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Former Bruin Michelle Perry continued her dominance in the women’s 100-meter Hurdles with a gold medal in the World Track & Field Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Perry got out of the blocks first and then stormed to a mark of 12.46 to edge Canada’s former World Champion, Perdita Felicien, by 0.03 seconds.
"It was an extremely difficult race," she told reporters after the event. "I rate it in the top three most difficult ones in my career. I kept talking to myself that I can win this race and defend my title and stayed calm.
"First five hurdles were great, in the middle it was little shaky and I did my best after the 10th hurdle. My coach always believes in strong finishes. It was a close call. We waited for couple of minutes, I did not know who won. I was thinking am I second or third? Now I want to enjoy it."
Perry earned $60,000 for winning the world title. She is still in the running for the "Golden League Jackpot" of $1 million, having won the hurdle races in the first three Golden League meets of the year. If she can win – and she will be favored – in the Weltklasse meet in Zurich on September 7, the Van Damme Memorial in Brussels on September 14 and the ISTAF in Berlin on September 16, she will have some substantial tax issues to deal with.
What about Beijing in 2008? "For the future maybe I can return to the heptathlon and do both."
Bruin Hall of Famer Bill Walton, commenting for ESPN on the FIBA Americas Championship Tournament in the USA-Puerto Rico quarterfinal round-robin game, praised USC’s Tim Floyd for the job he is doing with the Trojans.
He also noted the addition of O.J. Mayo and then play-by-play announcer John Saunders asked why Mayo didn’t go to Walton’s alma mater.
Walton: "Maybe issues of playing time . . . maybe issues of shot selection," and both laughed.
Walton added that Paul Westphal was the only recruit to turn John Wooden down during the glory years, and noted that Westphal recognized that if he went to USC, he could shoot at will. If he went to UCLA, "He’s have to throw the ball inside all the time." True, true.
For those who want to get a little closer to the Bruins as they ready for Stanford, here are two events on tap for Los Angeles on Friday and Palo Alto on Saturday:
>> Friday, 7:00 a.m.: Westwood Bruin Touchdown Club
Founded in 1977, the club has met at what is now known as The Westwood on Wilshire Hotel (formerly a Holiday Inn and a Doubletree Hotel, among other owners) at Wilshire Blvd. and Selby Avenue since 1978.
However, the hotel is being renovated and meetings will now be held at The Olympic Collection at Olympic and Sawtelle Boulevards with the first event to be held on Friday morning just before the Bruins get on the plane for the game. Parking is available on site and is free.
Head coach Karl Dorrell will speak, along with tailback Chris Markey, offensive guard Shannon Tevaga, defensive end Bruce Davis and linebacker Reggie Carter. Members of the UCLA spirit team will be present.
The club meets on all Fridays prior to home games, except for the Oregon game on the Saturday of Thanksgiving Weekend, so that event will be held on October 16. The price for all eight breakfast events is $145.
For more information or tickets, please contact Claudia Hart at (310) 348-UCLA or claudia4ucla@yahoo.com.
>> Saturday, 9:00 a.m.: Bruin Bash in Palo Alto
Those attending the Stanford game in person can join in the Bruin Bash, an official, on-site party that will be held for Bruin fans prior to each road game. Saturday’s party will be held at the Frost Amphitheater on the Stanford campus.
There will be food and drink, performances by the Bruin Spirit Squad and the live KLAC AM 570 radio pre-game broadcast with former Bruin quarterbacks Wayne Cook and Matt Stevens.
The cost is $30 at the door on a space-available basis, although advance arrangements can be made with the UCLA Fan Travel Office at (310) 206-2873.
Former Bruin Michelle Perry is the favorite to continue UCLA’s worldwide ownership of the women’s 100-meter Hurdles in the IAAF World Track & Field Championships in Osaka, Japan.
Perry had the fastest time in the semifinals at 12.55 and joins two other Americans in the final, former LSU star Lolo Jones and ex-Trojan Ginnie Powell.
After competing in the heptathlon in the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens, Perry set her sights on the 100-meter Hurdles and another ex-Bruin, Olympic champion Joanna Hayes. Perry stormed to a World Championship gold medal in Helsinki in 2005 and is a runaway favorite to win tonight.
Hayes has been plagued by injuries, but if healthy next year, she and Perry could put two Bruins on the podium in Beijing.
Current Bruin Nicole Leach and ex-Bruin Sheena Johnson made it into the semi-finals of the women’s 400-meter Hurdles event, but did not qualify for the final. Johnson was fifth in semifinal one in 54.55, just 0.40 from a qualifying spot. Leach finished sixth in semi two in 56.10, ending a long season that started back in February. She’ll be a junior next spring and both have an excellent chance to make the U.S. Olympic track & field team next year.
Both ex-Bruin throwers didn’t make it to the final. American record holder Suzy Powell, also a former Bruin, didn’t throw very well in the women’s discus (195-5) and didn’t qualify for the final, a major disappointment. Jessica Cosby threw a respectable 222-9, but ended up short of the last qualifying mark (224-11).
One other former Bruin is still waiting to compete: high jumper Amy Acuff, who will have a qualifying round on August 31.
