Simmer down, kids!

Recruiting news has become more popular in the last decade, resulting in more pressure on reporters to break stories on the latest and greatest teenager. I couldn't help laughing when a UCLA spokesperson had to release the following statement after multiple reporters asked for info on an u'nidentified r'ecruit:

To All Media:

UCLA does not comment on prospective student-athletes until such time as he or she has signed a National Letter of Intent or written offer of financial aid.

Thank you.

Sometimes I think we need to switch to d'caf.

Comments

[Bruins 1]

I assume that the use of the apostrophes above in referring to the "u'nidentified r'ecruit" that you were poking fun at the spelling of that unidentified recruit's name. Frankly, I don't see what is so funny about it. A person name is their identity. I think you should refrain from those types of attempts at humor.

[shekib]

Adam....please read what Bruins 1 posted. I have no idea why your in charge of writing for What's Bruin...please quite....leave with some dignity.

[Lee]

Bruin 1 is absolutely correct. I think it could be interpreted as mildly racist, at least. Beneath LA Times standards I'd hope.

[Bruingirl83]

Mr. Rose:

This comment is extremely offensive. I'm not certain which is more appalling: that you are so racist that this is the way you think, or that you are so ignorant that this is the way you express yourself without realizing how racist it is.

Either way, it is horrible.

[Adam Rose]

Obviously this was a tip o' the hat to a particular recruit, and there's nothing inappropriate about it. I'm shocked by a couple of these comments with their loaded language and baseless accusations.

Apostrophes have nothing to do with race. They're a punctuation mark used all over the world. If you need a refresher: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apostrophe

A random sampling of names that use apostrophes:

O’Reilly
Ta’Quan
O'Connors
D'Angelos
N'Dours
D'Artagnans
Mikha'il
'Abbas

For those true grammarians out there (somebody else must enjoy Lynn Truss' work), you might enjoy this article about the apostrophe in the computer age:

http://www.wtop.com/?nid=104&sid=1349527

If you actually are offended, I'm happy to discuss anything and you can email me privately at adam@laist.com.

If you're simply trying to cause a stink, your time could be spent more productively. Try reading "Eats, Shoots & Leaves." It's a great book and you might learn something about punctuation.

[bruinjoe]

I agree that Mr. Rose is, or at least was, biased against the Bruins (based upon his previous posts on the LAist site and failure to answer questions about whom he wants to win when the Bruins and Trojans are playing) and should not be in charge of this blog, but to call him a racist based upon the above statements is just plain silly. IMO, we should be very careful about using the race card because it gives the true racists in the world (whose numbers do not include Mr. Rose) the ability to claim that people are just crying wolf. Remember, this just about sports.

[ted]

Adam Rose is a lot of things....but calling him a racist is way out of line. Don't get me wrong I don't like him...but only because he is a trOJan.

By the way, if O.J. Mayo had any sense why would you wear 32? Thats just asking for it.

[Adam Rose]

Thanks, BruinJoe and Ted (and to others who have emailed me).

It looks like I missed some of your questions earlier, but I'm happy to address them. You can find a lengthy response here:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/bruin/2008/05/checking-in.html?cid=114917532#comment-114917532

As for Mayo's jersey selection, his favorite player is Magic Johnson -- who wore #32. While they don't compare physically, both are natural point guards who frequently played out of position in college (Mayo as a shooting guard because USC wanted more scoring, and Johnson as a forward because Michigan State wanted more size). Of course, more people associate #32 at USC with O.J. Simpson. Perhaps it's in bad taste, but it wasn't intentional on Mayo's part.

[Bruins 1]

For the record, I am well aware of the use of apostrophes as my name had one, as did most of my relations, I did not suggest that your commentary was racist, just that it was inappropriate. Look, I am one of the first to push the envelope with humor, however, you have to be careful with names and some other subjects - at least on a forum like this where you don't personally know your readers or their comfort level with certain attempts at humor. Finally, he only has one apostrophe in his name, his first name, so the extra apostrophe for "r'ecruit" is not even consistent with his name - suggesting that you were poking fun at it.

[Bruingirl83]

So, it's the latter then.

And frankly, nobody needs to come here to "cause a stink." There is enough of one already.

You are clearly not competent to judge what is "appropriate," any more than you are qualified to comment on punctuation. Your weak attempt at humor has absolutely nothing to do with punctuation, and even you know that.

[Lee]

Okay, I have to respond, and not in private e-mail, because this is a legitimate issue. I wasn't one who called Mr. Rose a racist, but I stand by the statement that the use of the apostrophes in a mocking way was racist; more than mildly, the more I think about it. And the condescending tone of his response was again beneath the LA Times's standards.

If J'Mison Morgan's name were O’Reilly or Mikha'il, the joke wouldn't have been made. It's an unusual use of an apostrophe in the dominant culture, but not as unusual in the African American culture. So, yes, race is definitely a factor.

[Taylor]

Really? You guys actually think he's being racist? It seemed pretty obvious that he was simply pointing out what recruit everyone was referring to. I'll admit I'm a diehard bruins fan and not sure what I think about a USC guy running the blog -- but I can easily see this is not racism. It was as he said: a tip of the hat to Morgan. Calm down people. Give Adam the benifit of the doubt.