Apathy at Pauley Is Cause for Bruin Alarm

It was the big game, UCLA vs. North Carolina, and almost everyone was there:John Wooden, Dean Smith, Denny Crum, Michael Jordan, Jamaal Wilkes, Mitch Kupchak, Bill Walton, the list goes on and on.

The only noticeable no-shows were the big fella, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the fans. Almost two out of every three seats were empty at what turned out to be a great tribute to John and Nell Wooden. You remember John Wooden, don’t you? He’s the guy that hung 10 national championship banners in the rafters of Pauley Pavilion. Judging from the turnout (UCLA fans, can you say “pathetic”), Pauley could have been hosting a tiddlywinks match.

Granted, it was a nice day and I’m sure the beach (or whatever) was great. But don’t be surprised this year when most of the great up-and-coming local recruits head to schools like North Carolina, Georgetown, LSU and Michigan instead of UCLA. The Alumni Game just highlighted once again the overall apathy and lack of support for UCLA basketball. If there was a national championship game for college basketball fans, the UCLA “faithful” wouldn’t even get invited to the NIT.

WARREN HOPPE

Los Angeles