 UCLA has packaged tickets to the October 6 home game against Notre Dame into mini-plans and full-season ticket programs, until now.
Between Monday, August 27 and Saturday, September 8, two tickets to the Notre Dame game will be available at $75 each with a $350 donation ($500 total cost) to the Wooden Athletic Fund.
Alternatively, you could also buy two season tickets at $250 each ($500 total) on the "Bruin" plan and see all six UCLA home games from seats in one of the corners of the field: northwest, southwest or southeast corners between about the 20 yard line and the end line of the end zone.
About 6,000 tickets in total remain for the Notre Dame game, scattered in corner and end zone locations. All remaining tickets have a face value of $75.00 each.
For more information about tickets, call (310) UCLA-WIN; calls about the Wooden Athletic Fund should be directed to (310) 206-3302. Or you can go to www.uclabruins.com.
 "The season is finally here" is the way UCLA head coach Karl Dorrell started his first weekly news conference of the season in front of a half-dozen television cameras and about two dozen writers and reporters.
He noted that the Bruins will play in the new Stanford Stadium for the first time, as well as seeing a new Stanford coach in Jim Harbaugh and a new Stanford offensive and defensive system. He also knows that this is one of the most-anticipated teams in recent UCLA history.
"A lot of expectations both outside the program and inside the program,: he said, "and it’s an exciting place to be since UCLA hasn’t been in this position in some time.
"I think the [biggest] challenge for us is the bigger expectations on our program. Our players in this program, they expect to play well; we all expect to do great things this year and this is the debut of showing what our capabilities are. That’s what we think about.
"You keep talking about the experience from having returning starters, but that only takes you so far. Now it’s about being productive; about scoring points and stopping ‘em and all those things. It’s not on paper anymore. The season’s starting, it’s time to put up. "
Dorrell noted that the focus will also be on him this season: "It’s the recognition factor that our program has gained from last year to this year and it’s a point in the program that it’s all my kids, they’re all guys that I’ve recruited, and it should be a difference in what you’ve seen in the past and that’s what the expectations [are] inside."
He didn’t think injuries were "too significant" except for the loss of freshman running back Raymond Carter to a knee injury. On offense, running back Chane Moline’s fractured left wrist and fullback Michael Pitre’s knee will keep them out of the game against Stanford. Receiver Osaar Rashaan has had concussion problems over the last week and a decision on whether he will travel will be made later in the week.
Dorrell addressed the issue of being more productive on offense, especially inside the opponent’s 20: "We spent a lot of time in this training camp in red zone offense; we spent probably 30-40% more time in our practice scheduling practice of more red zone offense.
"We scored points in the red zone last year . . . it just wasn’t the time of points you wanted in the red zone: you wanted touchdowns instead of field goals. And that’s what we’ve put a lot of emphasis in."
Dorrell pointed to the return of receiver Joe Cowan and more experience on the part of tight ends Logan Paulsen and William Snead as big pluses for operating in the red zone.
On Stanford, coming off an injury-riddled 1-11 season, Dorrell noted "They have always been tough to play in Palo Alto. I know UCLA has always had some tough games to play up there and this is one of the games we have to be very productive and very consistent to play to our capabilities."
 UCLA running back Chris Markey is one of seven seniors slated to start on offense this week at Stanford and he was clear about how 2007 is different from the past.
"We have sense of urgency this year. We know that it’s now or never really. Our defense has come along and we feel that we have to catch up.
"We have a strong offense as far as talent and it’s going to be disappointing if we don’t do anything with it. We have the players to make a run for this conference championship and for the BCS title."
Wow! Markey noted that the team’s focus is squarely on the conference championship and that the offense has to produce. He’s especially excited about this year’s offensive line, led by guards Shannon Tevaga and Noah Sutherland and center Chris Joseph.
"Those guys really worked hard this off-season. I know how hard they are working and how dedicated they are to doing their job, so this season, I expect big things from ‘em. If we put everything together, it’s going to hard to stop us in the run game."
Markey expects big things personally as well. "I want to rush for 1,500 yards plus," he said.
"I want to produce more in scoring; last year, I had two touchdowns and as a running back, I want to score more." He amassed 1,107 yards last season for a 4.9 yards-per-carry average.
The senior running back also noted that it’s the little things that will make a difference this season for the Bruins, especially with new offensive coordinator Jay Norvell. "Coach Norvell is a great coach; he emphasizes focusing in on the details and I think that’s what going to be a difference this year with the offense."
And he understands exactly what the situation is. "We’ve been having mediocre seasons for the last 4-5 years. I really feel that it’s time for us to step up.
"We have to win the title, I feel, to get respect in this conference and by having another mediocre season that won’t do it for us."
Even though the Fall Quarter doesn’t start for a month, UCLA’s fall teams finally got into action this past week and everyone will be engaged this coming week:
Football:
>> Last week: The Bruins are ranked no. 14 by the Associated Press and no. 17 in the coaches poll, they’re fairly healthy except at fullback. Quarterback Ben Olson has looked sharp in practice and the defense appears to be ready to pick up where it ended the USC game.
