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We KNEW that there must be a good explanation, and that it's NOT about being camera shy.
It appears that the reason the UCLA cheerleaders skipped the Spring Scrimmage is that there was no Squad yet. They are reportedly in the audition stage of selecting the squad for the next year.
We are told that they do this every year, right after March Madness. We hear that this process is open to the public. We wish that someone would have told us. They should publicize this event, charge a hefty admission, and make a SMALL FORTUNE for the Squad, or for the Pauley Renovation, or even for the victims at VT. If they called the try-outs "Westwood Idol" and sold the TV Rights, they could make a LARGE FORTUNE. Just don't let Paula Abdul near any of the contestants.
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Speaking of Laker Girls, Paula Abdul's old colleagues had very little to cheer about on Sunday, as the Lakers fell to Phoenix, who now leads the series 3-1. Jordan Farmar is still starting for L.A., but wasn't much help against Steve Nash, who had 23 Assists in Game 4.
Farmar is now on the brink of joining Orlando's Trevor Ariza and Miami's Jason Kapono, who both got swept out of the Playoffs already. For Miami, their 0-4 Series loss to Chicago marked the first time in 50 years that the reigning Champion got swept out in the First Round. It would be easy to make fun of Shaq (whose missed Free Throws were a huge part of the last loss) and Gary Payton (a total non-factor), but with Kapono not lighting it up and with Dwyane Wade not 100% health-wise, you can't really make the two self-absorbed ex-Lakers shoulder a majority of the blame. Watch out NEXT year, when Wade is healthy, Payton is retired (hopefully), and Kapono has a year of Playoff experience (he barely played the year before when they won it) under his belt, and Miami might once again challenge for the Title.
Speaking of challenging for the Title, the 8th-Seeded Warriors are threatening to become the only 8 Seed in History to win a 7-game Series. Despite Charles Barkley's proclamation during Game 2 that Dallas was going to win the Series in 5 -- or maybe motivated by it -- Golden State won Game 4, behind 33 points by Baron Davis including a buzzer-beating halfcourt shot. The Warriors now lead the Series 3-1, and Davis was the MVP, thanks to his slashing penetrations, rainbow jumpers, and needle-threading passes. Baron, in addition to scoring 33, also grabbed 8 Boards, dished out 4 Assists, snatched 2 Steals, and notched 1 spectacular Blocked Shot.
The Maverick's Dirk Nowitsky hit consecutive Three's to make it tight at the end, but a Dallas desperation pass with a few seconds left was intercepted. A Three at that point would have only tied the game, because Baron Davis just made 1 of 2 Free Throws to make the margin 3.
The game still belonged to Golden State even after Nowitsky's late surge because of the DAGGER that Matt Barnes delivered from behind the arc with 23 seconds left. That shot made it a 5-point lead, and was the last Golden State field goal of the game. Barnes, in 27 minutes, scored 8, pulled down 7 Caroms, and distributed 3 Assists. Not too shabby for a guy whom Bruin fans didn't expect to even have a Pro career.
With similarly-underrated Darrick Martin's Raptors in a 1-3 hole (along with Farmar), and with Ariza and Kapono gone, it's up to Baron and Barnes to carry the Bruin Flag, and if they can best Dallas, then they could conceivably win it all. And all this after barely squeaking past the Clippers on the last day of the Season, just to get IN to the Playoffs.
Speaking of Bruins in the Pros, Kicker Justin Medlock got Drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs, where he will join fellow Bruins Jarrad Page and Donnie Edwards. And right after the Draft, DE/OLB Justin Hickman signed with the Washington Redskins, and WR Matt Willis is being given a chance by the Baltimore Ravens.
In the Draft, the biggest drop was Notre Dame's QB Brady Quinn, who thought that he might be the first pick, but went 22nd, to Cleveland. Sounds horrible, except that he grew up actually rooting for Cleveland, so maybe everything works out for a reason. But don't tell that to Dwayne Jarrett, who was the 2nd-biggest Draft Day disappointment. He fell all the way to the 2nd Round, where the Carolina Panthers risked a pick on him. An inside source was quoted saying that Jarrett had a 2nd Round attitude, and that's why he dropped. The Panthers will now have Bruin DeShaun Foster at Tailback, but Jarrett and Keyshawn Johnson at Wide Outs. Hopefully, for Panther Fans' sake, Carolina will feature a Running attack.
Speaking of ex-trojan wash-outs, WR Mike Williams was traded by Detroit to Oakland. Williams was one of the biggest failures in Lions History, but ex-trojan Lane Kiffen, the new Raider Head Coach, recruited him to sc, and wanted him in Oakland. In fact, Kiffen has so much faith in Willliams, that he traded away Randy Moss to New England. Do you think that Williams will have a more productive year than Moss? Of course that's not really fair, since Moss has Tom Brady while Williams will have Rookie JaMarcus Russell or ex-Sun Devil Andrew Walter. Either way, Advantage: Moss. Experts are already predicting that the Raiders' QB's will be spending a lot of time on their backs, so Williams will be lucky to improve on the measly, almost non-existant stats that he amassed in Detroit. Of course, with his anti-fan, all-about-Mike attitude that he has always exhibited, he might fit right in with the Raiders, and being in his element might finally have him get into shape, physically and mentally. At least as a member of the Lions, he got very used to losing. That experience might come in handy this season, as Williams auditions for Kiffen and Al Davis.
We hope that HE DOESN'T pass the audition. As for the Bruin Girls auditioning for next year's Spirit Squad: Good luck to all -- The more the merrier -- And here are 4 more photos from the Elite Eight, in honor of all the girls who have worked so hard the past year.
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