Basketball fans of UCLA unite: Let’s beat USC, party in Pauley

Wednesday, February 10, 1999

Basketball fans of UCLA unite: Let’s beat USC, party in
Pauley

CAMPING: Bruin faithful get in line early to show their team
that they care

Laid back, with my mind on the game and the game on my mind.

Zip up that sleeping bag. Puff up that pillow. Bring out the
Nintendo 64 and the football. It’s time to camp out.

Not for concert tickets. No way. It’s all about basketball …
UCLA style!

Standing, jumping and heckling in the front rows. Throwing cups
at Arthur Lee, jumping up and down till you gotta go pee and Baron
Davis hitting the game-winning shot as you rush the court in glee
(I wish).

That’s the pure and utter beauty of camping out. To be a true
fan, you got to camp out. No excuses.

This past weekend was a perfect example of why you have to come
and camp out to support our Bruins.

Last Thursday night, UCLA faced Oregon in a match that looked
like the Bulls of old facing the Bulls of new. That was not the
case, however.

Oregon took a four-point lead into the final minute before our
Bruins mounted a comeback. A couple steals and baskets later, we
were tied at 77 apiece with 7 seconds left.

Then Baron Davis took the ball coast to coast and pulled up from
15 feet for nothing but nylon. 79-77, UCLA.

Wow. That feeling of adrenaline and euphoria tingling in every
extremity of your body is unimaginable. Unless, of course, you’re
the student who hit every shot in the half-time "Super Shot"
competition. Not bad to get tuition and books paid for next
year.

National television and basketball broadcasting legend Dick
Vitale walked into Pauley Pavilion for Sunday’s match vs. Oregon
State.

Before the game began, Vitale conversed with the big-time fans
in the student section.

"You know, you guys are so lucky to go to a school as great as
UCLA!

"I couldn’t even get into UCLA because I couldn’t spell it,"
Vitale said.

Chuckling, I thought, "Damn, this is pretty cool." But back to
the game.

Our pre-game ritual starts by taunting the other team and
brushing up on what exactly is a court and a basketball.

"Is this the looooosing team?"

"Yes! That’s the losing team!"

After a lackluster start, UCLA took command and never looked
back, going away to a 85-67 victory.

"Whose house? Dan’s house!" echoed the crowd after one of Dan
Gadzuric’s monster dunks.

The energy just pulsates through you. Screaming at the top of
your lungs, jumping up and down until the noise becomes deafening,
and chilling with our mascots, Joe and Josephine Bruin.

But the game is merely half the fun.

Getting out of class, packing up your sleeping bag and pillow
and walking down to Gate 15 or 10 to sleep. Not simply for the
priority numbers, but to support your team and to have fun.

It might get a little chilly, but you gotta suck it up.
Sometimes, Coach Steve Lavin helps by giving out free pizza. And
the rally committee comes around with bagels and other food. It’s
not that bad. In fact, it’s not bad at all.

We’ve got USC (I know they are only good once, but when was
that?) coming into our house one week from today.

How many of you Bruin faithful, Trojan bashers are going to camp
out for your school? The same school that has defeated, or simply
humiliated, USC for eight straight games in football and nine in
basketball.

We’re No. 9 in the nation and climbing. All of us need to be in
our blue and gold come next week.

Eight straight feels great but nine was divine.

I can’t wait. I’m already busting out the blue paint to dip
myself into and getting to wreak havoc on those damn Trojans.

And it simply doesn’t end with crushing USC. We then finish out
the regular season with Syracuse (Vitale’s coming back) and some
other conference games.

Ah. What a great life it is, being a Bruin fan …

Salahuddin would like to wish the Navy ROTC squad good luck in
Mardi Gras. If you would like to camp out for the USC game with
Moin and the lone Beanie Boy Dave Samuel, e-mail him at
[email protected] Salahuddin

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