Players Doth Not Protest Too Much

On the 1969 day of the first national student moratorium to protest the war in Vietnam, Bruin players Andy Hill and John Ecker asked Coach John Wooden if he would cancel practice in support of the moratorium.

Wooden, according to a book authored by Hill, “Be Quick -- But Don’t Hurry,” denied the request and blistered the players for their political beliefs.

Today at UCLA, a student walkout is planned at 11:15 a.m. in protest of the possible U.S. invasion of Iraq.

But Coach Steve Lavin needn’t worry about players missing practice or classes. Most were unaware of the walkout and those who knew about it weren’t interested.

“I’m interested in graduating,” senior forward Jason Kapono said.

An exception was senior guard Ray Young, who indicated he would participate.

“I understand both sides, but all the war talk is getting out of control,” he said. “Anything that promotes peace is positive.”

In 1970, anti-war sentiment among Bruin players was so strong that the entire team gathered at the home of center Steve Patterson and drafted a letter protesting U.S. involvement in Vietnam.

The letter was mailed to President Nixon in care of his chief of staff, H.R. Haldeman. Why Haldeman? The players had learned he was a big UCLA hoops fan.

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Guard Cedric Bozeman said he plans to have surgery on his right shoulder in late March despite an MRI test coming up negative.

“There is no tear and really no pain,” he said. “It’s a loose joint and they want to tighten it.”