tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323991222024-03-18T23:29:23.061-04:00The Displaced TrojanChronicles of a USC Alum loving the dynasty that is Trojan Football ... all the way from Connecticut.Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.comBlogger173125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-68099585378635205992008-09-25T08:01:00.004-04:002008-09-25T10:41:11.769-04:00Game Day: Oregon State 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLqU36HNfXeegs1jgVepOQ2XMY0fUgZwX1CL4aZdXvabPwdlkGZs_NsV_f-nAXMmOoqlKc5OhOQLB8GYHYl9bgiseIbOe12T7dpKPcv8oaJTt2WYFyjhBPnYxD8b38zzqfGydXA/s1600-h/Beaver.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBLqU36HNfXeegs1jgVepOQ2XMY0fUgZwX1CL4aZdXvabPwdlkGZs_NsV_f-nAXMmOoqlKc5OhOQLB8GYHYl9bgiseIbOe12T7dpKPcv8oaJTt2WYFyjhBPnYxD8b38zzqfGydXA/s200/Beaver.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249969002241869938" border="0" /></a>Wait a minute … it’s game day today? With all the <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/12735/what_was_charlie_weis_really_doing_in_the_box">stupid</a> <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/cfb/story/8593380/How-can-the-Irish-stay-this-bad">stuff</a> going on, not to mention <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">the fools</a> <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2008/09/game-week-reality-update.html">continuing</a> <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2008/09/bye-week-speaking-of-reality.html">to make</a> <a href="http://www.fresnobee.com/sports/bulldogs/story/889565.html">fools of themselves</a>, it's easy to lose track.<br /><br />I forgot it was a short week, until <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-twirl.html">Beano</a> sent me a little reminder. It was a handwritten letter – Beano doesn’t type – which made it a little hard to read. But apparently he is very excited that USC will again be featured on national prime time television for a game that promises to require many <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/rose-bowl-twirl-third-times-charm-sorta.html">shots of the sideline</a> in order to <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIJQprkLqVg">keep viewers entertained</a> during the second half.<br /><br />Here’s what I could decipher from Beano's note:<br /><blockquote>Dear Mr. Displaced Trojan,<br /><br />May I remind you that your Trojans of USC are scheduled to play a football game against the Oregon State Beavers on ESPN tomorrow night? As tomorrow is Thursday, I am very excited to know that the Song Girls will be in attendance. I’m hoping for a blowout, which would ensure maximum sideline coverage. You know, I live for this stuff, so I’m hoping you will post some good stuff, if you understand my meaning.<br /><br />Sincerely,<br /><br />Your Friend Beano<br /></blockquote>So, there you have it. Thursday night. USC Football with all the trimmings. Have fun with it, Beano.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.bustedcoverage.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/2861370884_3bb40c8108_b.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.bustedcoverage.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/09/2861370884_3bb40c8108_b.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Fight On! Beat the Beavers!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-5368262711643208572008-09-23T08:01:00.001-04:002008-09-23T08:01:00.334-04:00Game Week: Reality Update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/2008/08/rick-neuheisel-ucla-ad-usc-180.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/ncaafootball.fanhouse.com/media/2008/08/rick-neuheisel-ucla-ad-usc-180.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I know we're back in game week mode, but I can't help but be entertained by the "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>" and its musings about reality. Reality <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/21/618794/bright-spots-in-a-world-of">this</a> ... Reality <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/20/618371/dose-of-reality-personal-d">that</a> ... Reality <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/14/614080/dealing-with-reality-bounc">there</a>, <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/13/613753/sticking-together-while-de">there</a> and <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/20/618454/reality-bites">there</a> … the "nation" is indeed attempting to soothe its wound – this open, bleeding, puss-filled gash – that is ucla’s 2008 football season. And as a Trojan enjoying yet another year of football greatness, <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a>’s “believers” are an amusing sideshow.<br /><br />I know, I know. There is plenty of other <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3600020">stupid stuff</a> to entertain Trojan fans.<br /><br />But there’s something about the "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>" falling all over itself in an attempt to validate <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a> in the face of <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/">59-0</a> –<span style="font-style: italic;"> that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span>. The way they squirm while trying to protect what they think is a football heritage – with a twisted “I told you so” delusional validation – is incredibly funny. For example, we get <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/22/619026/measuring-improvements">this from Nestor</a>:<br /><blockquote>… the “optimistic” projection for our first three games was a record of 1-2 while 0-3 was the “conservative” one. […] I think it is becoming clear to everyone at this point that the appropriate measuring stick to judge whether this season is a successful one is not going to be based on W-L record.<br /></blockquote>LOL. Success “not … based on win-loss record”? What’s so funny is this comes from someone who claims to “deplore moral victories.” Of course, anyone who isn’t <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/20/618454/reality-bites">biting reality</a> – that is, anyone not part of the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” – recognizes this for what it is. Just like <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-hoops-its-getting-funny.html">our</a> <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/ucla-bruin-instinct.html">old</a> <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/threatened-nation-attacks.html">friend</a> <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/13/613753/sticking-together-while-de#8719898">Tydides</a>:<br /><blockquote>If you believe that what happened today [59-0] is a result of something that we did or did not do, then yes, these are excuses. If you believe that what happened is a result of what BYU did and didn’t do, then these are just realities that we have to accept.<br /><br />I think it’s easier for Bruin fans to believe the former, because at least that way we have a chance at “fixing” it and still having a great season. The reality is some mixture of both …</blockquote>Now that’s profound. But, of course, it comes down to that pesky win-loss thing.<br /><blockquote>Sure, it points to a higher probability of a lesser season by W-L standards, but as has been said many times, I do not judge this season on Wins and Losses. </blockquote>Right. Let’s forget about wins and losses. Perhaps, if this “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” tells itself that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079540/quotes">it just doesn’t matter</a> and “I told you so” over and over and over, it might lower expectations just enough to convince the rest of college football to subscribe to its delusions. But everyone knows this kind of “<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Strategery">strategery</a>” only works in <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3S_k1dRbXY">the movies</a>.<br /><br />BTW, what's with all the names from Greek mythology at the "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>"? <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Menelaus">Menelaus</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telemachus">Telemachus</a>. <a href="http://www.pantheon.org/articles/d/diomedes.html">Tydides</a>. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nestor_%28mythology%29">Nestor</a>. Are USC Trojans supposed to be intimidated by the names of mythological characters who defeated the fictional Trojans in the <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iliad">Iliad</a>? It seems ironic – not to mention idiotic and sad in a <a href="http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e5/Skorp88/Top10Kid/DDgeek.jpg">D&D geek</a> kind of way – that the "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>" uses fiction to get their digs on USC. Why use a name based on anti-Trojan sentiment, when they could just as easily create monikers that express allegiance to ucla? Why can't they just use their <a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=murshed+zaheed&aq=1&oq=murshed">real names</a>? But I digress …<br /><br />Those of us who are actually dealing with (and enjoying) <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/columns/story?columnist=maisel_ivan&id=3586612">reality</a> – rather than just talking about a <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">biased version</a> of it – are seeing signs that there are very few people buying what the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” and, more significantly, what <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a> is selling. We saw it earlier this year with the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2008/01/slick-rick-gets-tricked.html">No. 1 recruit in the nation</a>, and we <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3597079&name=West_Recruiting">saw it again</a> this past week. Greg Biggins of ESPN’s West Recruiting Blog, gives us the kind of <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?entryID=3597079&name=West_Recruiting">reality</a> the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” doesn’t want to hear:<br /><blockquote>The "soft" commitment from Inglewood (Calif.) receiver Shaquelle Evans to USC is huge on several fronts. Not only are the Trojans getting one of the elite receivers in the West, it puts a dagger in to the heart of their cross-town rivals at UCLA.<br /><br />Evans, 6-1, 205 pounds, told us just a few weeks ago UCLA was the leader for his signature. He grew up a Bruins fan and the coaches at UCLA were making Evans their top offensive recruit. While USC is loaded at receiver, the Bruins have lacked a big-play threat at the position for years and Evans was/is really the only elite national receiver they're currently in on.<br /><br />Things changed dramatically with Evans following USC's demolition of Ohio State last weekend. The talented athlete was on the sidelines for the game, and the fact that the big win coincided with UCLA losing to BYU 59-0 pushed the Trojans over the top.</blockquote>If you don’t think 59-0 – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span> – is something that can be explained away by a bunch of “I told you so” blog posts, you’re not paying attention to reality. We're talking about the <span style="font-style: italic;">actual</span> reality, as opposed to the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” reality. Sure, Evans’s commitment is “soft,” but as Biggins points out …<br /><blockquote>… it's difficult to envision Evans signing with anyone else other than USC. The receiver has developed a relationship with several of the Trojans commitments, including quarterback Matt Barkley. He said he likes the idea of staying close to home and the team on the field appears to be rolling toward yet another BCS Bowl.<br /><br />The irony is as good as Evans is, USC has several players just like him on the roster plus two other big-time receiver prospects already committed. For UCLA, Evans would have made its class.<br /><br />Now we're not saying Pete Carroll and company recruited Evans just to keep him away from UCLA. We are saying the impact of his commitment to USC could have a greater impact on the Bruins than the Trojans in just how damaging it is in their desire to end the recruiting monopoly in Los Angeles Troy currently owns.</blockquote>Now that’s what I call reality! We Are SC!<br /><br />Fight On!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-8563293456386805252008-09-17T12:41:00.007-04:002008-09-23T11:51:49.277-04:00Bye Week: Speaking of Reality<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-09/42338852.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.latimes.com/media/photo/2008-09/42338852.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As we’ve mentioned here before, a bye week is a respite from the hype and anticipation of a regular game week. It also allows us to <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2008/09/post-game-ohio-state-2008.html">thoroughly enjoy</a> the previous week’s win, and there is certainly much to enjoy coming off our domination of Ohio State.<br /><br />Over the last few days we’ve had the pleasure of reading and hearing about the confirmed greatness of USC Football … how this year’s team <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-plaschke14-2008sep14,0,6222567.column">could be Pete Carroll’s best</a>, how our talent runs so <a href="http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/canepa/20080914-9999-1s14canepa.html">ridiculously deep</a>, how Mark Sanchez is a <a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=457808">leading Heisman candidate</a>, etc., etc.<br /><br />Honestly, it gets kind of boring after a while. Not that we take anything for granted, but the greatness of USC Football is something we’ve been enjoying for years now – Win Forever – and there does come a point when it all starts to sound the same.<br /><br />So, we remind ourselves that a <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/09/usc-post-bye-know-thy-enemy.html">bye week</a> is also good for catching up on what’s happening on the other side of the tracks. Again, we must always remember to <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/09/usc-post-bye-know-thy-enemy.html">know thy enemy</a>.<br /><br />Now, I’m not pretending that we didn’t notice how ucla was <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282570252">stripped of its manhood</a> during a 59-0 – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span> – reality check by the Mormons in Provo. How could we not?<br /><br />But we didn’t bother to thoroughly investigate the details of 59-0 – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span>. And we certainly haven’t bothered to enjoy – that is, laugh and point at – all the PR spin and attempts to insult our intelligence during the post-game back-tracking from <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a> and the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” per Murshed. We haven’t taken the time, while basking in our own post-game glow, to notice the fools making fools of themselves again … until now.<br /><br />The thing is, the funny stuff written about all the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=282570252">stupid stuff</a> was easy to spot. No need to make up a catchy line or a play on <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a>’s words coming back to make him look silly. Chris Foster of our beloved <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/ucla/la-sp-ucla14-2008sep14,0,4930250.story"><span style="font-style: italic;">Los Angeles Times</span></a> did it for us:<br /><blockquote>Relentlessly optimistic ran into harsh reality Saturday.<br /><br />There may come a day when the football monopoly in Los Angeles is over, but for now UCLA has enough trouble passing "Go."<br /><br />An embarrassing 59-0 loss to Brigham Young was a big indication of that, and left first-year Coach Rick Neuheisel offering up his favorite catch phrase in a different light.<br /><br />"We're going to test 'relentlessly optimistic,' " Neuheisel said after UCLA's worst loss since 1929. "But we knew it would be tested."<br /><br />It was Saturday.<br /><br />Tested and failed.