>> This week: UCLA opens its season on the road vs. Stanford on Saturday. The Cardinal was 1-11 last year, hired a new coach in Jim Harbaugh and is expected to be last in the conference again. The Bruins are a 16-point choice on the early line.
>> Of note: UCLA has sold more than 45,0000 season tickets, the most in its history, surpassing last season’s total of 44,777.
Men’s Basketball:
>> Last week: Junior forward Luc Richard Mbah A Moute helped Cameroon to its highest finish ever – second place – in the African Nations Championship in Angola. Although his team lost to host (and defending African champion Angola), Mbah A Moute averaged 13.2 points a game and started four of the team’s five games.
>> This week: things are quiet until practice starts in October.
>> Of note: Former Bruin Reggie Miller confirmed his retirement and said he would not return to the NBA. He told the Indianapolis Star, "Physically, I know I could have done it. But mentally, when you do something like this, you’ve either got to be all in or all out. And I’ve decided I’m all out." He added, "Please write, I will never, ever, ever try something like this again. Any of the 30 teams in the NBA, if you’re interested, please don’t call."
Men’s Soccer:
>> Last week: The No. 1-ranked Bruin men’s soccer team played to a 2-2 draw in an exhibition match with North Carolina State in Raleigh, N.C.
>> This week: The Bruins get going for real at the adidas/IU Cred Union Classic in Bloomington, Indiana with matches against no. 9 Notre Dame on Friday and against Indiana on Sunday.
Women’s Soccer:
>> Last week: The Bruins have been ranked no. 1, 2 or 3 in the country depending on which poll you believe. Forward Lauren Cheney and midfielders Christina DiMartino and Danesha Adams were named as pre-season All-America choices by Soccer Buzz.
>> This week: The Bruins open on the road in Houston, Texas, facing the host Cougars on Friday night and then Texas on Sunday. Forward Kara Lang was named to Canada’s Women’s World Cup team and will be lost to the Bruins until the end of the tournament which runs from September 10-30 in China.
Women’s Volleyball:
>> Last week: No. 5-ranked UCLA (1-1) opened its season well, finishing second to no. 1-ranked Nebraska in the AVCA College Volleyball Showcase in Omaha. The Bruins swept past Utah in the semifinals in straight sets but then lost to the Huskers in four.
>> This week: The Bruins are on the road in Hawaii for the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic, facing Louisville on Friday, Kansas State on Sunday and host no. 10 Hawaii on Monday.
Also of note:
The men’s no. 3-ranked water polo team will play an exhibition against Stanford in Palo Alto on Saturday morning, September 1. The men’s and women’s cross country teams will be at the Nevada Twilight Cross Country Classic on Friday in their opening competition of the season.
No. 1-ranked Nebraska, playing close to home in Omaha, defeated no. 5-ranked UCLA, 30-23, 22-30, 30-18, 30-21 in the final of the American Volleyball Coaches Association (AVCA) Collegiate Volleyball Showcase Saturday night.
The Bruins got 19 kills each from Rachell Johnson and Ali Daley and 55 assists from All-American setter Nellie Spicer, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the defending NCAA champions.
Nebraska All-American Sarah Pavan had 25 kills and Tracy Stalls had 16 while setter Rachel Holloway had 61 assists. The Huskers hit .314 against the Bruin defense while UCLA could manage only .209.
UCLA evened the match at 1-1 by winning the second set and took a 7-4 lead in the third set. But Nebraska came back to win the set, 30-18 and won in four, just as they did against the Bruins in last year’s national semifinals.
The loss leaves the Bruins at 1-1 on the season; UCLA travels to Hawaii next week for the Hawaiian Airlines Wahine Volleyball Classic for matches against Louisville (Aug. 31), Kansas State (Sep. 2) and host Hawaii (Sep. 3).
Defending champion Angola blew open a close game with Cameroon in the third quarter to win the 24th African Nations Basketball Championship, 86-72, in the championship final held before a home crowd at the Cidadela in Luanda, Angola.
UCLA forward Luc Richard Mbah A Moute started for Cameroon and played 30 of 40 minutes, but made only two of seven shots from the field. He also made 3-5 free throws for a total of seven points and added five rebounds and three assists.
Brice Vounang led Cameroon with 18 points and reserves Patrick Bouli had 16 and Gaston Essengue had 14. The silver medal was the best finish in Cameroon history in only the fourth time they had qualified for the tournament in its 45-year history.
Angola led at halftime 33-31 in a tense game, but scored 34 points in the third quarter alone against 20 for Cameroon to take a 67-51 lead into the fourth quarter. Cameroon won the final stanza, 23-21, leaving the final at 86-72 for the hosts, playing in the presence of Angolan President Jose Eduardo dos Santos. Eduardo Mingas led Angola with 18 points with four other teammates in double figures.
For the tournament, Mbah A Moute – known in Afrobasket fans as "Luc Mbah" in the box scores – averaged 13.2 points, 6.8 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 3.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game. He shot 48.6 percent (18-of-37) from the field and 63.6 percent (21-of-33) from the free-throw line.
By winning the tournament, Angola qualifies for the basketball competition at the 2008 Olympic Games to be held in Beijing, China.
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