Last year, Florida positively punked UCLA in the NCAA Division I National Championship game.The Bruins were never in the contest, and unless you were a Gator fan, the matchup produced one of the more boring finals in recent memory. Florida won the game going away, 73-57.
So you'd think with that recent memory still blazing in their collective minds, UCLA would be energized and motivated enough to beat the Gators in Saturday's Final Four matchup without bulletin board fodder like this:
GAINESVILLE, FLA. - The tradition of the UCLA basketball team swept through this quiet country town Monday with all the fury of sweet tea.Walter. Walter. Walter!
"I don't care about UCLA's tradition," said Walter Hodge, a backup guard on the Florida basketball team. "I don't know anything about it."
He was asked if he had heard of a coach named John Wooden.
"I don't know, and I don't care," he said.
He paused.
"Is he that old dude?"
My friend, I understand that you don't have to be a college basketball historian to play the game (and you do play it quite well.)
But for God's sakes, man. John Wooden? Coach John Wooden?
That "old dude" is the patriarch of the game you play, young fella. He led the Bruins to 11 national championships and four undefeated seasons, two of which were back-to-back. From 1964 to 1973, Wooden's teams lost a combined total of seven games.
His accomplishments as a college basketball coach will never be surpassed.
To refer to him as "that old dude" is not just an insult to UCLA, its tradition, and its fanbase; it is an assault on anyone who loves and cares about the sport you play.
Here's a good starting point for you, Walter -- go to www.coachjohnwooden.com and start learning about the man who is not only college basketball's ultimate champion, but also a shining example of the best humanity has to offer.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I hate to point out errors but Wooden won 10 national championships not 11. That last one was brought to Westwood by Jim Harrick in 1995.
Not to be a jerk or anything, but Wooden has "only" 10 championships, UCLA has 11, winning one in '95.
I've never heard of this ignorant phuck Hodge.
And,the fact he doesn't know who Coach Wooden is won't have Coach Wooden losing any sleep.
I feel real sorry for this phucker Hodge,what a dick he is.
why do florida fans all of a sudden think their some powerhouse. youve won ONE championship. wow. ya you killed ucla last year but i think ucla has how many championships? oh yeah eleven. floridas not a basketball powerhouse and never will be. donovan should leave while he can because once this starting five leave, floridas basketball program will go back to the toilet it came from. everybody knows and should show respect to john wooden. im saying this even though im not an ucla fan. no player should feel as though they can say and disrespect a legend. by the way WHO THE HELL IS WALTER HODGE?
Both UCLA & Florida like to eat.....CACA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So does bballfan45 & davidaconseco.
Go Winona State, WhoooooooHoooooooo!!!!!!!!
bballfan45: 11 championships during a time when there weren't 64 teams vying for the championship. Weren't those championships won when there were only 3 rounds or something like that? Critics and analysts agree that winning a championship is much, much more difficult today than it was 30-50 years ago.
Man that guy is a freakin old man! Way to go Hodge, tellin it like it is..what is it about these Kensucky and UCLA fans dreaming of days gone bye..we will wipe you off the court just like last year UCLA boy and show why you're not even in our league anymore..3 fianl fours in 8 years and about to be 2 NChampionships...sounds like the new dynasty to me...get over the last century already, but at leat unlike Kensucky fans who continue to think they're still relevant in THIS CENTURY, at least UCLA goes to final fours, they just don't win! Go Gators..undisputed kings of collegiate sports THIS CENTURY! ... and anything you other fans say is just pure jealously cause everyone now wishes they were Floirda Gators!...and there's not a thing that you or your 147 yr old "wooden" coach can do about it!
GATOR Scott...... I found you again!!!!!! you still havent answered my question... will you eat my CaCa..too????????
Hey Molly, Long time no hear.. Absolutely I will eat your CaCa..... Your CaCa taste really good. You now how to get a hold of me, but in case you forgot, I live in the third cardboard box next to the swamp.
Wooden is 'that old dude' to everyone now....he just happened to be a great coach.
bunch of ignorant and idiotic gator fans and one gator player.
this is what happens when you don't have history and tradition at your program, you don't have respect for history and tradition in general. i'm not a bruin alum or fan, but i still respect John Wooden and his ucla and ncaa hoops accomplishments, as i do Red Auerbach and his celtic's even though i'm a laker fan.
so why don't you disrespectful idiots learn some respect, if not from your parent (yes i meant parent) then from your community center's counselor, and stop hating on those that made this game as great as it is.
Gotta luv it...a "fake" GATOR Scott....I'm glad I impressed you enough to copy my handle and abandon your own...your blogs must have really sucked..I'm honored but you do a lousy impression!..There is only one of me....and just a bunch of wannabees like you the GATOR Scott who posted the 5:38 pm comment!
To be fair, Hodge is not from the US. I'm not sure how long he's been in the US, but it is likely not longer than sometime in high school. Is it so outrageous that a kid from another country doesn't know a basketball coach from 30 years ago? I'm sure he'd have a different opinion if he lived in the US as a kid and grew up with people talking about Wooden.
GATOR Scott...... You and I are more alike than you think, neither one of us are big KU fans, and I like to stir the pot as well on these blog sites, especailly because they can sometimes get stale and quite frankly...boring, but c'mon, you have to admit, Molly Mcnastypuss!!!! dude thats funny!!!! Sometimes you have to burn the candle from both ends.
I was particularly proud of the post I left referring to Joakim Noah as a Skunk Ape in the article, "EVERYBODY EATS". You will also find some of my work under GATOR HATER, UKSUCKS!!!! and George W.Bush that I left in the article "HOYA PARANOIA". The reason for my different handles are because who wants to hear from someone with a name like Gators Rock, or UKNATION. i think the names I use sometimes piss people off more than my comments. So get over yourself because I am not impressed with you, you just got sucked in like everyone else. Later BIZNITCH!!!!!!!
hairies anyone?