</blockquote>Ouch … or rather, LOL. Of course ucla’s even worse loss in 1929 was a <a href="http://www.pe.com/sports/college/ucla/stories/PE_Sports_Local_S_ucla_14.2179506.html">76-0 annihilation by USC</a>. But I digress …<br /><br />Notice the words “we knew” in that quote from <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a>. They “knew” this kind of thing – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span> – would happen. Just ask Nestor at the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>.” He’ll tell you all about what ucla “knew” until he’s baby blue in the face, as if “knowing” ucla was going to get beat 59-0 – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span> – somehow lessens <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/2008/9/13/613753/sticking-together-while-de">the disgrace</a>.<br /><blockquote>We talked about the doses of reality we were going to have to deal with this year during the off season with a team with two injured QBs, a ravaged OL and an inexperienced defense with new starters sprinkled all over its lineup.<br /></blockquote>Oh, and did I mention all the excuses that apparently go along with “knowing” you’re going to be humiliated 59-0 – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span> – when you’re a member of the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>”? But, I digress …<br /><blockquote>It’s not a surprise that we took one in the chin. […] This will be not be the last time we are going to take it in the chin either. There will be lot more tough moments rest of this season.<br /></blockquote>“This will be not be”? Anyway, it is obvious Nestor is trying to rally the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” to believe in its football program … I mean, brace for more embarrassment and disgraceful outcomes this season. That’s fine with me.<br /><br />What I don’t get is how the “<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dufresne2-2008sep02,1,2771056,full.column">best coaching staff in America</a>” allows 59-0 – <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s fifty-nine-to-NOTHING</span> – to happen on their watch. It would be one thing if DeWayne Walker struggled during a 59-42 barn burner. And it would be somewhat understandable if Trader Chow offensively coordinated a close 17-13 defeat. But to get beat down to the point of humiliation on <span style="font-style: italic;">both</span> sides of the ball – for Walker to allow <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/boxscore?gameId=282570252">five (5) TDs</a> in the 2nd quarter and for Chow to put up a pathetic goose egg – well, I would hate to see what the second best coaching staff in the country can do ... or can't do, as it were.<br /><br />All I know is, our man Pete Carroll lost by more than 11 points <a href="http://insidesocal.com/usc/archives/2008/09/a-reminder-6.html">only once</a> – 27-16 to the Domers during his first season in 2001 – the only double-digit defeat during his tenure.<br /><br />That’s the reality of USC Football. <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2008/09/once-again-were-no-1.html">We’re No. 1</a>.<br /><br />Meanwhile, we’ll let the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">nation</a>” and <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a> talk about filling a “<a href="http://guttylittlebruins.com/misc/passion-bucket-gear/337/">passion bucket</a>” and remaining “<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=ncf&id=3549833">relentlessly optimistic</a>” in order to declare that this “<a href="http://www.sportingnews.com/blog/the_sporting_blog/entry/view/11156/pointing_will_kill_uscs_football_monopoly">monopoly is over</a>.” And, we’ll occasionally remind ourselves of the public promises “the best coaching staff in the United States” has made:<br /><br /><object width="450" height="338"><param name="movieID" value="http://static.filefront.com/ffv6/player/vp_embed.swf?v=507626&autorun=false"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://static1.filefront.com/ffv6/player/vp_embed.swf?v=507626&autorun=false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="450" height="338"></embed></object><br />Know thy enemy.<br /><br />We Are SC!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-86154884169728888452008-09-16T09:33:00.002-04:002008-09-16T21:57:15.896-04:00Post-Game: Ohio State 2008<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.dispatch.com/2006/04/06/jersey_200.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.dispatch.com/2006/04/06/jersey_200.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I work with this guy who grew up in Columbus, OH, but didn’t bother to go to “the” Ohio State University. He’s a graduate of one of those little eastern schools with a name that sounds like all the others – you know, <a href="http://www.williams.edu/">Williams</a> or <a href="http://www.hamilton.edu/">Hamilton</a> or <a href="http://www.middlebury.edu/">Middlebury</a> or Leland. Of course, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_P._Keaton#Leland_College">Leland</a> isn’t a real school but the fictional place where <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alex_P._Keaton">Alex P. Keaton</a> went off to college after growing up in Columbus. Of course, Columbus <span style="font-style: italic;">is</span> a real place, but we can’t be sure about the college football team that plays there. It can be kind of confusing sometimes when reality is mixed with fiction. But I digress …<br /><br />Even through my colleague went to a school in the northeast, he remains an ardent Buckeye fan. So, early last week he offered to bet me on last Saturday’s game.<br /><br />“I know the Buckeyes are 10-point underdogs, but I want to make this a straight up bet, because I know we’re gonna win,” he told me. Of course, I respected his delusional allegiance to Ohio State, but more than anything I didn’t have the heart to tell him it really didn’t matter what he thought.<br /><br />“Sure,” I said, because I was, in fact, sure of the outcome. “What are you thinking in terms of stakes?” I figured he could come up with whatever it was he was going to pay, since there was no risk to me. It only seemed fair.<br /><br />“Well,” he said, “how about the loser has to wear the jersey of the winner for week.”<br /><br />“OK.”<br /><br />“And, you have to wear a hat of the other team,”<br /><br />By “you” I figured he meant <span style="font-style: italic;">him</span>, of course. So, again I said, “OK.” <br /><br />He continued, “And you have to sing the other team’s fight song.”<br /><br />“Sounds good. I’ll take that bet. Anything else?”<br /><br />“Hmmm. And the jersey needs to be two sizes too small.”<br /><br />Now, this guy is not a small guy, and since I’m not one to intentionally embarrass my work colleagues undeservedly, I thought I’d try to let him off the hook a bit.<br /><br />“Are you sure you want to bet all this?” I asked earnestly.<br /><br />“Absolutely,” he said with a knowing chuckle. “My wife has an OSU jersey that will look great on you.”<br /><br />I laughed along as I began to realize that this bozo actually believed Ohio State would … not just could, but would … win the game. So, I decided to take the gloves off just a little.<br /><br />“You know, on second thought, I think we should raise the stakes a bit,” I said. “I won’t enjoy hearing you butcher USC’s fight song, so why don’t we decide that the loser has to sing the fight song of their hated rival.”<br /><br />“Oh, that’s a great suggestion,” said the sucker … I mean, my colleague.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAqTmGNPgeqAYFjtVF0wrjFYJDpdKSCCCEvSUjjuaLclZpzJ9cURuiw5f_FT9DQQXbT3VCrQEKBiaHNWu5JrssskQ01fHY2QjYe2XrCqZZ5RoIPBQBdPOzghusG0gDBxTVGmRvg/s1600-h/Buckeye.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJAqTmGNPgeqAYFjtVF0wrjFYJDpdKSCCCEvSUjjuaLclZpzJ9cURuiw5f_FT9DQQXbT3VCrQEKBiaHNWu5JrssskQ01fHY2QjYe2XrCqZZ5RoIPBQBdPOzghusG0gDBxTVGmRvg/s200/Buckeye.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246797978119232866" border="0" /></a><br />Of course, we all know what happened Saturday. And I’m sure many in the Trojan Family enjoyed the spoils of friendly office bets similar to mine. It was great to see my broken colleague (<span style="font-style: italic;">right</span>*) singing in honor of USC in front of the whole office: “Hail to the Victor.”<br /><br />Indeed, it’s fun when reality – that is, the current greatness of USC Football – is mixed with the fiction of our opponents’ delusional self-confidence. For us there is no confusion, whatsoever … We Are SC!<br /><br />*<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> Buckeye's face obscured to protect whatever dignity he has left.</span></span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-25881184266963699732008-09-13T16:18:00.007-04:002008-09-14T23:07:27.774-04:00Game Day: Ohio State 2008Too much hype. Too much talk. There’s nothing left to it but to do it. Beanie or no Beanie, it doesn’t matter.<br /><br />We are SC!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4rUwXvaW14WAX865pY4FjD6JDaAn3B4lj-Sbtj0FBD7F24daGszHTE3Rs3NOjQNKZwPOWcuV7ZMfbBSoLv0yC0zXe45fn2MH1snkZQoGRAciFogIlC63gq9zsBt8gk0KLhtXyQ/s1600-h/usc.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP4rUwXvaW14WAX865pY4FjD6JDaAn3B4lj-Sbtj0FBD7F24daGszHTE3Rs3NOjQNKZwPOWcuV7ZMfbBSoLv0yC0zXe45fn2MH1snkZQoGRAciFogIlC63gq9zsBt8gk0KLhtXyQ/s400/usc.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5246079187971291826" border="0" /></a>Win Forever!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-18246921671142379692008-09-11T21:54:00.004-04:002008-09-11T22:57:58.752-04:00Who Says 'To Hell' These Days?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://internetservices.readingeagle.com/blog/zeke/archives/images/weis.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://internetservices.readingeagle.com/blog/zeke/archives/images/weis.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>This is a great week. Not only is USC at the center of the college football universe leading into our “<a href="http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_10433194">biggest game of the season</a>,” but people are saying <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2008/09/southern-inferiority-complex-2008.html">stupid stuff</a> all over the nation, which of course I find inspiring.<br /><br />Sure, we’ve already seen some <a href="http://www.insidesocal.com/ucla/Monopoly%20no%20more.jpg">really stupid stuff</a> before this week, but you tend to appreciate it more when the stupid stuff comes from a hated, albeit respected enemy.<br /><br />Again, we’ve been away for a while, so I’ll clarify the Displaced take … USC has two primary enemies: Notre Dame, which is <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/anonymity-hate-hypocrisy-and-star-wars.html">hated</a> but deserves a <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/welcome-to-notre-dame.html">level of respect</a>, and ucla, which is <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/origin-of-hate.html">hated</a> and <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">deserves no respect</a>, at all. But I digress …<br /><br />Not only is Charlie Weis (<span style="font-style: italic;">above</span>) still struggling to figure out <a href="http://www.mlive.com/grpress/sports/index.ssf/2008/09/time_running_out_for_notre_dam.html">this </a><a href="http://www.mlive.com/grpress/sports/index.ssf/2008/09/time_running_out_for_notre_dam.html">head coaching thing</a>, he remains clueless about how to keep his foot out of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeiXymELLcs">his mouth</a>. It’s bad enough that his reputation as an offensive genius is turning out to be <a href="http://www.mlive.com/grpress/sports/index.ssf/2008/09/time_running_out_for_notre_dam.html">merely offensive</a> to Domer fans, but his messed up sense of humor is dragging the Domers down further.<br /><br />The AP serves up <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/news/story?id=3578311">the backstory</a> and the ensuing stupidity:<blockquote>[Weis] was talking about his expectations for this season, saying his team would make a statement in its opening game against San Diego State.<br /><br />"Then we'll listen to Michigan have all their excuses as they come running in and saying how they have a new coaching staff and there's changes. To hell with Michigan.” …<br /><br />Weis said he knew his comment would come up this week. ...<br /><br />"Anyone who is a Michigan fan should know and understand that that comment pays respect to Bo and his mentality versus when playing an opponent," he said. "So take it for what it's worth. But I think that's a very respectful comment toward Coach Bo's 'To hell with Notre Dame.'"</blockquote>Actually, anyone who is a college coach should know that Michigan’s players (who weren’t more than four years old when <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/usc-football-pre-game-hail-to.html">Schembechler</a> retired after the 1990 Rose Bowl) couldn’t care less about the Crew Cut’s historical tribute. “To hell with Michigan!” That’s all they’ll hear.<br /><br />So, I have to ask: How can this stupid stuff continue to happen after more than three years? I ask only because I want USC’s wins over the Domers to mean something again. We can’t have our storied rivalry be tarnished like this by a loud mouth who does so little (<a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/teams/schedule?teamId=87&year=2007">three wins</a>) with so much <a href="http://rivals100.rivals.com/TeamRank.asp?postype=0&sort=0&year=2007">talent</a>.<br /><br />I can hear my <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-football-pre-game-customer-service.html">anonymous Domer friend</a> now … “To hell with Charlie Weis!” he says.<br /><br />Anyway, I can’t wait until Saturday, and I’m hoping against all hope that <a href="http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iH81GxQP916kxG8Pb_BaGfOE3T5wD934M3QO0">Beanie Wells</a> will play. We want no excuses.<br /><br />Speaking of Beanies, I got a note from <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-twirl.html">Beano</a> this week. He said he noticed that we were posting here again and that Thursdays weren’t the same for him while we were out.<br /><br />I apologized for the long break and said, “Well, Beano ... We’re Back!”<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://sait.usc.edu/recsports/spirit/song/media/2005fball_hawaii07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://sait.usc.edu/recsports/spirit/song/media/2005fball_hawaii07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Beano’s response? “That’s awesome. To hell with <a href="http://www.insidesocal.com/usc/archives/2008/07/answer-monday-p-16.html">Scott Wolf</a>!”<br /><br />Win Forever!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-67432512547686904232008-09-10T10:23:00.009-04:002008-12-09T04:08:48.704-05:00Southern Inferiority Complex: 2008 Edition<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Player/video/0906-GAKNOWSHONBIG_350.JPG"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://vmedia.rivals.com/IMAGES/Player/video/0906-GAKNOWSHONBIG_350.JPG" alt="" border="0" /></a>This college football season is not yet three weeks old, and already we see the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/southern-inferiority-complex.html">Southern Inferiority Complex</a> emerging from yet another highly-ranked SEC team. I guess the whining and crying, while beating up on 1-AA programs, isn’t exclusive to <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/tuberville-update-self-fulfilling.html">Tommy Tuberville</a> and <a href="http://www.fanhouse.com/2007/07/02/les-miles-opens-mouth-crazy-talk-billows-forth/">Les Miles</a>. Mark Richt is getting into the act, as well.<br /><br />Again, we’ve been away a while, so let’s review:<br /><br />The <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/southern-inferiority-complex.html" target="_blank">Southern Inferiority Complex</a> is a second cousin to the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-bye-week-domer-hype-machine.html" target="_blank">Domer Hype Machine</a>, which is of course closely related to the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_bias" target="_blank">east coast bias</a>. Together these three subversive movements make up the larger <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/together-again-axis-of-east-coast-bias.html">Axis of East Coast Bias</a>. But, I digress …<br /><br />Apparently stunned and feeling under-appreciated in the wake of Georgia’s <a href="http://www.ajc.com/sports/content/sports/uga/stories/2008/09/02/georgia_second_coaches_poll.html?imw=Y">fall to No. 2</a> – following its home field <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282430061">45-21 practice game</a> versus Georgia Southern, and in comparison to USC’s road win at Virginia – Richt began monitoring SportCenter highlights looking for reasons to blame others, in case the Bulldogs do not fulfill their “<a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/49885-georgia-football-2008national-championship-bound">destiny</a>.”