UCLA women's basketball promoting breast cancer awareness

What's pink and blue and all over ASU?

On Valentine's Day, the UCLA women's basketball team will be taking on the Sun Devils as well as a cause close to their hearts. The Bruins will wear special pink-and-white uniforms (which will be auctioned afterward) to raise awareness about breast cancer. Before the game, all fans are invited to the school's first Carnival for the Cure inside J.D. Morgan Center.

The cause is particularly important for two Bruins. Head Coach Nikki Caldwell started an annual charity motorcycle ride called Cruisin' for a Cause that raises money and awareness for the fight against breast cancer. Junior center Moniquee Alexander lost her mother to breast cancer when she was younger, and filmed a public service announcement to invite people to Saturday's events.

More information about the festivities, which start at 11 a.m., is available on UCLA's website. Caldwell also discussed the "Pink Zone" events on UCLA's YouTube channel:

—Adam Rose

Vote!

Reporters vote in polls.

Coaches vote in polls.

And you need to vote in the real poll.

The clock is ticking ... only about eight hours left. Remember that employers are required by law to give you time off to vote. If you've got enough time to read this blog, you've got enough time to vote — and they have to give it to you. Even if you live in a state where the presidential race is all but determined, the local races and propositions may actually have a greater impact on your day-to-day life.

Sports and politics go together really well. Just ask George Will and Keith Olbermann. And did everybody see Barack Obama and John McCain on Monday Night Football? Seemed funny that a Democrat endorsed a college football playoff system. I guess the BCS is almost as convoluted as the electoral college.

If you really need any more motivation, think of all the people in UCLA ROTC who are willing to put themselves in harm's way to protect your right to something that many people around the world will never get to enjoy.

—Adam Rose

UCLA to launch inaugural 'Dribble tor the Cure'

UCLA is looking to start a new campus tradition with a charity event called Dribble for the Cure. Anybody is welcome to sign up and collect pledges, which will benefit the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation and Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA.

On Nov. 2, participants will join Bruin athletes and dribble basketballs on a course through campus — finishing at Pauley Pavilion. It's a great chance to meet UCLA basketball players, Coach Ben Howland and raise money for a great cause. Participants also will get a T-shirt and free admission to three  UCLA athletic events later that afternoon (men's/women's soccer and women's basketball).

The original Dribble for the Cure was started at Marquette University 31 years ago and related events have raised almost $10 million for charity.

For more information, follow this link.

—Adam Rose

Help Junior Taylor help the kids

The first time Junior Taylor touched the ball for UCLA, he hit the afterburners for 49 yards and scored a touchdown. Over the next few season, he continually proved that he could get down field.

Today, he's helping spread things out for the Bruins in a different way.

UCLA's annual "I'm Going To College" event for elementary, middle and high school students in Southern California is the nation's largest collegiate community outreach effort. Taylor is now the athletic director at a charter school where his students — many of whom come from underprivileged backgrounds — could really benefit from the experience.

The tricky part? Summit Elementary (a Champion school) is in downtown Phoenix.

Undeterred, Taylor has set out to raise enough money to send 25 kids to visit UCLA for three days in early November. The trip runs about $300 per student and includes a campus tour, college fair and ticket to the UCLA-Oregon State game. As a player, Taylor used to speak to kids in the program and saw the difference that it made. As much as he inspired them, perhaps they inspired him — to find his current job.

Will Jordan Farmar save the world?

Even though he has always played in Los Angeles, Jordan Farmar seems to be constantly moving.

On Tuesday, he was hustling down the hallways of Mattel Children's Hospital UCLA, signing hats and other memorabilia just before bringing them to the kids. More important, he was bringing smiles.

One girl wasn't so sure she liked hoops. "I play for the Lakers," Farmar beamed as he handed her a shirt. He looked over to some of her family members in the room. "But you can give this to your brother if you don't like basketball." She grinned. And kept the shirt. Not wanting to leave anybody out, Farmar invited her brother to his inaugural basketball camp being held next month in Pauley Pavilion.

Family is clearly important to Farmar. He was joined in the hospital by his mom, sister and stepdad. His sister plays basketball for Taft High School, where Jordan led his team to the Los Angeles city championship before going on to play in the NCAA Finals for UCLA and NBA Finals for the Lakers. She'll join him on an upcoming trip to the Middle East to launch another basketball camp — with a unique goal.

Why we love Jordan Farmar, Part 427

UCLA alum Jordan Farmar recently was serving as an ambassador for his sport in Korea and soon he's going to the Middle East to unite waring factions. At least for a few days, he's back in home Los Angeles. Not satisfied to rest on his laurels, he's scheduled a visit Filipinotown to pitch in for a community cleanup day.

If you're feeling a little guilty after reading that, might I suggest you get off the couch Saturday and participate in one of the mayor's CommUNITY events?

Also, it's getting hard to keep track of everything Jordan's up to (don't forget the speech he made on behalf of Barack Obama), so we've added a Farmarmania category to the blog. It'll be on the right column of this page any time you want to keep up with Mr. Los Angeles.

Why we love Jordan Farmar

If there weren't enough reasons to root for Jordan Farmar (I lost count awhile ago), here's another one:

He's trying to unite Israelis and Palestinians. Children. By playing basketball.

Is this guy the salt of the earth, or what?

Photo by Stephen Dunn / Getty Images

Go to the Lakers-Celtics game — on Jordan Farmer

Lakers point guard, UCLA alum and all-around nice guy Jordan Farmer has got a deal for you.

Enter his Jordan Farmar Foundation NBA Championship Experience Raffle. The grand prize is a pair of lower-level, center-court seats to game four of the NBA Finals (plus a bunch of ridiculously cool perks). Even if you don't get the tickets, all proceeds will benefit UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital, Special Olympics, the Metropolitan YMCA and other charities serving children.

That's what I call a win-win.

Tickets are cheap too. They are only $2 each, with a minimum purchase of five. The more you buy, the cheaper they get. I'm putting my money where my mouth is and purchased 10.

What are you waiting for? The deadline is 9 a.m. (EDT) Tuesday.