UCLA Legend Bill Walton Passes at Age 71

 I am a lifelong UCLA Bruin.  Westwood is my home away from home.  Whenever I'm lucky enough to be on campus I'm a happy guy.  

You see, my Mother worked on Campus from 1972 to 1980.  My father went to UCLA from 1972 to 1974 graduating with a degree in English.  I was in the second class ever of the UCLA Childcare Center.  To this day I am still in touch with my favorite counselor from that era.  

I only ever wanted to go to UCLA for college, and when I couldn't get in as a Freshman after HS, I waited.  I went to SDSU, then Mesa and SMC (community colleges) until I had enough credits to transfer in as a Junior in 2004. I graduated in '06 with a degree in English.  And my grades were better than my Dads were.

So I grew up in a Bruin household.  I would hear the stories of the 88 game winning streak, the 10 championships (until '95) and I grew to revere the legends of the hardwood.  ESPECIALLY the big men.  

Kareem is my all time favorite Bruin.  He is my all time favorite living athelete.  He is the only celebrity I've met that actually made me star struck (and I've met and worked with plenty of celebs).  But number two was always Big Red, Bill Walton.

He came from San Diego, where I lived from 1980 to 1998.  He was a so-cal legend.  A Dead fan, and the hippest cat from Westwood.  He had such enthusasm for the Bruins, and I loved it when he called their games as the color guy.  

I really wanted to meet him.  Alas, I never will.  Didn't even know he was ill.

RIP Bill Walton, 1952 - 2024

RIP Richard McWilliam - UD Founder

Just got this in the email from UD:

As you probably have learned by now, Richard McWilliam passed away unexpectedly over the weekend at his home in the San Diego area. We are heartbroken today, and everyone at Upper Deck has joined together to remember Richard, honor his work, and support his wife and their three children.

I want to assure you that while his departure is a hard emotional blow, it will not affect Upper Deck’s ability to fulfill the commitments and obligations we have made with our business partners.

For the last year, Jason Masherah has been carrying the title of Vice President Marketing and Business Development, while also overseeing day to day operations. With Richard’s passing, the company has formalized Jason’s role and named him President. The company will carry forward Richard’s vision, and we intend to continue to introduce innovating and exciting products that will reinforce Upper Deck’s position as the leader of our industry.

We appreciate your expressions of support and condolence, and look forward to working with you. We're available to you for any questions or thoughts you may have.

Sincerely,

Chris Carlin

Sports Marketing & Social Media Manager

Whatever you might think of Upper Deck's current configuration as a company, you cannot deny their impact on our hobby. The first >$1.00 pack of cards, the first major insertion of certified autographs, the first jersey cards, the list of firsts from UD goes on and on, and while they're no longer a major player in the sports game, lacking licenses for everything except the NHL, they're still producing great cards.

It's sad when anyone passes away, more so when that person is an industry leader and visionary. My condolences to his family and all the folks at UD.

Junior Seau 1-19-1969 to 5-2-2012

Beyond the creative writing portion of one of my High School English classes, I don't think I've ever written an obituary; not about to start now. But I feel that I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the suicide of one of my favorite players from the 1990's. I was 19 in 1990 when Junior got drafted by the Chargers, but I was already well aware of his on field exploits having watched him at U$C for the previous couple of season. I remember during his rookie year when I was roommates with Otis and Lori out in La Mesa and hearing Otis bellow out "Look at Junior flailing all over the field in the wrong positions." Yeah, despite being a great player, Junior had a lot to learn about the NFL. He would though, spending 20 seasons in the league, which in my mind was about six seasons too long. He really should have stayed retired the first time when Miami didn't want to re-sign him.

I actually met Junior on a couple of occasions when I was an autograph hound at Charger Training Camp. Below are the two remaining autographs of his that I obtained back then. They are, along with my other Chargers autos some of my most prized possessions. Junior was a gentleman with all the fans back then, of course he was mobbed by kids and adults alike, and he would only sign one item from everyone, but he signed for everyone and he was generous with smiles and kind words.

Back in the day I even ate at his restaurant in Mission Valley. I don't recall it being anything spectacular, but it was a quality restaurant.

Junior will be missed, and the league needs to take a look at protecting players with concussions more. IN the end though, it was his own decision to take his own life. And what's sadder to me still is that his autographed card isn't the only one I have from ex-Chargers who are no longer with us.

Macho Madness

viaSuperpunch
I THINK this is the interview I was referring to yesterday in my piece on the Macho Man. I spent last night watching several old matches and promos, and man, will he be missed.



Nope:

THIS is the interview I was thinking about:


Oh wow, here's a RECENT promo where Randy talks about his Defining Moments action figure, which is sure to start selling out everywhere. I saw several yesterday at TRU and K-mart, but I'm telling you, this would be a good figure to pick up right about now. There's also a nice Warrior figure to go along with it so you too can recreate Wrestlemania VII.

RIP Macho Man Randy Savage

It's no secret that I love Professional Wrestling. It's also no secret that I hate it as well. It is the very dichotomy that IS professional wrestling that makes me love it and hate it. The limits that the performers blow by in their never ending quest to put on a great show equates to too many early deaths and ruined lives. So many of the wrestlers that I grew up watching have died young, and it's sad. It's always sad. No matter what the circumstances.

Today we lost one of my all-time favorite wrestlers, a man who wasn't even in the public eye anymore, and was happy enough to enjoy his life in retirement. Macho's getting a lot of love today, even people who didn't like him respected what he did in the ring and how he carried himself in life. That's the true measure of a man, when people who don't like you still are sad that you passed. Nixon didn't have that. Though he may have actually been redeemed a few weeks ago by Doctor Who of all people. Terrible non-sequitur I know, but it's been that kind of day.

I'm not going to go on boring you about how I feel about Macho dying. It's sad. I'm sad. I honestly hoped that Macho would get back in the ring some day, just as Bret Hart has done recently.

So I'll just leave you with this, a great Saturday Night Main Event from 1987, I was a senior in High School, and I remember watching this one when it originally aired.