<br /><br />Andrew Dasher of UGASports.com gives us <a href="http://collegefootball.rivals.com/content.asp?SID=1144&CID=848305">the scoop</a>:<br /><blockquote>Running back Knowshon Moreno was a hot topic of conversation during this week's teleconference with Georgia coach Mark Richt.<br /><br />Moreno's 18 carry, 168-yard, three-touchdown effort in Saturday's 56-17 win over Central Michigan obviously wowed the sellout crowd at Sanford Stadium, but it was his hurdle of Chippewa safety Vince Agnew to complete a 29-yard run that dropped jaws.<br /></blockquote>OK. Let’s stop it right here. Who the hell is Knowshon Moreno? And, more importantly, who are the Central Michigan Chippewas? Oh, that’s right. They’re another no-name school against which Craig Sheppard could complete a “three-touchdown effort.” Who is Craig Sheppard? Exactly. But, I digress …<br /><blockquote>It was a play that Georgia fans will no doubt be talking about for quite a while, but it was one that many in the country watching ESPN did not get to see except for a brief glance during a quick preview of the Bulldogs highlights to come following a commercial break. Knowshon Moreno's hop over Vince Agnew wasn't the highlight fans thought it should be.<br /><br />When the network did its Top 10 plays, Moreno's highlight was not included. Richt was asked about the omission.<br /><br />"I think they missed the boat or didn't do their homework or something," Richt said. "Normally they do a good job with that, so it looks like somebody would have noticed that. It didn't make their highlights, but it's going to make ours for a long time."<br /><br />A representative from ESPN's local online affiliate claimed that FOX did not put the highlight in its highlight package to other networks.<br /><br />"You're kidding me," Richt said. "OK, so you're throwing FOX under the bus. I threw you under the bus now you're throwing FOX under the bus. That's the way it works."<br /></blockquote>If anybody should be thrown under any bus (figuratively, of course), it’s Richt. Who does he think he is … <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roone_Arledge">Roone Arledge</a>? Perhaps if he did his “homework or something” he’d knowshon that much of the sports media knowshons that hurdling a Chippewa is hardly a challenge. Try hurdling <a href="http://images.athlonsports.com/d/9958-1/ReyMaualuga.jpg">this</a> … or <a href="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/09c44HbaWOfoV/340x.jpg">this</a> … or <a href="http://www.pe.com/imagesdaily/2007/09-29/usctlp23zb_1_400.jpg">this</a> … then we’ll talk about highlights.<br /><br />And while you’re at it, try doing it <a href="http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/usc/galleries/100805_mfb_vs_ariz/100805-usc4-lg.jpg">more than once</a>, in a <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3W9z2NszHLaKwHA39IQFHfP3Lb6K_wAUcXlDanDRWrWZmLBj8-vCz5jrfIpyfjC2Rs9y_JA6YXclFI2DWams2PrGBizXlWyFeuugvZ9fuMBxQle550xywRC47kCO2s6Qnumvd/s1600-h/Reggie+Bush+dives+over+UCLA+2006.JPG">big game</a>, against a <a href="http://sportswrap.berecruited.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/10/reggiebush%20at%20usc.jpg">rival program</a>, on national <a href="http://www.eastcountysports.com/main/2005-06/college/images/FILE-RBushVsND.jpg">primetime</a> television. Then maybe we’ll all see Georgia’s highlights on ESPN, and we’ll knowshon who Knowshon is.<br /><br />Until then, Richt should concentrate on <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-game-day-tubervilles-dangerous.html">the task at hand</a>, rather than trying to make a mountain out of a Chippewa. Trust us, <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCZthQa3zA4OaAPe5LF0sj3kvy3pG5L9fEcgyvWuVHii9gFywzT55r6-p7Snh3V6McYnf_Cwrv8dmZyund28-Lj9dCgvyAyAv2Gw70Oy0QYihyg7ZWtjCgnpMw2vHJhFlRwVNR/s1600-h/trip+to+Muir+Woods,+LA+040.jpg">we know</a>.<br /><br />Beat the Buckeyes!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-89023555137527324832008-09-10T00:25:00.006-04:002008-09-10T01:10:59.083-04:00Ohio State Week: Transferring Hate<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cantonrep.com/photos/2008/08/m_30mw_mainOSU_0830.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.cantonrep.com/photos/2008/08/m_30mw_mainOSU_0830.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Like everyone else, I can’t wait for this Saturday’s game. I can’t wait to see USC on college football’s center stage in prime time, once again. I can’t wait to see how well our man Pete Carroll has prepared the Trojans for a classic match-up against an iconic program.<br /><br />Still, I also can’t help but feel like something is missing this week. Maybe it’s the feeling that Ohio State won’t be bringing its best without a fully healthy <a href="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/ncfnation/0-2-207/Buckeyes-expect-big-game-Beanie-against-USC.html">Beanie Wells</a> (<span style="font-style: italic;">above</span>). Maybe it’s the Buckeyes’ <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282500194">lackluster win</a> over Ohio last Saturday, and their <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex?seasonYear=2008&weekNumber=3&seasonType=2">slide in the rankings</a> to No. 5. Maybe it’s the 10-point <a href="http://www.thespread.com/ncaa-football-top-stories-300/ohio-state-at-usc-spread-odds-public-betting-trends-ma.html">spread</a> that tells us the magically accurate experts in Vegas feel the same way.<br /><br />The thought crosses my mind that perhaps this isn’t the supreme challenge we all thought it would be … and that scares me. USC can’t afford to think Ohio State isn’t anything but “the” Ohio State.<br /><br />Then again, what the hell do I know? According to Paul Peszko of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Bleacher Report</span>, any hint of complacency among the Trojan Family was erased when <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a> and Trader Chow out-coached Rocky Top's Phil Fulmer – I know, that’s not saying much – in Pasadena last Saturday night. Here’s <a href="http://bleacherreport.com/articles/54692-ohio-state-loses-advantage-over-usc-with-ucla-s-upset-win">Peszko’s take</a>:<br /><blockquote>Last week, Ohio State lost any psychological advantage they could possibly muster when UCLA came back in the second half to knock off Tennessee in OT, 27-24.<br /><br />Even though USC was named No. 1 in both polls, they were no longer the media darlings of L.A. football. All week long, it has been a continuous procession of UCLA Bruins before the media.<br /><br />The usual hype over USC’s 52-7 pasting of Virginia and the rise to No. 1 has been eclipsed by the media’s fascination with a team given up for dead pulling off the upset of Week One. …<br /><br />For the Trojans, the game with Ohio State is not a springboard to a National Championship. It is not even to maintain their ranking at the top of the polls. It is not to show that the Pac-10 is better than the Big Ten. It is not even to prove that Trojans are better than Ohio State.<br /><br />For the Trojans, the game with Ohio State is much, much bigger than all that. This game is for one thing and one thing only: to take back the City of Angels.<br /></blockquote>Hmmm. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I think Peszko is on to something. As I watched <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a>’s “<a href="http://www.latimes.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=2865048">relentless optimism</a>” – a.k.a., the <a href="http://deadspin.com/5044097/rick-neuheisel-takes-the-mic-after-ucla+tennessee-and-pours-salt-in-the-wounds">classless behavior</a> that will no doubt lead to his third set of violations sometime during this, his third head coaching job – I began to feel the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/origin-of-hate.html">proper hate</a> that fuels the motivation it will take to beat the Buckeyes.<br /><br />If allowing ucla and its <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm">Slick Rick</a> to get under our skin a little bit gives us an edge this Saturday, that’s fine with me. I’m in.<br /><br />Fight On!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-41648074609110273442008-09-09T00:11:00.005-04:002008-09-09T01:02:49.221-04:00Ohio State Week: It's a Matter of Class<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.theozone.net/06-07images/football/headshots/04-Ray-Small-02-small.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.theozone.net/06-07images/football/headshots/04-Ray-Small-02-small.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>I love it when people talk trash. It's part of what makes sports in this country so great. Anyone can say anything they want, but it all comes down to performance on the field. And more times than most, when someone talks trash to the USC Trojans, we <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZxRioJDms4">make them pay</a>.<br /><br />Just ask <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/desean-jackson-still-talking.html">DeShaun Jackson</a>, a Displaced favorite whose considerable athletic gifts on the field were surpassed by the speed of his mouth ... until <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZxRioJDms4">we shut him</a> up <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263220030">on the field</a>, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273140025">twice</a>.<br /><br />So, while much of the hype-makers were quick to jump on Ray Small (<span style="font-style: italic;">above</span>) for his words of "wisdom" following "the" Ohio State's "dismantling" of the Ohio Bobcats last Saturday, it's all old news to us.<br /><br />To review, in case you haven't seen <a href="http://myespn.go.com/blogs/ncfnation/0-2-134/Small-cites--class--difference-between-OSU-and-USC.html">Small's words</a> on the bulletin board inside Heritage Hall:<br /><p></p><blockquote><p>As I took my visit to USC, I'm like, 'How are they successful? They're not even serious about the game.' Before the game, they're all going crazy. Me and [Buckeyes defensive end] Rob Rose was on the visit and I'm looking like, 'Wow.' And then the coach said, 'You better get out of here. It's 'bout to get hectic.'</p> <p>And then I come [to Ohio State] on the visit and before the game, it's all quiet, everybody getting taped, coaches talking. It's the total opposite. ...<br /></p> <p>It's more of a class thing ... Here at Ohio State, they teach you to be a better man. There, it's just all about football.</p></blockquote><p></p>How is USC successful? This is <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-football-pre-game-how-we-do-it.html">how we do it</a>, Ray. We read <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/usc-football-game-day-tennis-anyone.html">books about tennis</a>! Of course, this can be a bit puzzling to those who mistake <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Tressel">conventional wisdom</a> and <a href="http://www.thehookandlateral.com/images/coaches/jim_tressel.jpg">sweater vests</a> for "class."<br /><br />Still, I suppose Small is right about one thing: USC is certainly a different kind of football program. Small will find this out first hand on Saturday afternoon.<br /><br />We are SC!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-50533643619035126332008-09-07T16:48:00.010-04:002008-09-08T00:56:38.615-04:00Once Again ... We're No. 1!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqndVaWNipTn4n3CG1c2rgZ6VwEm0SxO50AXTZmIgg5_pSOCH0RjoOCBDQ-Er_DVd8COqI0I2Kjr4uTyui8E4WfsoicajZI3y0NUmFLkXcxdi3YOALEcM7PFVhkQNQvkcidXYMg/s1600-h/Helment+Logo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwqndVaWNipTn4n3CG1c2rgZ6VwEm0SxO50AXTZmIgg5_pSOCH0RjoOCBDQ-Er_DVd8COqI0I2Kjr4uTyui8E4WfsoicajZI3y0NUmFLkXcxdi3YOALEcM7PFVhkQNQvkcidXYMg/s320/Helment+Logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5243509749435883986" border="0" /></a>And now for our second "displaced" act ...<br /><br />Back to No. 1 where we belong?! As any true, 21st century Trojan Football fan <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/08/its-more-fun-when-usc-is-no-1-sort-of.html">knows</a>, the only <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/09/more-no-1-fun-for-usc.html">polls that matter</a>, during the only week that matters, are the ones at the end of the season that get us into the <a href="http://www.bcsfootball.org/bcsfootball/">BCS</a> Championship Game. But the fact remains that it is indeed more fun when <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/rankingsindex?seasonYear=2008&weekNumber=3&seasonType=2">we're No. 1</a>.<br /><br />It's even more fun when USC Football takes over the top spot after <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282430258">thoroughly dominating</a> a team from a BCS conference on its home field, while the <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282430194">Ohio State</a> university -- that's "thuh," not "thee" -- and <a href="http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=282430061">Georgia</a> beat up on 1-AA teams.<br /><br />Perhaps it will be all-time fun in a few weeks, if/when we take over the No. 1 spot for <a href="http://www.appollarchive.com/football/ap/app_total.cfm?sort=num1app&decade=all&rows=10">being No. 1</a> more than any other program in the land. Certainly, being No. 1 was easy fun this past Saturday, as we enjoyed an extra week to prepare for the Buckeyes.<br /><br />That said, we here have a particularly good feeling about being No. 1 this season. The last time USC opened the year on the east coast <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=242410259">against a team from Virginia</a>, the Trojans won a national championship in <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=250040030">Miami adjacent</a>. We'll see what happens this coming Saturday and in the weeks to come, but we'll go ahead and say it now ... I'm feelin' some No. 1 fun come January in south Florida.<br /><br />If it happens, I can link back to this post and say, "I told you so!" And, if not, I can always erase the link like our revisionist friend Murshed "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html">Nestor</a>" Zaheed. It's gonna be a fun ride, regardless.<br /><br />Fight On!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-7291835775134645042008-01-24T22:03:00.000-05:002008-01-24T23:06:52.880-05:00Slick Rick Gets Tricked<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/Images/Photos/2b98a6fd-ad5f-4c88-ad9f-4cb210727eda.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.maxpreps.com/FanPages/Images/Photos/2b98a6fd-ad5f-4c88-ad9f-4cb210727eda.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>So, <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/football/news/story?id=3199727" target="_blank">Matt Barkley</a> - the <a href="http://rivals100.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?Sport=1&pr_key=57197" target="_blank">No. 1 recruit</a> for the class of 2009 and the first junior ever to be named <a href="http://playeroftheyear.gatorade.com/playeroftheyear/national.php?sprt=FB" target="_blank">National Gatorade Player of the Year</a> - announced his <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-barkley24jan24,1,4195741.column" target="_blank">commitment to USC</a> last night. I suppose this latest recruiting coup by our man Pete Carroll sets our world straight after all the angst Traitor Chow seemed to be causing this week.<br /><br />But the take here is that <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/highschool/la-spw-hsbarkley30aug30,0,4864980.column?coll=la-headlines-sports-highschool" target="_blank">Barkley</a>'s commitment sheds new light on a few quotes sprinkled throughout the Traitor Chow coverage - quotes from "experts" that were like flies on Traveler's ass, until Barkley made his commitment public.