Bruin DigestJackie Robinson's legacy celebrated

NEW YORK “”mdash; At ballparks all across the majors Thursday,
fans and players got to see and hear about Hall of Famer and UCLA
alumnus Jackie Robinson and his legacy. Baseball
paused for Jackie Robinson Day with video tributes, speeches and
commemorative No. 42 signs honoring the man who broke the
sport’s color barrier. “˜”˜When you look back on
the history of our game, Jackie Robinson coming into baseball
““ there’s no question in my mind that April 15, 1947,
was the most powerful moment in baseball history,” MLB
Commissioner Bud Selig said at Shea Stadium. “˜”˜It
transcended baseball. It was a precursor to the civil rights
movement by 15 or 16 years,” he said. Robinson’s
widow, Rachel, was escorted onto the field by Selig and New York
Mets center fielder Mike Cameron before the game against Atlanta.
Rachel Robinson spoke to a sparse crowd and her daughter, Sharon,
took part in a first-pitch ceremony. Starting this year, every
April 15 will be celebrated as Jackie Robinson Day in the
majors.

TRACK AND FIELD: The men’s and
women’s track and field teams will compete in the Mt. SAC
Invitational Relays this weekend in Walnut. Pole vaulter
Chelsea Johnson, who has dominated collegiate
competition this season, will compete against a strong field that
should provide her more of a challenge. Among the competitors are
former Bruin Tracy O’Hara, 2003 NCAA
Champion Becky Holliday and Olympic contender
Mary Sauer. Senior Juaune Armon
is likely to compete for the Bruins in the long jump on Sunday. The
senior pulled out of the event at the Rafer Johnson/Jackie-Joyner
Kersee meet last Saturday due to minor back spasms.

MEN’S VOLLEYBALL: Former Bruin
Ricci Luyties will take over as the men’s
volleyball coach at Southern Mississippi, Athletic Director
Richard Giannini announced Wednesday evening.
Luyties, one of the most decorated setters in NCAA history, won
four consecutive championships at UCLA from 1981 to 1984. He has
served as an assistant coach at Colorado for the past three
seasons.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL: Mark Trakh left
Pepperdine on Wednesday to become the women’s basketball
coach at Southern California. The 48-year-old Trakh, who spent 11
years at Pepperdine, replaces Chris Gobrecht,
fired last month after seven seasons at USC. UCLA assistant coach
Tia Jackson had been in contact with USC about the
position, but was not believed to be among the leading
candidates.

WOMEN’S SOCCER: The UCLA Women’s
Club Soccer team will host the Bruin Classic on Saturday and Sunday
at the North Athletic Field. The tournament will feature some of
the nation’s best club teams, including UCLA, California and
UCSB. UCLA begins play Saturday at 9 a.m. against an open team. The
Bruins will also face Oregon on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Stanford at
8 a.m. over the weekend. The tournament championship is Sunday at
12:30 p.m.

MEN’S GOLF: The UCLA men’s golf
team will compete at the U.S. Intercollegiate Tournament at
Stanford this weekend. It’s the final tournament before the
Pac-10 Championship later this month.

WOMEN’S ROWING: The UCLA women’s
rowing team will face Oregon State in a dual meet at Redwood
Shores. The meet is part of the Stanford Invitational, and the
Bruins race at 12:05 p.m.

Compiled from staff reports and reports from the Associated
Press.