By Mary Olivier Santa Monica
Could hardly believe (Jack Neworth’s column) on the Bruins in the DP (“It ain’t called March Madness for nothing,” March 30, page 4). I didn’t know there was another one on Earth as bad as I am during the UCLA games. The best thing that ever happened to me was our new big screen TV, where my husband can record all the games for me to watch later — only if we win, of course. My boys always tell me I can be brave and watch the whole game live, but I never make it more than five minutes. No one really wants to watch with me anyway. I also run around from TV to TV when I can’t resist sneaking a peak, but I usually run out screaming in anguish. During the 1995 championship game against Arkansas, I was visiting San Antonio with my husband and I spent almost the whole game in a hotel bathroom praying to every saint I knew and promising to leave money at every old mission church in town the next day if the Bruins won.
And there are a lot of churches in San Antonio! Money well spent.
I also remember the old games mom and dad took me to in the Men’s Gym where the players were so close they spattered sweat all over you! My mom also was an early l930s grad at UCLA, so I bled Bruin blue from early in life.
Anyway, I loved the article. My boys will be surprised to know I have a crazy kindred soul in Santa Monica. (Jack Neworth) made my day!
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 5, 2007. Read the original PDF.