<br /><br />The best example is Bill Plaschke's <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-plaschke23jan23,1,6174484.column" target="_blank">over-reaction</a> to <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/pac10/2003-06-13-neuheisel-timeline_x.htm" target="_blank">Slick Rick</a>'s moves since becoming head PR guy at ucla. With Murshed "Nestor" Zaheed and the "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>" of idiots <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2008/1/22/7440/45907" target="_blank">masturbating</a> over our used goods, Plaschke (who has been among Murshed's enemy journalists at the Times) waxed unpoetically about how Slick Rick is more than just a liar executing "cheap parlor tricks."<br /><br />Plaschke quoted sources to provide insight into how college football recruiting works, and to suggest that perhaps the <a href="http://www.threestooges.com/" target="_blank">Three Stooges</a> (aka Slick Rick, Trader Chow and Dwayne "One Trick" Walker) would now be the "it" thing for five-star high school players.<br /><blockquote>"Norm Chow has just looked USC in the eye and said, 'Here we come,' " said Steve Clarkson, local quarterback guru. ...<br /><br />"A kid like that is looking for the best opportunity to get him to the NFL," Clarkson said. "Norm Chow gives him that." ...<br /><br />"Kids no longer go to the school that they rooted for as a kid, they look at it like a business," said Clarkson, whose celebrated quarterback academy has helped spawn three current NFL starters. "And to say that Norm Chow won't make a difference is to make a serious error in judgment."</blockquote>If you don't know <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS143119+11-Dec-2007+BW20071211" target="_blank">Steve Clarkson</a>, he is the private quarterback instructor who worked with Matt Leinart. He also tutored Jimmy Clausen, and some "experts" thought he steered Clausen away from USC and toward Notre Dame, following an argument with Pete Carroll at USC's "Pro Day" in 2006. Clarkson has been working with Barkley, so reading the quotes above, you could see how the "nation" of idiots might begin to think that Slick Rick's tricks have already won six straight Pac-10 titles, three Heisman Trophies, five BCS bowls, and two MNCs.<br /><br />Add to that this quote in Plaschke's piece from Bruce Rollinson, Barkley's head coach at Mater Dei:<br /><blockquote>"We tell our athletes, marry yourself to your future position coach, that's the guy you'll live with. And now, if you're a quarterback going to UCLA, you're getting the real deal."</blockquote>Hmmm. If Barkley's personal QB coach and the head coach of his high school are saying things like that, you'd think Traitor Chow would be a lock to put the kid in powder blue. But it turns out that Clarkson and Rollins were pulling a fast one to protect a secret.<br /><br />Said Clarkson in today's Times: "(Barkley has) had a silent commitment (to USC) since last October. It was a decision he felt good about but never announced until now."<br /><br />I love it. While Barkley was touring ucla during an unofficial visit with Slick Rick over the weekend, Clarkson and Rollins were getting slick with <a href="http://www.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/7812785" target="_blank">Slick Rick</a>, with the "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>" of idiots following along.<br /><br />Now, when Barkley recruits his 2009 classmates to come to USC he can tell them that he's heard Slick Rick's lies and b.s. up close and in person. He can tell them that he could hardly stop himself from throwing up (or laughing out loud) while in enemy territory, knowing that he was, is and will forever be a member of the Trojan Family.<br /><br />And if you don't think Pete Carroll wasn't having a little chuckle about all this - and a little "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-football-pre-game-how-we-do-it.html" target="_blank">this is how we do it</a>" high-five with Ken Norton and Steve Sarkisian - then you don't think like a true Trojan ... and, apparently, you don't think like Matt Barkley.<br /><br />Congratulations, Matt! Fight On!Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-90340611989391689412007-05-18T01:10:00.000-04:002008-12-09T04:08:48.916-05:00UCLA’s “100” Championships<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsDmGxprfuxoq0FoF7o8T1ge4QXU2qxqliyyjjIMWw-q4LiTwqqTOqZGtBymIU28xmjfJEwKpc7EhhaJ8Ul1jHPX9kcMPTiFC_uQ6q8yWhZgEuMvWGlbKWwNmb09FIiYppZn_Hw/s1600-h/tanya+harding.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmsDmGxprfuxoq0FoF7o8T1ge4QXU2qxqliyyjjIMWw-q4LiTwqqTOqZGtBymIU28xmjfJEwKpc7EhhaJ8Ul1jHPX9kcMPTiFC_uQ6q8yWhZgEuMvWGlbKWwNmb09FIiYppZn_Hw/s200/tanya+harding.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5065765485593943314" border="0" /></a>I thought I could make it to August without a single Displaced post. I was content to slumber through March and April without a care during Florida’s run to another basketball championship, not to mention USC’s Sweet 16 showing. I was thinking I could let USC Spring Football and the NFL Draft slide by as I continued my rest until the Trojans begin another season atop the college football world. But, I was wrong …<br /><br />Instead, the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>” and its fearless (read shameless) leader Mr. Zaheed … I mean, “Nestor” … thought they could <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2007/5/13/221332/697" target="_blank">make a big deal</a> out of ugla supposedly winning its 100th national collegiate championship in a team sport.<br /><br />At least two things struck me about this.<br /><br />First, ugla won its “100th” championship in women’s water polo. That’s right, women’s water polo. Like many of its other championships -- <a href="http://uclabruins.cstv.com/trads/ucla-championships.html" target="_blank">22</a> in men’s and women’s volleyball, 16 in men’s tennis -- the “nation” stakes claim to a “national” title in a secondary sport that no one really cares about.<br /><br />However, since we here know enough to give credit where credit is due, a “national championship” as recognized by the NCAA is, in fact, a national championship. So, we’ll give the Lady Bruins water polo team as much as they deserve.<br /><br />That said, what also struck me about all this was how -- in typically hypocritical and convenient ignorance -- “Nestor” and his “nation” forgot the fact that this win by the ugla women’s water polo team was actually the 101st time an ugla team had raised a “national” championship trophy.<br /><br />As “Nestor” <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2007/5/17/73957/6233" target="_blank">continues to post disparaging, biased remarks</a> about the integrity of USC Football, he somehow forgets that ugla’s softball team was actually <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">stripped of the national title</a> it “won” in 1995. This for enrolling a ringer -- named Tanya Harding (<span style="font-style: italic;">above</span>), of all scandalous monikers -- for one half season and one academic quarter, which she never finished. “<a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">A lack of institutional control</a>” was how the NCAA officially described it.<br /><br />Not only was the <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">ugla softball team stripped of its title</a>, it was also stripped of scholarships, placed on probation for three years and disallowed from playing in the 1997 post-season.<br /><br />We’re not talking about alleged violations, about which the coaching staff or the school knew nothing. These are <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">violations proven as fact</a>, which resulted in <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">near-death penalty punishment</a> of a celebrated ugla sports team.<br /><br />Typically, all this happened in 1995, while “Nestor” was a student at ugla. Just another example of the master of selective memory and hypocrisy at work. Speaking of work, what does “Nestor” do for a living? Does anybody know?<br /><br />Anyway, I wouldn’t have had to write this post had anyone else remembered in any significant way that the 1995 UCLA softball team was, in fact, <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">a fraud</a> and <a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1996/1997050601in.htm" target="_blank">a lousy bunch of cheaters</a>.<br /><br />But, perhaps this Displaced Trojan was never meant to sleep through three straight months. Maybe it’s time to get ready for the 2007 USC Football season. So much for the summer slumber …<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-3305907431903268532007-02-22T23:59:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:49.281-05:00Song Girl Natalie Says: Farewell<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohXwIx86UvUKGOCC76CZkyLpkJXepDJG3gKbnJ3TvT-QnD2xoJvenSS1C0Ndu2CK0BDMJiN1CD8zoQVtSxJURpjt09B9hLal1YMDaZDvf_X6nzOVeU_WhFNz6maLT-vWRw5WBTg/s1600-h/natalie+nelson+07+rb.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohXwIx86UvUKGOCC76CZkyLpkJXepDJG3gKbnJ3TvT-QnD2xoJvenSS1C0Ndu2CK0BDMJiN1CD8zoQVtSxJURpjt09B9hLal1YMDaZDvf_X6nzOVeU_WhFNz6maLT-vWRw5WBTg/s320/natalie+nelson+07+rb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034569472854613394" border="0" /></a><a href="http://usc.scout.com/" target="_blank">WeAreSC.com</a> does a nice job conducting what it calls “<a href="http://usc.scout.com/2/618269.html" target="_blank">exit interviews</a>” with outgoing senior football players. I like reading them because they help fill time between <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/usc-football-recruiting-quality-is-no-1.html" target="_blank">Signing Day</a> and Spring Football, while also confirming that current student-athletes are learning what it means to be part of the Trojan Family.<br /><br />However ... WeAreSC took a detour yesterday to interview (so to speak) <a href="http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/IMREC/spirit/song/thesquad/2006natalie.html" target="_blank">Natalie Nelson</a> about her thoughts (so to speak) regarding her career as a USC Song Girl. It was titled: “Exit Interview: Natalie.”<br /><br />Of course, <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-twirl.html" target="_blank">Beano</a> read the article and cried. Me? I just about fell asleep.<br /><br />No disrespect to the interviewer David Chung, but this is the fluffiest fluff piece that has ever been fluffed. In fact, the piece is so fluffy that Chung never mentions Nelson’s last name, as if she’s some sort of character in a <a href="http://www.mtv.com/#/ontv/dyn/laguna_beach/cast.jhtml" target="_blank">reality TV show</a>.<br /><br />Not that we should expect much in the way of hard hitting issues here, but Chung could have asked Nelson at least a few questions that incorporate the words "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/thursday-twirl-seriously.html" target="_blank">bad timing</a>” or “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/rose-bowl-twirl-third-times-charm-sorta.html" target="_blank">wedgy</a>” ... just to keep things interesting.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_q9XYbN1gfkZL1_xg7aNcG-PnSexHlin37_4GlRM6OeCfnn_Ys9HYYFU7wT9iWrCBbhy5VuIIlz6hL9uyNk5iN4vZf-Y5GY13Pp8Aw2orUMOnt8lubcUQmIlZaipR5h4tKo1fA/s1600-h/natalie+nelson+06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH_q9XYbN1gfkZL1_xg7aNcG-PnSexHlin37_4GlRM6OeCfnn_Ys9HYYFU7wT9iWrCBbhy5VuIIlz6hL9uyNk5iN4vZf-Y5GY13Pp8Aw2orUMOnt8lubcUQmIlZaipR5h4tKo1fA/s200/natalie+nelson+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034565641743785330" border="0" /></a>After all, Nelson has been the quintessential (if not stereotypical) USC Song Girl for the last couple of years. She’s been a co-captain of the squad. She dated a captain of the football team, linebacker <a href="http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/sartz_dallas00.html" target="_blank">Dallas Sartz</a>. She’s the daughter of Song Girl <a href="http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/IMREC/spirit/song/about/about.html" target="_blank">coach Lori Nelson</a>. She's performed <a href="http://www.trojanwire.com/images/cheerleader-injury.jpg" target="_blank">through injuries</a>. She was on the cover of Los Angeles Magazine (<span style="font-style: italic;">left</span>), and she’s posed toward the center of most Song Girl <a href="http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/IMREC/spirit/song/media/2006fball_notredame06.jpg" target="_blank">group photos</a>, because -- let’s be honest -- she’s a strikingly beautiful blond who looks great in a Song Girl sweater and skirt.<br /><br />However ... she is also responsible for this, ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImcg-AfZNRINS64g0W7Q-zWgvxIt_vm9gBWJ1qqY20_KL1F-3T7XfI-ar4MWzGMQnj08OwlaIai5HSpvqd14GAVl4onUs9F9Yelq4_yieCcjZiP71xiufi-NZa2d2J756WExpsw/s1600-h/natalie+nelson+06+rb.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhImcg-AfZNRINS64g0W7Q-zWgvxIt_vm9gBWJ1qqY20_KL1F-3T7XfI-ar4MWzGMQnj08OwlaIai5HSpvqd14GAVl4onUs9F9Yelq4_yieCcjZiP71xiufi-NZa2d2J756WExpsw/s400/natalie+nelson+06+rb.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034551339502689634" border="0" /></a><br />... and she is the inspiration for this ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.trojanwire.com/football/usc-cheerleader-sure-gets-around.php" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.trojanwire.com/images/usc_cheer02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />... and this, ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.trojanwire.com/football/usc-cheerleader-sure-gets-around.php" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://www.trojanwire.com/images/usc_cheer03.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />... which subsequently led to these, ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://michiganzone.blogspot.com/2006/01/usc-song-girl-has-cheered-at-wrong.html" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/228/1686/400/rodney-king%20final.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://michiganzone.blogspot.com/2006/01/usc-song-girl-has-cheered-at-wrong.html" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/228/1686/400/zapruder%20final.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />... the production of this, ...<br /><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Brcl8U0jHto"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Brcl8U0jHto" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object><br />... and the over-exposure (so to speak) of this ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mTiLnkAay8xiFuESMKSXRE69pBPo2uQYa578i5pQxkAt9AERK9SqQqJENpgEroDCf1qr9R1HPpmv23GiHg05r7hgMw5jLKgnXiErZB6WH_bpl8VdClrZn7bp9iz9aZHCrq30zQ/s1600/song+girl+07+rose+bowl+butt+hd.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7mTiLnkAay8xiFuESMKSXRE69pBPo2uQYa578i5pQxkAt9AERK9SqQqJENpgEroDCf1qr9R1HPpmv23GiHg05r7hgMw5jLKgnXiErZB6WH_bpl8VdClrZn7bp9iz9aZHCrq30zQ/s1600/song+girl+07+rose+bowl+butt+hd.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Not to mention her attendance in Senora Ross’s “<a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-sp-usctech2feb02,0,1643264.story?coll=la-home-headlines" target="_blank">Spanish III</a>” class.<br /><br />Yes, we know Nelson isn’t directly responsible for the “wedgy,” but she certainly set the precedent for the college football blogger geek frenzy that resulted from it.<br /><br />Of course, we’re not complaining about this stuff. We always laugh <span style="font-style: italic;">with</span> the Song Girls, not at them. So, again, you’d think Chung could ask at least one question that doesn’t read like a double pompom over the head <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bIJQprkLqVg&eurl=" target="_blank">waving thing</a> (so to speak).<br /><br />Instead, to her credit, Nelson mentioned her “bad timing” in response to Chung’s <a href="http://usc.scout.com/2/620531.html" target="_blank">31st fluffy question</a>. This created the only part of the Q&A worth reading:<br /><blockquote>WEARESC: What are the toughest parts of being a Song Girl and what will you take out of it after you leave USC?<br /><br />NN: One of the toughest things was definitely the Photoshopping. It was hard to see myself that way because none of the referees hands are up and I’m just there trying to get the crowd pumped up because everyone in the stands was nervous we were going to lose because they were right in front of us. What’s disappointing for me is that I really know football, maybe even more than anyone on the squad. I’ve grown up around football and I know the sport. It was hard because I know the sport and the picture was just taken at the wrong place, wrong time, and then Photoshopped.