Pauley Pavilion at UCLA - GO BRUINS!!!! - Los Angeles - TravBuddy

I am inspired to write about Pauley because (1) UCLA basketball is back on the rise -- thanks to Ben Howland (and NO thanks to Steve Lavin, who famously squandered the talent of the likes of Baron Davis and Jason Kapono); (2) I can't wait for next basketball season when Kevin Love comes in and UCLA finally gets a legit center; (3) UCLA just won its 100th NCAA National Championship courtesy of women's water polo (UCLA is the first school to win 100 NCAA National Championships); and (4) UCLA beat U$C in this school year's (2006-2007) Gauntlet competition and by sweeping U$C in football, basketball and baseball. GO BRUINS!!!

On to the review. Pauley is amazing and full of history. Only National Championship banners are hung on the rafters. All 11 of them in college basketball alone. The most of any school.

Retired jerseys include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (who played as Lew Alcindor while a Bruin), Bill Walton, Gail Goodrich, Walt Hazzard, to name a few. Too bad Reggie Miller did not win a National Championship (or an NBA ring, for that matter) or he'd hopefully be up there too.

Yes, fans are usually late at tip-off -- traffic sucks. Yes, parking is expensive ($8 this past season). But, who cares? This is the house that Wooden built.

Although I have not seen an Ashley Judd at the basketball games, I have seen the following at games: The Governator (Arnold Schwarzzenegger - sp?), Steve Kerr (most known for THAT 3 point shot as a Chicago Bulls player with MJ), Urkel (Jaleel White, who is, after all, an alum), John Lithgow, Jerry West (of Laker fame, former West Virginia Mountaineer and current Memphis GM), Kareem Abdul Jabbar and other former Bruin players, and some of those sportscasters (especially as it gets close to March Madness).

But, one of the greatest things about Pauley is that usually, when he is able, the great John Wooden is there to support the Bruins and usually sits behind the Bruin bench. He is very gracious to fans and is articulate and sharp. He is one amazing person.