Monday, June 15, 1998
Ode to Daily Bruin Sports
Let me start off with a "Surprise!" to all those readers who
thought Emmanuelle was a guy. You were wrong (what do you think the
extra ‘le’ was for?). But don’t worry, I forgive you. And now,
let’s get on with it.
I’ve thought about what I was going to write in this column for
the last four years and what can I say? When I fondly remember
college several things will definitely stand out like living in
Sunset, Madison’s, Chi-O, basketball games, football games, sitting
on the Wall, being in Westwood after UCLA won the national
championship and, of course, the Daily Bruin.
I truly believe that I’ve had the best job on campus. I’ve
traveled (at the Bruin’s expense, nonetheless) across the country
from Alaska to Florida, getting paid to sit in the front row of
basketball games (and sometimes be on TV). I’ve had the opportunity
to talk to future Olympic athletes and I’ve met countless of really
cool people.
I remember my first beat: men’s gymnastics. It was the very
first year in which the fabled team (which boasts Olympic gold
medalists as its alums) competed as a club sport. And I just wanted
to say one thing to Coach Shurlock and his athletes – you guys were
dissed. I think it is great that we now have a women’s soccer and
water polo programs, but it shouldn’t have been at your
expense.
But I digress …
I’ve had a great time here, I can’t believe that it has passed
so quickly. It seems like only yesterday when I fatefully opened up
the Daily Bruin, saw an ad that was looking for a men’s tennis
writer, and, on a whim, decided that it would be an interesting
thing to do, especially since I had this huge crush on Andre
Agassi, evidenced by the posters on my wall (this was, of course,
pre-Brooke).
That was my sole intention: To come in and write about men’s
tennis. Never did I imagine that I would one day be the sports
editor. The most ironic thing is that though I have covered lots of
sports (men’s gymnastics, women’s water polo, cross country, men’s
and women’s basketball and men’s track), I never did get to report
on men’s tennis.
So, in a tribute to my years at The Bruin I’ve decided to write
a poem, an ode if you will, to the Daily Bruin sports office. But
before I proceed there are several disclaimers. First of all,
remember I’m a business-economics major and I took Scandinavian 50
to fulfill my GE literature requirement. Second, if your name is
left out, it is not because I forgot or don’t love you, it was
purely for artistic reasons – I couldn’t find a word to rhyme with
it. So here it goes:
My gratitude goes out to Sports and its Wall O’ Beer /That which
has given me many memories I hold so dear. /Though I know I’ve said
it’s sometimes been a pain /Working at The Bruin I really can’t
complain. /I’ve written, I’ve traveled, I’ve been to lots of games,
/I’ve made friends and I’ve watched ‘SC be put to shame. /To Missy,
Brad, Rob, the two Marks and Brent, /I cherish all those times
we’ve spent … (drinking). /To Sports Info – Liza, Steve, Marc and
Bill, /Working with you has been a real thrill.
And of course to the UCLA athletes, coaches and teams. /Watching
you win constantly has been a total dream. /However the end of my
time here is nigh. /And thus I must now say: goodbye. /Go
Bruins!
Emmanuelle Ejercito