</blockquote>“Photoshopped.” It almost makes you feel sorry for Nelson, if not for her other answers about focusing on a modeling career, doing charity work -- and anything else she might have said before I fell asleep -- all of which tells us that she’ll never have to hold down a real job … ever.<br /><br />“Such is the life” (as Nestor puts it) of a <s>in</s>famous USC Song Girl. Just another thing to make the jealous “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/threatened-nation-attacks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>” more jealous … and bring Beano to tears.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-57654920673846192022007-02-22T00:31:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:49.432-05:00USC Hockey: It's All Fun and Games ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDXPG9ZjbBpeFBu-zPmccntfSB7xSZ8KsnUebggJv30uTZ-s5nWYCpuaq35-DkJWLr-ppkJMu4w8EK0qiR14p3eP4MOdvceCvbmGxTrchaJgcRm6-uzCN3oED92Zfo3byAL3wfg/s1600-h/mickey+meyer+USC.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitDXPG9ZjbBpeFBu-zPmccntfSB7xSZ8KsnUebggJv30uTZ-s5nWYCpuaq35-DkJWLr-ppkJMu4w8EK0qiR14p3eP4MOdvceCvbmGxTrchaJgcRm6-uzCN3oED92Zfo3byAL3wfg/s200/mickey+meyer+USC.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5034230075948948818" border="0" /></a>Part of the fun of writing a blog is pointing out <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/ucla-bruin-instinct.html" target="_blank">stupid stuff</a>. Of course, it's funny when that stuff is perpetrated by the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/anonymity-hate-hypocrisy-and-star-wars.html" target="_blank">domers</a> or the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/threatened-nation-attacks.html" target="_blank">bruins</a>. But, we’re by no means above (or below) mentioning any <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/thursday-twirl-seriously.html" target="_blank">funny</a>/<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/rose-bowl-twirl-third-times-charm-sorta.html" target="_blank">stupid stuff</a> that happens within the Trojan Family.<br /><br />Take the curious case of USC hockey goalie Mickey Meyer. I say “curious” not because “USC” and “hockey” seem to form an oxymoron, but because Meyer, apparently playing out some sort of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slap_Shot_%28film%29" target="_blank">Slap Shot</a> fantasy, decided it would be funny, if not appropriate, to show his bare ass to everyone during a 6-4 loss to BYU.<br /><br />Now, if you’re in shock upon hearing this, you’re not alone … I too had no idea that USC had a hockey team. Turns out the “Ice Trojans” have their own <a href="http://www.uscicehockey.com/" target="_blank">Web site</a>, play in the hockey Pac-8, and have won the league championship two years running. In fact, USC Hockey has won seven Pac-8 Championships, including four in a row, 2000-2003. But, I digress …<br /><br />For an account of Meyer’s behavior there is a <a href="http://msn.foxsports.com/nhl/story/6491548" target="_blank">second-hand report</a> from the AP or Utah’s <a href="http://hjnews.townnews.com/articles/2007/02/20/news/news02.txt" target="_blank">Herald-Journal</a>:<br /><blockquote>Mickey Meyer, the Trojan’s starting goalie, pulled his hockey pants down and exposed his buttocks during the final period of an afternoon game against BYU, according to reports.<br /><br />Meyer, a junior from Clinton, N.Y., was ejected from the regional tournament game and cited by police. North Park Police Sgt. John Italasano said the County Attorney’s Office will now decide whether to criminally prosecute Meyer.<br /><br />“To be honest with you, I really don’t know (why I did it),” he said. “I had my fill of these refs. ... I thought I’d take a little more control on our side.”</blockquote>Of course, this stupid stuff is tailor-made for a site like Deadspin, which came through with a <a href="http://deadspin.com/sports/hockey/moon-over-mormon-country-238355.php" target="_blank">nice take</a>.<br /><blockquote>Meyer is also the goalie who stopped a puck with his head in a 5-3 win over UCLA on Jan. 19. The Trojans play in the Pac-8 Conference, which they won this year, and from what we understand each player is required to put up more than $1,000 of his own money to participate. So we think Mickey earned his little moment.<br /></blockquote>Surprisingly (or not), ugla “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>” regular “Menelaus” <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2007/2/21/212915/421" target="_blank">chimed in</a>, jumping at the chance to make some hay. But he, like Deadspin, missed the opportunity to point out the truly funny and/or disgustingly embarrassing element of Meyer’s stunt.<br /><br />Thanks to the <a href="http://blog.sportscolumn.com/story/2007/2/21/113931/541" target="_blank">Sports Column</a> blog, which took the time to read through comments left on the Herald-Journal post, we get this:<br /><blockquote>While the antics might have played well in Socal […] the folks in Utah are upset over the incident. Here is the last reader comment from the article:<blockquote>“I've read a few of the comments since I explained that my little girls were shocked by what he did. When he "mooned" us, he showed us more than his behind (every one who was there knows what I mean). We're going to make sure that he is prosecuted and that he pays for what he did.”</blockquote>Yikes. On everyone's parts. </blockquote>Now, <span style="font-style: italic;">that’s</span> offensive, inappropriate and something to be embarrassed about. Leave it up to us to point this out to the likes of “Menelaus” … but what the hell? We’re talking about freakin’ hockey … club-sport hockey … at USC.<br /><br />As <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=eGDBR2L5kzI" target="_blank">Allen Iverson</a> says, “We talkin’ about [USC Hockey], man. I mean, how silly is that? … We talkin’ about [hockey], man. What are we talkin’ about, [USC Hockey]?<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE</span>: Ramona Shelburne of the L.A. Daily News <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_5278076" target="_blank">adds</a> this: "After Meyer skated off, he was replaced by - no joke - Matt Buttweiler."</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-56373075254228674822007-02-21T09:28:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:49.529-05:00The Jealous "nation" Attacks<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_california_07.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_california_07.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As we’ve said here before, it’s funny when <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">fools make fools of themselves</a>, but perhaps it’s even funnier when they simmer in their own jealousy for everyone on the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internets_%28colloquialism%29" target="_blank">internets</a> to see.<br /><br />Apparently, it wasn’t enough last week for the “nation” to <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/ucla-bruin-instinct.html" target="_blank">criticize its own amateur student</a> “journalists.” They had to attack a sports writer from USC, as well. The difference being Arash Markazi is a professional journalist for SI.com, and he was writing about <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/writers/arash_markazi/02/08/on.scene/index.html" target="_blank">the emergence of USC</a> “basketball.”<br /><br />As usual, whenever anything threatens to expose its blind paranoia, the "nation" takes offense.<br /><br />Never mind that Markazi is one of <a href="http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/42030.php" target="_blank">many</a>, <a href="http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9973162" target="_blank">many</a> journalists to notice the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-hoops-its-getting-funny.html" target="_blank">Trojan Uprising</a>” in hoops, the ever articulate “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">Tydides</a>” decided to <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2007/2/8/155528/9136" target="_blank">jump all over Markazi</a>, accusing him of writing a biased piece.<br /><blockquote>There's another trOJan apologist on the loose, and he needs to be set straight.<br /><br />As some of us are aware, SI.com's Arash Markaz is a trOJan alumnus, so it should come as no surprise that he is doing his best to turn lemons into lemonade, doing what he and his school does best: spin. […]<br /><br />It's embarrassing that these writers try to devalue the only aspect of the game that truly matters: the final score.</blockquote>As we all know, everyone is entitled to an opinion … but for the ugla “nation” this only applies when the opinion is in line with Nestor’s internal reality. But, I digress …<br /><br />Actually, the most embarrassing part of the post by "Tydides" is classic “nation” stuff -- you know, the fool making a fool of himself sort of thing -- the kind of moronic humor that can only be delivered through the ironic hypocrisy that occurs at the “nation” on a daily basis. Quoting Markazi, our buddy “Tydides” writes:<br /><blockquote>Seriously, our conference is full of morons, from Marcus the Mouth, all the way to these two trOJan jackass (to borrow a term from N) "surrender monkeys".<blockquote>"That's having more of a winning mentality," says Aaron [sic] Afflalo. "We know we have to do what we need to do to win a game."</blockquote>The name's ARRON, Jackass [sic] Markaz. He's a Wooden award finalist, and probable favorite for Pac 10 POY. But his words are the bottom line. We know how to win a game. SUC does not. Spin that.</blockquote>The funny part? While “Tydides” is attacking “Markaz” for spelling Arron Afflalo’s name incorrectly -- although one could argue that Afflalo misspells his first name every time he writes it – "Tydides" is also showing himself to be the fool he is by misspelling Markazi’s name … all this in a single five-word sentence.<br /><br />Really, you can’t make this stuff up. It’s almost unbelievable, and yet it’s right there in the blogosphere for all to see. Sure, “Tydides” might tell us that misspelling Markazi’s name was intentional, but we know he’s not that smart. He even misuses a parenthetical “<a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/sic" target="_blank">sic</a>” in an apparent attempt to add sarcasm to his tired name calling. Pathetic.<br /><br />Why all the hate for Markazi? Pure bruin jealousy is the guess here. Not only is Markazi free to write articles about his alma mater for a major publication and get paid for it, he also leads the kind of life the “nation” can only dream about.<br /><br />We know this because the “nation” continually attempts to convince itself that ugla is “cool” by posting photos suggesting that bruins (even a <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-song-girls-vs-every-man-woman-and.html" target="_blank">sorry</a> <a href="http://www.davenhill.com/albums/album34/aba.jpg" target="_blank">juggler</a>) get “mad action,” as Nestor puts it. An example is a picture of Lorenzo “<a href="http://www.trojanwire.com/football/bruins-ruin-1st-ever-galen-center-sellout-crowd.php" target="_blank">Pretty Boy</a>” Mata sitting poolside among women with a certain “don’t-touch-me” body language<br /><br />Again, we’ll let the “<a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2006/12/18/102138/55" target="_blank">nation</a>” speak for itself:<blockquote>Yes this is our Mata. The Dude is so money. And look at him. He knows it:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2zYHnFJjYWALo40U9M8EhNRwHyr1rUdGX0SveZekbx6IoIXSjlnssIOsoNvibovUQWHcopK-GzQ1hzCPLijyYfzmA5ge-RixanJIOx6sSF3at4h1QHdKSne4JDNgsESf0NHt0A/s1600-h/mata+poolside.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2zYHnFJjYWALo40U9M8EhNRwHyr1rUdGX0SveZekbx6IoIXSjlnssIOsoNvibovUQWHcopK-GzQ1hzCPLijyYfzmA5ge-RixanJIOx6sSF3at4h1QHdKSne4JDNgsESf0NHt0A/s200/mata+poolside.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5033995867087330626" border="0" /></a>Such is the life of a Ben Ball warrior.</blockquote><a href="http://www.insomniacslounge.com/uploaded_images/n2510481_33025549_1396-724362.jpg" target="_blank">Look at Mata</a>, indeed. The “nation” gives a hat tip to <a href="http://www.insomniacslounge.com/2006/12/moment-of-inspiration-from-lorenzo.html" target="_blank">Insomniac’s Lounge</a>, which has a slightly different take on the poolside Mata. Regardless, if this is Nestor’s idea of “action” … well, who knows what kind of life the “nation” leads?<br /><br />USC on the other hand has a <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2007_swimsuit/onlocation/california/" target="_blank">full photo spread</a> of the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/so-its-thursday-and-while-beano-may-be.html" target="_blank">Trojan Marching Band</a> with SI swimsuit models who aren’t afraid to touch them, in the most popular <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2007_swimsuit/" target="_blank">magazine issue</a> of the year, no less.<br /><br />And it wasn’t just a band geek thing. Back in August, when the Swimsuit photos were shot at USC, Markazi chronicled his “action,” as Nestor calls it, for SI.com. AOL’s Fanhouse over the weekend <a href="http://usc-football.aolsportsblog.com/2007/02/18/sports-illustrated-swimsuit-edition-tackles-battle-of-the-bands/" target="_blank">reminded us</a> of <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/writers/arash_markazi/08/16/la.scene/index.html" target="_blank">Markazi’s account</a> of the shoot.<br /><blockquote>Having graduated from USC two years ago and being the lone Trojan in the group of about a dozen photographers, assistants, make-up artists and editors, I lead the crew down from The Standard to campus, still somewhat surprised that there will be an SI Swimsuit shoot a few feet away from Chano's Drive Inn and the 901 Club as I drove down Figueroa Street. […]<br /><br />There are probably a laundry list of reasons why hanging out with models is good way of passing the time (I highly recommend it if you have the means).</blockquote>Obviously, Markazi has the means … or rather the luck. Either way, the point here is that if hanging out and taking photos with hot women is the measure of cool, USC has ugla beat, hands down. We know this criteria is trivial, but we’re not the ones <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2006/12/2/222830/491" target="_blank">overcompensating</a> for shortcomings. We know it’s all fun and games.<br /><br />Nevertheless, “such is the life,” as Nestor phrased it, of USC Band geeks and a graduate of the USC journalism program. Of course this, combined with the national attention of the “Trojan Uprising” in hoops, doesn’t sit well with the “nation,” which explains its attack on Markazi. (Note the correct spelling).<br /><br />We know thy enemy … and they’re just so jealous.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-57103852932172605622007-02-20T08:12:00.000-05:002007-02-21T11:13:13.150-05:00The ucla bruin Instinct<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.stoneylonesomephotos.com/pics/7_2_6_Bears_189.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.stoneylonesomephotos.com/pics/7_2_6_Bears_189.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As we’ve stated here before, it is important to <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/09/usc-post-bye-know-thy-enemy.html" target="_blank">know thy enemy</a>. Of course, this doesn’t mean that we must always engage in debate with our enemies, especially when <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/they-dont-want-any.html" target="_blank">they don’t want any</a>.<br /><br />But, we should know <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2006/12/2/222830/491" target="_blank">what they’re up to</a> at all times, if for no other reason than the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-song-girls-vs-every-man-woman-and.html" target="_blank">comedic value</a> and <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/09/bitter-bruins.html" target="_blank">general entertainment</a> it provides us. Besides, you never know when they'll do something stupid, however frequently that may be.<br /><br />Such is the case with the bruin “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>,” which continues to show a proclivity for attacking its own.