties than long hair tattoos etc. Many have enough wealth and connections to never even face public scrutiny let alone charges.

So maybe you should focus on policing the world and your own area before worrying about one college basketball game where your team mat have not gotten every call.

Wooden i know happensto be well thought of, many historic figures have some skeletons in their past. JFK, MLK, I could name 100's but that is in the past and has little to do with your comments about the game that started your tirade about.

Move on. Focus on more important things.

NIL money, start investigating into that rabbit hole. That should keep you busy!

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Matthew Scott's avatar

You need some crackers with your whine!

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John Gallagher's avatar

UCLA was fouled on EIGHT STRAIGHT POSSESSIONS at one point in the second half. What a joke!

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UCLA4EVER's avatar

I assume this Wisconsin "fan" paid the Mighty Bruin subscription price so he could post? Hope, in his "mind", he got his money's worth because to everybody else, he is nothing more than an embarrassment to himself and rational Wisconsin fans.

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mgibby's avatar

I hope Wisconsin loses even more now. Will be great to think of you getting pissed off some more. 🤣

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John Gallagher's avatar

By the way, was anyone even at the game? Or were A LOT of your, "fans", dressed-up as EMPTY SEATS?

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mgibby's avatar

Crybaby.

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John Gallagher's avatar

Does, "The Truth", hurt?

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UCLA4EVER's avatar

I would ask you the same--particularly your claim that the all Big10 officials are basically cheaters on the take. You have lost all credibility. Your words "UCLA needed a win BADLY the other night, and as usual, B1G Officiating took care of it" Reminds me of the story about a mother watching her son march in a parade and saying "Isn't it wonderful that everybody marching in the parade is out of step except my son". Do officials make mistakes--sure. But they do it for both teams except in your little world of conspiracies, greedy Conferences, and officials purposely cheating for their own ends (money, power, sex, threat of losing their job?). And if you believe that, you will never be happy watching a sports event where your team does not win.

I bid you good day!

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mgibby's avatar

Wisconsin lost. Whining about it doesn't change that fact, clown.

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