<br /><br />As it turns out, this ugla instinct is true to the nature of actual bruin bears, which -- according to at least one hunting Web site -- attack their own in the wild as a way of “population control.” An entry on “<a href="http://www.gamecalls.net/callingandhuntingbears.html" target="_blank">Calling and Hunting Bears</a>” tells us that "adult male bears will kill cubs if given the chance ..." But, I digress …<br /><br />Sure, we’re used to seeing the “nation” <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2006/10/16/15470/500" target="_blank">personally attack</a> its head football coach and anyone else (<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-song-girls-vs-every-man-woman-and.html" target="_blank">especially fellow bruins</a>) who don’t subscribe to its narrow points of view. But, last week, Nestor -- no, I will not post his real name again -- and his clan decided to attack a young bruin cub named Ben Azar, an ugla student who writes for the Daily Bruin.<br /><br />Azar’s offense? He <a href="http://www.dailybruin.com/news/2007/feb/13/idorrell_has_earned_least_one_more_yeari/" target="_blank">dared to disagree</a> with dumpdorrell.com:<br /><blockquote>The dumpdorrell.com Web site has criticized Dorrell for every reason imaginable, including poor in-game coaching, failure to take responsibility, inability to recruit and insincerity. It makes some ridiculously baseless, LaRouche-like assertions that should serve as red flags to the people that actually put stock in the Web site. One assertion that really has me chuckling is that the assistant coaches that have left have mostly been forced out by Dorrell, who is using them as scapegoats to deflect responsibility from his “horrible” beginning as a head coach.<br /><br />It won’t happen, but let’s say this movement actually got what it wanted and a new head coach was hired for this season. How ludicrous would it be to implement a new system and revamp the whole program in a season where they are prepared to be an elite team? It would make a rebuilding year out of what should be a great year for the program.<br /></blockquote>True to their nature, the bruin “nation” and dumpdorrell.com <a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2007/2/14/74535/0155" target="_blank">sought to discredit</a> Azar -- as if an amateur journalist for the ugla student newspaper requires discrediting -- by pointing out and inflating the kid’s questionable reference to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyndon_LaRouche" target="_blank">Lyndon Larouche</a>.<br /><blockquote>The assclowns over at Daily Bootlickers are now comparing Dorrell critics over at DD to a known anti-semite and fascist. […]<br /><br />That is, of course, just uncalled for on the part of these amateuer [sic] idiots at the Daily Bootlicker. Keep in mind though that this is not something new coming out from this so-called joke of a sports section from UCLA's student newspaper.<br /></blockquote>This from Nestor, who thought it appropriate to compare <a href="http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegebasketball/story/9973162" target="_blank">the</a> <a href="http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/sports/42030.php" target="_blank">buzz</a> about USC “basketball” to opinions about the Iraq War and <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2007/1/15/125930/246" target="_blank">weapons of mass destruction</a>. As much as Nestor protests the Larouche reference, perhaps the hullabaloo over the "accusation" is designed to distract from the other adjectives Azar used to accurately describe the dumpdorrell "movement": "ridiculously baseless" ... "red flags" ... "has me chuckling" ..."ludicrous."<br /><br />Not to be outdone, dumpdorrell.com gives us this “<a href="http://dumpdorrell.com/2007/02/14/conversation-with-daily-bruin-editor-regarding-ben-azars-larouche-piece/" target="_blank">not at all verbatim</a>” account of its “conversation” with the Daily Bruin editor Jeff Schenck, during which “dd” professes not to care what Azar thinks … in the midst of demonstrating just how much “dd” cares what Azar thinks.<br /><blockquote>DD: Will you be printing a retraction or an apology for the piece?<br />JS: No.<br />DD: Why not?<br />JS: It was Ben’s column and Ben’s opinion and we don’t think he called you guys racist.<br />DD: We don’t care what he thinks about us. Anything printed in the DB reflects on the community. He equated us and critics of Dorrell with a nazi racist criminal. You don’t think LaRouche is racist?<br />JS: Ben never made that equation. You are reading into that. He said your arguments were like LaRouche’s arguments, silly and extremist.<br /></blockquote>Clearly, it's the Daily Bruin that couldn't care less what dumpdorrell.com thinks. Nevertheless, the “not verbatim” dialogue continues in a “silly and extremist” manner.<br /><blockquote>JS: We are sorry if you are offended but we don’t agree with you.<br />DD: It’s not about us, we could care less what the DB and Ben Azar think about us. Its the larger community that we are concerned about, and allowing this poisonous perception to exist is wrong.<br />JS: We are sorry if you feel that way. But it is Ben’s opinion and his piece.<br /></blockquote>As Nestor says, “this is not something new.” The “nation” also has been harassing another bruin student “journalist” named David Woods.<br /><br />Apparently miffed that Woods wrote a piece criticizing ugla coach Ben Howland, <a href="http://bruinsnation.com/story/2007/1/29/124555/476" target="_blank">Nestor went all</a> <a href="http://www.tnr.com/doc.mhtml?i=sports&s=zengerle070704" target="_blank">Mike Krzyewski</a> on Woods, comparing Woods to the great <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/09/east-coast-bias-grows-as-it-sleeps.html" target="_blank">Bill Plaschke</a>.<br /><blockquote>It's pretty clear that this student version of Bill Plaschke is as clueless about the sport as the one the Trojan Times subjects us to every week. […]<br /><br />The clown ought to look at himself in the mirror, and he would discover that he is not capable of writing a concise, well thought out sports column.<br /></blockquote>Of course, we’re not above commenting on a student reporter’s <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/boo-its-east-coast-bias.html" target="_blank">bad journalism</a> occasionally, but while it’s one thing to criticize a young student for writing something that the “nation” considers stupid (that is, anything that doesn’t fall in line with Nestor’s narrow point of view), it’s another thing to label Woods an “assclown” in a sincere attempt to embarrass the poor kid. True to form, Nestor goes even further, calling for Woods’ proverbial head:<br /><blockquote>If you want to write Daily Bruin about this idiot, I'd suggest you contact/email Daily Bruin's Editor-in-Chief Jeff Schenck at jschenck@media.ucla.edu (and at editor@media.ucla.edu). In addition, email sports editor Bobby Gordon at bgordon@media.ucla.edu. Fill up their email boxes folks.<br /><br />It is just embarrassing that a "senior" sports writer of the student newspaper of the best public university in the country, featuring one of the greatest athletic program in college sports, can write such a misinformed, ignorant article on its hallmark sports program. Time to let them know how they have become a joke. Perhaps they can be chastened before they move on to real jobs. Maybe this could be a wake up call for them before they completely evolve into (it may be too late) the Bill Plaschke of next generation.<br /></blockquote>Now that’s what an alumni network is all about! LOL.<br /><br />Of course, like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pavlov%27s_Dog" target="_blank">Pavlov’s dogs</a>, the usual suspects followed, led by typically abusive comments from our friend “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">Tydides</a>”:<br /><blockquote>I've said it before and I'll say it again: David Woods is an embarrassment to UCLA. I hope he reads BN. I'd like to direct this comment at him: Find A New Career Path. […]<br /><br />I'll say this right now: Howland did a much better job as a basketball coach last night than Woods did as a writer. […]</blockquote>Adding his two pennies, “bluestreet” describes Woods as “a shitty sports writer who is clearly asking the wrong questions.”<br /><br />Geez. It seems like common sense that a head coach of an esteemed basketball program would do a “much better job” at his profession, relative to an aspiring student sports writer … that is, an amateur without benefit of an actual journalism program!<br /><br />Of course, USC Trojans don’t have these issues … one, because the Daily Trojan is produced by students who attend a real journalism school and who write articles even the ugla "nation" deems "<a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2006/11/29/115520/95" target="_blank">intellectually honest</a>" and "<a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2006/11/29/115520/95" target="_blank">brutally accurate</a>" … two, because we would rather support members of the Trojan Family, particularly <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-bye-week-thursday-twirl.html" target="_blank">our young student journalists</a>, rather than kill them off.<br /><br />Then again, perhaps we shouldn’t be so hard on these bruins and this “population control” their supposed “nation” employs. It’s all instinct for them, after all.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-62405876489412341342007-02-15T08:44:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:49.740-05:00USC Song Girls Are Lovely, But ...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-BLzHTMpKAiqVQ8wpNVKJOMAYr4f7_pL6BBb-LbjrMjh_ONbJHyIU75IZvI3qSMcO_OPqA4lsegSn8swtYqg6HMTkT6ufvw8dVx8WahC3orf7OPKGhRwpR1l0OUImTaKiuaFvw/s200/si+julie+henderson.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031603219434016482" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jwhite_19.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu8i9Pv-4LwXzptCApwdT2a19SwJ5573U1mbyQfubZzw8xqhkDgBFRG-Wty2ErlloBJJPbtw9085S8nKxUCA-M4Ke8vW76xer-uoWAUiJMqiP8b9nnvxC2p73RcjtzWaw_lcCK3w/s200/si+jessica+white.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031603094879964882" border="0" /></a>So, it’s Thursday, and while <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-twirl.html" target="_blank">Beano</a> may be expecting <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/beano-wants-his-song-girls.html" target="_blank">the usual</a> twirl, today we’re going pro. Turns out Sports Illustrated paid a visit to USC recently to take a few photos of the <a href="http://www.usc.edu/dept/band/" target="_blank">Trojan Marching Band</a> for SI’s <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/2007_swimsuit/" target="_blank">2007 Swimsuit Issue</a>.<br /><br />Who's to say why the photo editors at SI decided to combine skinny (albeit <a href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_california_08.jpg" target="_blank">beautiful</a>, bikini-clad) women with <a href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_california_02.jpg" target="_blank">gee</a><a href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_california_03.jpg" target="_blank">ky</a> (albeit <a href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jwhite_behind_03.jpg" target="_blank">lucky as hell</a>) USC Band members … on <a href="http://www.fieldturf.com/football/index.cfm" target="_blank">FieldTurf</a>, no less.<br /><br />But who are we to wonder about such things?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_behind_04.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_behind_04.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><center>We ...</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jwhite_behind_02.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jwhite_behind_02.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><center>Are ...</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_09.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_09.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><center>SC!</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_15.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_15.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><center>We ...</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jwhite_01.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jwhite_01.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><center>Are ...</center><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_17.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/features/2007_swimsuit/images/photos/07_jhenderson_17.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><center>SC!<br /><br />Fight On!</center><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-78486262607406167782007-02-13T14:58:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:49.879-05:00USC Football: Better Than It's Ever Been Done?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TgOjzAusl4inJyDQzxHkrDnRvt8XNrRyyXH-apDCiRb7DiN9Fv0wqQFgsGIwgT7FMK4G1NN7faLRTBK6U5t8FOHwjQVrR80x9Qjgix5g83XTjRe5oynXIs1eyeFF3NJs1iYGeg/s1600-h/Trojan+at+50.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7TgOjzAusl4inJyDQzxHkrDnRvt8XNrRyyXH-apDCiRb7DiN9Fv0wqQFgsGIwgT7FMK4G1NN7faLRTBK6U5t8FOHwjQVrR80x9Qjgix5g83XTjRe5oynXIs1eyeFF3NJs1iYGeg/s200/Trojan+at+50.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5031118545259564674" border="0" /></a>A funny thing occurred to me last night as I posted a take (on <a href="http://conquestchronicles.com/story/2007/2/12/233913/018" target="_blank">Conquest Chronicles</a>) about the latest in a string of “controversies” to threaten the reputation of USC Football …<br /><br />I’m getting tired of this crap.<br /><br />Certainly, I understand it all comes with the territory. I know that unprecedented success on the field and on the recruiting trail, in a major metropolitan market with no NFL team, has created a “perfect storm” of heightened media attention and acute scrutiny of USC.<br /><br />No doubt, I understand the fact that high-profile athletes and successful college sports programs are primary targets for muckraking journalists, jealous rivals and other gold-digging elements.<br /><br />But this supposed residue of USC’s college football greatness is starting to wear the Teflon of success a little too thin for my taste.<br /><br />I know that <a href="http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/dennis_hershel00.html" target="_blank">Hershel Dennis</a> and <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2005/writers/stewart_mandel/01/18/mandel.011805/" target="_blank">Mark Sanchez</a> were <a href="http://www.trojanwire.com/football/no-charges-for-dennis.php" target="_blank">exon</a><a href="http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=local&id=4209059" target="_blank">erated</a> of sexual assault. I know <a href="http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/maualuga_rey00.html" target="_blank">Rey Maualuga</a> has taken anger management courses and did community service to pay for his outbursts during a <a href="http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister/sports/college/usc/abox/article_1282476.php" target="_blank">tough time</a> in his life. I know <a href="http://media.collegepublisher.com/media/paper679/stills/75f664w0.jpg" target="_blank">Dwayne Jarrett</a> catching a break on rent from Matt Leinart’s father was really a <a href="http://usctrojans.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/080906aaa.html" target="_blank">small issue</a> in the overall scheme of things.<br /><br />But after a while, this crap starts to become a burden.<br /><br />Really, I understand that <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/yahoo-report-trust-in-reggie-part-iii.html" target="_blank">the NCAA won’t come close</a> to proving that USC knew or should have known anything about Reggie Bush and his idiotic family’s dealings with crooked sports agents. I know that phone records will prove that <a href="http://www.dailynews.com/usc/ci_5199409" target="_blank">Pete Carroll never set up a conference call</a> between Bush and No. 1 recruit Joe McKnight.<br /><br />But I have to ask … when is this crap going to stop? However alleged, non-factual, inaccurate, unwarranted, and flat-out-stupid it might be … is all of this completely out of our control?<br /><br />Even if we can explain it all away with common sense scenarios, absence of fact, and third-party validation, we still have to acknowledge this crap and deal with it.<br /><br />No doubt, I know that USC Football will emerge unscathed from all of this, and our national championship trophies are safe in Heritage Hall. I know there is every reason to believe that we will be adding more hardware to our historic collection.<br /><br />But how many measured statements out of <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/08/tell-me-usc-is-southern-cal.html" target="_blank">Tim Tessalone</a>’s crisis communications handbook do we have to hear on our way to another BCS bowl game? How much fuel do we have to give the “<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>” of hate and the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/southern-inferiority-complex.html" target="_blank">inferiority-complexed</a> south, while we defend another No. 1 ranking?<br /><br />Don’t get me wrong. I believe in our man Carroll. I believe in his <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-football-pre-game-how-we-do-it.html" target="_blank">unique approach</a> and his <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/08/pete-carroll-is-no-flake-hes-just-not.html" target="_blank">player's-coach</a> style and the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/fool-carroll-once.html" target="_blank">evolved philosophy</a> that has brought unprecedented success to USC Football. I believe in the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/usc-football-game-day-tennis-anyone.html" target="_blank">Magic Tennis Book</a>!<br /><br />But, I also know that <a href="http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/cfootball/287770_miller06.html" target="_blank">Carroll's stated mission</a> is to "do things better than it's ever been done before." I know it’s difficult, maybe even unrealistic. As Caroll has also <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/yahoo-report-trust-in-reggie-part-ii.html" target="_blank">said</a>, “That stuff, it is kind of nasty. You just don't know where it's coming from and people are out to get you. It can get kind of hard.”<br /><br />But if USC Football is to get there, if we really do believe as true Trojans that we will do this better than it’s ever been done before, we should acknowledge that perhaps we are falling short of that mission today.<br /><br />It’s a noble thing for Carroll to aim higher than mere mortals. And we embrace the opportunity and added responsibility to transcend the common pattern of other highly successful programs like <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miami_Hurricanes_football#Football_program_controversies_and_scandals" target="_blank">Miami</a> … or <a href="http://www.nd.edu/%7Eobserver/01192000/News/0.html" target="_blank">Notre</a> <a href="http://www.southbendtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061102/News01/611020327/-1/NEWS01" target="_blank">Dame</a> … or <a href="http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4196/is_19990312/ai_n10482282" target="_blank">U</a>.<a href="http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9F02E0DB133EF932A35753C1A96F958260" target="_blank">C</a>.<a href="http://www.ncaa.org/releases/infractions/1998/1998043002in.htm" target="_blank">L</a>.<a href="http://www.english.ucla.edu/ucla1960s/7071/austin12.htm" target="_blank">A</a>. Really, no disrespect to other college programs -- again, it’s tough -- but we think we can do better.<br /><br />After all … We Are SC! Now, more than ever, this should mean something to us.<br /><br />So, rather than explain away these minor issues with our common sense and the reassurances of non-haters, perhaps it’s time to ask our man Carroll -- however unfair it may be -- when will we stop having to deal with all this stuff in the first place?<br /><br />Maybe it’s time to tell him we’re getting tired of this crap.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">NOTE</span>: There is a very slightly "cleaner," guest-blogger version of this post on <a href="http://conquestchronicles.com/story/2007/2/13/163722/974" target="_blank">CC</a>.<br /></span><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-89118871092989383612007-02-09T08:50:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:50.272-05:00Designing Keyshawn Johnson<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSw2ObohzYvcl29IFYXNuj_aBGIYOM1Cl8ui43uJY7sawQcdoax7QFCVgcDncJTDy5bEhL_8GHMHQckb09KILg4_fW7zix9s3CSJc4N1IPhVzGxMglvw43hTV79b-cJXY9F6FJw/s1600-h/keyshawn+johnson+condo+1.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjSw2ObohzYvcl29IFYXNuj_aBGIYOM1Cl8ui43uJY7sawQcdoax7QFCVgcDncJTDy5bEhL_8GHMHQckb09KILg4_fW7zix9s3CSJc4N1IPhVzGxMglvw43hTV79b-cJXY9F6FJw/s200/keyshawn+johnson+condo+1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029396074395307602" border="0" /></a>Ever since the 1995 season – the lone bright spot of the second John Robinson era – we’ve known <a href="http://www.nflplayers.com/players/player.aspx?id=24007" target="_blank">Keyshawn Johnson</a> is a true Trojan. The stories about Keyshawn growing up around the USC campus and serving as a ball boy for the Trojans during the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/just-win-baby.html" target="_blank">Marcus Allen</a> and <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=_pHavSsG0gI" target="_blank">Ronnie Lott</a> years is the stuff of Trojan Family lore.<br /><br />Say what you want about <a href="http://www.trojanwire.com/football/keyshawns-words-for-theismann.php" target="_blank">his mouth</a>, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Just-Give-Me-Damn-Ball/dp/0446521450" target="_blank">his book</a>, or his <a href="http://www.nfl.com/news/story/6850362" target="_blank">run-in</a> with John Gruden … Keyshawn <a href="http://www.sptimes.com/2006/09/25/Bucs/Keyshawn_s_big_return.shtml" target="_blank">walks the walk</a>.<br /><br />Besides, wouldn’t any proper Trojan have issues with a <a href="http://media.www.ndsmcobserver.com/media/storage/paper660/news/2004/12/02/Sports/Gruden.Officially.States.He.Has.No.Interest.In.Nd.Job-818851.shtml?sourcedomain=www.ndsmcobserver.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com" target="_blank">Notre Dame-loving</a> supposed genius coach, whose only claim to fame is winning a Super Bowl with Tony Dungy’s players? The contrived “<a href="http://www.houstonprofootball.com/chair/images/PICTURE_chair32.gif" target="_blank">Chucky</a>” facial expressions and <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=tAh3cNDR62k" target="_blank">pseudo tough-guy mannerisms</a> would drive any self-respecting player nuts. But, I digress …<br /><br />As we should all know, Keyshawn won the 1996 Rose Bowl for USC (despite <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/sun-bowl-rileys-guts-usc-knows-better.html" target="_blank">horrific play-calling</a> by then USC offensive coordinator Mike Riley) and for that, Key will always get every benefit of the doubt from me. The thing is the man deserves props, regardless.<br /><br />Keyshawn has always been more than just a football player. In fact, relative to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Mitchell#Mitchell_and_the_media" target="_blank">other bozos</a>, he’s a freakin’ renaissance man.<br /><br />For starters, Keyshawn graduated from USC with a degree in history, and upon receiving his first pay check from the Jets -- after they took him first overall in the ’96 draft -- he opened a successful restaurant in Beverly Hills. He’s done all the standard charity/scholarship fund/community work <a href="http://www.nflplayers.com/news/news_release.aspx?id=1031" target="_blank">in L.A.</a> and the cities where he’s played (New York, Tampa, Dallas, Charlotte), but he’s also made a point of improving and maturing as a person.<br /><br />Nowhere is this more evident than in the piece the Los Angeles Times ran yesterday about Keyshawn’s interest and <a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/usc/la-hm-keyshawn8feb08,1,179699.story?page=1&coll=la-headlines-sports-coll-usc" target="_blank">flat out sophisticated know-how</a> in the design of his various homes and other real estate.<br /><blockquote>"When you're an athlete, most people think you don't know or care anything about design," Johnson says. "That's like saying all actors are on drugs and crazy."<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22fl6Jxq620Dwpw88YWloIvIwxW6sWf_c_j_stm45PqCfK22QYGEqIR95imURd6XEtlWxsNEPybiSAy8XGZsyeh0XugWn7QwXFGBdPnodGXAdsmZNde90wVEvV03kBfJ3qzRykQ/s1600-h/keyshawn+johnson+condo+2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22fl6Jxq620Dwpw88YWloIvIwxW6sWf_c_j_stm45PqCfK22QYGEqIR95imURd6XEtlWxsNEPybiSAy8XGZsyeh0XugWn7QwXFGBdPnodGXAdsmZNde90wVEvV03kBfJ3qzRykQ/s200/keyshawn+johnson+condo+2.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029396289143672418" border="0" /></a>Having invested in spec homes and decorated personal residences in New York, Florida, North Carolina and multiple spots in L.A. since he went pro in 1996, Johnson has become as confident in a furniture showroom as he is on the gridiron. He developed an interest in design when he first became a homeowner, he says, and life experiences have since shaped his tastes.<br /><br />"I've stayed in some of the best hotels in the world. I read House & Garden and Casa Vogue," says Johnson, adding that he's a fan of Fendi's and Armani Casa's home collections. "I spend hours at Hennessy + Ingalls in Santa Monica looking at architecture books like some weirdo."<br /><br />Richard Landry, a Los Angeles architect working on a mansion for Johnson in Calabasas, refers to his client as not just an athlete but an aesthete and an entrepreneur, one who has a solid understanding of how design can enrich lives and bank accounts.<br /><br />"Keyshawn can actually read architectural plans and see the finished work," Landry says. "He strikes me as a guy with a vision who is open to the process."<br /><br />Other athletes may invest in cars, clothes and diamonds, but Johnson has developed a real estate portfolio — and acquired a hands-on education in design along the way.</blockquote>Who knew back when Keyshawn was shagging footballs for Marcus and Ronnie that he’d turn out to be this fine example of a 21st century aesthete "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metrosexual#The_commercial_metrosexual" target="_blank">metrosexual</a>" dude … so to speak? As Key himself once said, “Talk about your damn <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Ruettiger" target="_blank">Rudy</a> stories!”<br /><br />Sure, the ugla "<a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/nation-in-quotation-marks.html" target="_blank">nation</a>" might call this a fluff piece initiated by Keyshawn’s PR team (which it is) but what’s wrong with that? It’s not like anyone wants to read a feature about the linoleum and <a href="http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/" target="_blank">Ikea</a> entertainment center <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cade_McNown#Controversies" target="_blank">Cade McNown</a> chose for his double-wide trailer in Hollister.<br /><br />So, we end with the inevitable: Just give Keyshawn the damn ... wallpaper ... or color palette ... or whatever it is designers use for designing stuff! And, Fight On!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyR355FuG-UoBVkqtYjvaKs_WQTzJsuGI8AruTaYOxHKTWidz-gbwqcF-cn46Uilxu13B1uYdEkMu0FmHfR7MMDAtxWd-lzdFH7uTObZiN6imraPCAgh1gWBoEAzhb98U-VTRQQ/s1600-h/keyshawn+johnson+condo+3.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPyR355FuG-UoBVkqtYjvaKs_WQTzJsuGI8AruTaYOxHKTWidz-gbwqcF-cn46Uilxu13B1uYdEkMu0FmHfR7MMDAtxWd-lzdFH7uTObZiN6imraPCAgh1gWBoEAzhb98U-VTRQQ/s320/keyshawn+johnson+condo+3.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029396594086350450" border="0" /></a>We Are SC!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-13917836748923329042007-02-08T11:43:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:50.371-05:00ESPN Loves USC<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_k6VSC8PUt0ZlUJX8Xaep2oILHhpJa7DBHJhsA2IIv_dYMT1Oe2hxXTpwvQbHcIxLozaZp2WPSzmiueoOGKTduXOEruQjGeo853Rxar9WiH50SjQWMPcFlY2vuZdkQvJuAqOiA/s1600-h/Pete+Carroll+06.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS_k6VSC8PUt0ZlUJX8Xaep2oILHhpJa7DBHJhsA2IIv_dYMT1Oe2hxXTpwvQbHcIxLozaZp2WPSzmiueoOGKTduXOEruQjGeo853Rxar9WiH50SjQWMPcFlY2vuZdkQvJuAqOiA/s200/Pete+Carroll+06.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5029391727888404034" border="0" /></a>Word out here near Bristol, Conn., is that ESPN.com wasn’t about to have a CBS-affiliated SEC school named No. 1 in recruiting yesterday … at least not without a fight.<br /><br />So, the World Wide Leader -- perhaps with help from <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-twirl.html" target="_blank">Beano Cook</a> -- stacked the deck for its favorite ABC/ESPN-affiliated Pac-10 school (aka conference TV ratings darling USC Football), conveniently placing Trojan signees <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/usc-signing-day-update-mcknight-is.html" target="_blank">Joe McKnight</a>, <a href="http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=15&p=8&c=1&nid=2327982" target="_blank">Chris Galippo</a> and <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/great-trojans-bad-parents.html" target="_blank">Mark Tyler</a> at the very top of its <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recruiting/tracker/espn150" target="_blank">ESPN 150</a> player ranking.<br /><br />The result? Yet another <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/recruiting/news/story?id=2757802" target="_blank">top recruiting class</a> secured for our man Pete Carroll. Of course, as <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/02/usc-football-recruiting-quality-is-no-1.html" target="_blank">we anticipated</a> yesterday, Rivals and Scout have USC’s 2007 class ranked No. 2 and No. 3, respectively. But who are we to argue with the World Wide Leader?<br /><br />Just another <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-were-no-1-early-2007-edition.html" target="_blank">No. 1</a> to add to the USC collection. Indeed <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/usc-future-is-bright-no-hype-needed.html" target="_blank">the future is bright</a>. Thanks, Beano …<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/IMREC/spirit/song/media/2006fball_wash15.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px;" src="http://www.usc.edu/student-affairs/IMREC/spirit/song/media/2006fball_wash15.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>We Are SC!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-29187064928252726772007-02-07T14:21:00.000-05:002007-02-09T11:33:10.511-05:00USC Signing Day Update: McKnight is a TrojanDepending on who you talk to <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/players/02/07/mcknight.usc.ap/index.html" target="_blank">Joe McKnight</a> is the top-ranked running back in the nation. Catching him <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=ucbjkKjDyds" target="_blank">on video</a>, he runs more like Adrian Peterson than Reggie Bush. Either way, there's no doubt he looks great in cardinal and gold.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/players/02/07/recruiting.wire/tx_mcknightusc.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://i.a.cnn.net/si/2007/players/02/07/recruiting.wire/tx_mcknightusc.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />Welcome to the Trojan Family, Joe.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE</span>: Bring it on, <a href="http://sports.yahoo.com/ncaaf/news;_ylt=AgqSAc97FZpvjTs2Nv1BDdg5nYcB?slug=dw-recruit020607&prov=yhoo&type=lgns" target="_blank">Dan Wetzel</a> ... you <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/yahoo-report-trust-in-reggie-part-iii.html" target="_blank">stinkin' Yahoo</a>!<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE II </span>(2/9/07): I thought this sounded funny:<br /></span><p></p><blockquote><p>McKnight said he was not at all worried about the prospect that USC may be penalized because of an investigation of whether Reggie Bush or his parents took improper payments from agents while Bush was playing there.</p> <p>McKnight said USC coach Pete Carroll set up a conference call so he and Curtis could talk to Bush and ease their worries that USC might wind up under sanctions.</p></blockquote><p></p><p><a href="http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-uscrecruit9feb09,1,7603432.story?coll=la-headlines-sports&track=crosspromo" target="_blank">Not good</a>.<br /></p><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-52292956839928295812007-02-07T09:45:00.000-05:002007-02-07T10:04:48.528-05:00USC Football Recruiting: Quality is No. 1<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/19/192745.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://media.scout.com/Media/Image/19/192745.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>If you take a look at the rankings for college football recruiting today, you probably won’t see USC Football ranked No. 1. But don’t fret.<br /><br />USC’s recruiting class of 2007 is <a href="http://www.pe.com/sports/breakout/stories/PE_Sports_Local_D_usc_fb_07.23ad131.html" target="_blank">all about quality</a>, and on that scale we’re looking like an undisputed champ. Based on projected commitments (as of 9:45 EST this morning) the incoming Trojans have <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/players/02/06/team.rankings/index.html" target="_blank">the highest average “star rating”</a> -- based rival.com’s one to five scale -- at 4.25. The next highest is Florida at 3.88, followed by Texas at 3.75. No other school has an average above 4.00.<br /><br />Looking at it another way, USC will welcome <a href="http://scout.scout.com/a.z?s=15&p=9&c=8&yr=2007" target="_blank">five-star players at virtually every position</a>, including studs ranked at or near the top at defensive tackle, defensive end, linebacker, safety, cornerback, running back, quarterback, offensive tackle, and center<br /><br />But for whatever reason, USC doesn’t have as many scholarships to award this year, compared to other schools ranked among the Top 10 in recruiting.<br /><br />Scout.com, Rivals.com and any other measure of the best recruiting classes, all take into account quantity as well as quality, which explains the “disadvantage” USC is facing this year in terms of overall ranking. In fact, Florida, the projected recruiting No. 1, has <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/players/02/06/team.rankings/index.html" target="_blank">at least 10 more scholarships</a> for the 2007 class than USC, for example.<br /><br />No matter. Having less scholarships to give means that the Trojans remain stockpiled with the talent our man Pete Carroll assembled over the last four years. It means that USC’s very young team in 2006 is maturing and ready to start the 2007 season as the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-were-no-1-early-2007-edition.html" target="_blank">pre-season No. 1</a>. And, it means we’re welcoming athletes who have supreme belief in themselves, kids who are willing to compete on Howard Jones Field with the best this game has to offer.<br /><br />Of course, top-10 recruiting classes are no guarantee for success, but as Dennis Dodd of CBS Sportsline points out, <a href="http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/9978794" target="_blank">it certainly helps</a>.<br /><blockquote>CBS SportsLine.com went back to 2002 and added up rankings of the top classes from Rivals.com and Scout.com through 2007 (as of Tuesday). Each year the No. 1 class got 10 points, No. 2, got nine points, etc.<br /><br />Not surprisingly, the list is topped by Southern California. Since 2002 (Pete Carroll's second year), the Trojans have had six of the 12 No. 1 recruiting classes. They had consensus Rivals/Scout No. 1s in 2004 and 2006.<br /><br />It isn't even close. During that time period, no coach or program has done more with its recruits than USC, which has a record five straight Pac-10 titles, five BCS bowls and two national championships (and played for another).<br /><br />The other nine teams combined for three national championships, 13 conference titles and 18 BCS bowls since 2002.<br /><br />Proof again that Carroll is college football's reigning alpha male when it comes to recruiting. Yes, I know: Water is also wet and the sky is blue. USC already is everybody's preseason No. 1 (on the field) in '07. </blockquote>Dodd also quotes Steve Sarkisian, who provides a little insight into what gives USC a recruiting edge … and perhaps why he chose to remain a Trojan, rather than become a Raider.<br /><blockquote>"One is [Carroll’s] energy," USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said. “He’s not afraid to get on the road and recruit. He wants the kids to see him. No. 2, it's our history of playing freshman players. It's not just talk. Not only are guys playing, they're playing significantly. Those are the two areas where it really stands out."<br /><br />In one three-year period (2003-05) Carroll bragged of playing 40 true freshmen. How many teams have done that? The same amount that developed one Heisman winner (Carson Palmer) and recruited two others (Matt Leinart and Reggie Bush) in a five-year period. […]<br /><br />Nothing fazes Carroll […] He has lost Heisman winners and All-Americans only to replace them with more Heisman winners and All-Americans. […]<br /><br />Nothing stops Carroll, not even turnover. Only two coaches remain from his original staff. He has gone through three offensive coordinators and produced three head coaches off his staff. The Trojans went 11-2 and won the Rose Bowl in '06 -- a rebuilding year.<br /></blockquote>Again, <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-football-pre-game-how-we-do-it.html" target="_blank">this is how we do it</a>.<br /><br />So, no overall recruiting title for USC this year? Not a problem. It’s all about quality in 2007 … and the positive hype and good vibes of the Trojans’ <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-were-no-1-early-2007-edition.html" target="_blank">pre-season No. 1</a>.<br /><br />We Are SC!<br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-63296396800587217542007-02-01T09:34:00.000-05:002008-12-09T04:08:50.747-05:00Beano Missed The Song Girls<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAtQdXJMQqYvAgyShiRGbS0Mbvr7SoHBYSLECDQHll4UC-xM4Ia8Ezt7UOXgsdvEuGAFM7dLCQXpcookAyS261iL1uuhJqZSM-Mmmjp07lmo5nv2UW9vXKgLu3hOwF1-ipE9UJg/s1600-h/song+girl+logo.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZAtQdXJMQqYvAgyShiRGbS0Mbvr7SoHBYSLECDQHll4UC-xM4Ia8Ezt7UOXgsdvEuGAFM7dLCQXpcookAyS261iL1uuhJqZSM-Mmmjp07lmo5nv2UW9vXKgLu3hOwF1-ipE9UJg/s200/song+girl+logo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026423335707180098" border="0" /></a>Well, we took a little break from the <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-song-girls-vs-every-man-woman-and.html" target="_blank">usual routine</a> last week to chronicle an <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/yahoo-report-trust-in-reggie-part-ii.html" target="_blank">important</a> <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/yahoo-report-trust-in-reggie-part-iii.html" target="_blank">issue</a>, and <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/thursday-twirl.html" target="_blank">old man Beano</a> got all upset.<br /><br />So, we're back to the "twirling" business today, this being a Thursday.<br /><br />Not that I give a darn what the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_bias" target="_blank">east coast biased</a>, <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-bye-week-domer-hype-machine.html" target="_blank">Domer Hype Machine</a> influenced Beano has to say. I just want him to leave us alone ...<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzZhloalgwuHQPvmeQy3I_qPSHpYNKB8ANcIHGzHjQLyp7Xn1BCKHfXnYW7dFKmIIOyMSgmY4f5rxkHnkv7U3IiqCPAGiezMxklY3dnSgsZeB91AfurIFK9PkGFHx6a6h47glwA/s1600-h/song+girls+basketball+04.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrzZhloalgwuHQPvmeQy3I_qPSHpYNKB8ANcIHGzHjQLyp7Xn1BCKHfXnYW7dFKmIIOyMSgmY4f5rxkHnkv7U3IiqCPAGiezMxklY3dnSgsZeB91AfurIFK9PkGFHx6a6h47glwA/s400/song+girls+basketball+04.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5026422489598622770" border="0" /></a>Hmmm ... maybe USC "basketball" really does deserve some attention.<br /><br />Fight On! Beat the Beavers ... in hoops!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://img.snapsoid.com/9b/17/38e8656ed4f3a0176dcc101c014d_740.jpg"><br /></a>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-90462003751111933382007-01-31T08:15:00.000-05:002007-02-01T00:56:49.646-05:00Judge Says: Pass the Mayo<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://images.usatoday.com/sports/_photos/2007/01/30/mayo-large.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://images.usatoday.com/sports/_photos/2007/01/30/mayo-large.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Although we’ve had our <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/maxwell-award-no-thanks.html" target="_blank">gripes</a> about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Coast_bias" target="_blank">east coast bias</a> and <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/11/together-again-axis-of-east-coast-bias.html" target="_blank">the Gray Lady</a> in particular, it’s clear that the New York media <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-hoops-its-getting-funny.html" target="_blank">know their basketball</a>.<br /><br />Rather than jump the gun on this O.J. Mayo matter, the New York Times waited for the story to develop and, <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/oj-mayo-not-so-fast-my-friend.html" target="_blank">as we did</a> here earlier, allowed the inevitable video evidence to appear, in an effort to ensure <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/sports/ncaabasketball/30preps.html?_r=1&ref=sports&oref=slogin" target="_blank">accuracy in its reporting</a>.<br /><br />Even better, Pete Thamel provided the proper context in the lead of his story on Mayo in yesterday’s Times, along with some quotes from people who actually know what they’re talking about:<br /><blockquote>O. J. Mayo, a West Virginia high school senior considered the country’s best guard prospect since LeBron James, has been suspended and is not expected to play tonight in a national showdown game.<br /><br />Mayo’s team, Huntington High School, ranked No. 2 in the country by USA Today, will play No. 11 Artesia High School of Lakewood, Calif., in the Hoophall Classic in Durham, N.C.<br /><br />More than 5,000 fans are expected at [Duke's] Cameron Indoor Stadium. The game is part of a tripleheader featuring some of the best high school teams in the country. […]<br /><br />“It’s an amazingly bizarre story,” said Dave Elkins, the director of marketing partnerships for the Basketball Hall of Fame, which is putting on today’s event. “This is the team that’s making so much history in that region.<br /><br />“To have something like this come up, it’s intriguing.”</blockquote>Most importantly, Thamel relies on his own eyes, rather than second-hand accounts, using the video to help provide an objective interpretation of what happened.<br /><blockquote>Mayo picked up his first technical foul for taunting after a dunk late in the second half of Friday’s victory against Charleston’s Capital High School, the No. 2-ranked team in the state. Mayo caught the ball after it went through the net and strutted toward the free-throw line still holding the ball.<br /><br />After being whistled for the technical, he walked to midcourt, where players from both teams had gathered and were jawing. Mayo then walked away, tucking in his shirt and looking at the sky.<br /><br />The second technical was called after Mayo walked back toward the players gathered at halfcourt. On the video, he did not appear to say or do anything.<br /><br />But when the official Mike Lazo walked over to the scorer’s table to report the technical, Mayo followed him. Mayo appeared to make subtle contact with Lazo, his shoulder brushing up against Lazo’s back. Lazo then dropped suddenly to the ground. On the video, it appears that little contact was made and that Lazo’s fall was exaggerated.</blockquote> Apparently, Thamel isn’t the only one who thinks the ref’s fall was “exaggerated,” as a circuit court judge in West Virginia yesterday ordered an injunction that allowed Mayo to play in the HoopHall Classic at Duke.<br /><br />According to USA Today’s Christopher Lawlor, Mayo, “<a href="http://www.usatoday.com/sports/preps/basketball/2007-01-30-mayo-huntington_x.htm" target="_blank">considered the nation’s top player</a>,” drove with a family friend for six hours to get to Durham, just in time to “spark” his team to a 73-66 win. Combined with <a href="http://blogs.usatoday.com/preprally/2007/01/no_1_st_benidic.html" target="_blank">a loss</a> yesterday by the nation’s current No. 1 team (St. Benedict’s of Newark, N.J.) the win should give Mayo’s Huntington High the No. 1 spot next week.<br /><br />The funny thing is Mayo fouled out of last night’s game with 2:40 left and the score tied at 63. So, we can’t be sure what Lawlor means by “spark,” but I’d say Mayo must be one helluva good player if he can “spark” his team to a win against another nationally ranked team without even playing in the game.<br /><br />Then again, I <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/10/usc-football-game-day-galen-center.html" target="_blank">don’t know a lick</a> about hoops.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE:</span> <a href="http://www.insomniacslounge.com/2007/01/wilbon-calls-it-like-he-sees-it_30.html" target="_blank">Insomniac's Lounge</a> has yet another take, not to mention a second and third camera angle, pulled from ESPN's PTI. The best part of the clip is Michael Wilbon's comments about Mayo's behavior. Again, we'll see for ourselves soon enough.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">. </span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32399122.post-81387706332826906752007-01-29T12:05:00.000-05:002007-01-29T21:14:03.407-05:00O.J. Mayo: Not So Fast My Friend<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.hoop-rap.com/images/newspics/4448c8e428ea2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px;" src="http://www.hoop-rap.com/images/newspics/4448c8e428ea2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>As we concluded <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2007/01/usc-hoops-one-year-wondering.html" target="_blank">yesterday</a>, none of us really know what the hell happened when USC's top-ranked basketball recruit O.J. Mayo was ejected from a high school game last Friday night.<br /><br />But now we have video -- worthy of another <a href="http://displacedtrojan.blogspot.com/2006/12/thursday-twirl-seriously.html" target="_blank">Zapruder film reference</a> -- which brings into question the "<a href="http://www.bruinsnation.com/story/2007/1/28/101554/786" target="_blank">thug</a>" label being placed on Mayo by those who are supposed to know their hoops.<br /><br />Take a good look at <a href="http://www.wsaz.com/sports/headlines/5380896.html" target="_blank">the clip</a>, from WSAZ Channel 3, the local Huntington, W.Va., TV news station.<br /><br />Do you see Mayo taunting and jawing excessively with the opposing team and their fans? And, how in the world does a grown man fall to the ground as a result of the supposed contact Mayo made with the ref?<br /><br />Judging from what we see in this clip -- and again, we don't know what was said or what else happened at this game -- it appears that Mayo may have a right to be upset about the double-technical called on him. In fact, one might conclude from this video that Mayo showed restraint, given all that was going on around him, and that perhaps he deserves the benefit of some doubt.<br /><br />Make no mistake. The the opinion here remains that Mayo could be coming to USC for the wrong reasons, but perhaps everyone should step back and see this kid first-hand, in action on and off the court, before we fully form our conclusions.<br /><br />In the meantime, we've got this highlight clip of the game in question, which shows us what all the on-court hype is about.<br /><br /><center><object height="350" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0eSW7sURdM"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_0eSW7sURdM" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="350" width="425"></embed></object></center><br />I guess they don't play much defense in West Virginia.<br /><br />Fight On!<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hat Tip</span>: <a href="http://www.conquestchronicles.com/comments/2007/1/28/22535/9070/2#2" target="_blank">AO</a> via Conquest Chronicles.</span><br /><span style="color: rgb(255, 255, 255);">.</span>Displaced Trojanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10463356647716676107noreply@blogger.com1