Ben Bolch
@latbbolch
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Los Angeles Times UCLA beat writer, starting quarterback and “The Great Ben Bolch” per ESPN | Absurdist who tweets to entertain me, not you.
Joined June 2009
Unprecedented challenges call for new ways of thinking. Daniel Cruz, brought in from Disney to boost revenue for UCLA's athletic department, hopes a courtside lounge in Pauley Pavilion and a new ticketing partner are among new ventures that can pay off.
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Mike Leach on the movement to pay athletes: "California has trouble keeping its streets clean, so they should probably focus on that.".
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Mick Cronin on going to play at Utah on Thursday: "I think what will help us is to run out of a tunnel and play in front of fans. I think it’s hugely demoralizing to our guys to play games in empty arenas when there’s 80,000 people at the Rams game yesterday.".
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In a final ode to the Pac-12, the Pac-12 Network is not available at the Pac-12 media hotel.
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Mark Cuban on misreporting about DeAndre Jordan: "You mean Chris Broussard? He's an idiot. I take that back. My sources say he's an idiot.".
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Chip Kelly on the 7:45 pm start time against Fresno State: “It’s prime time in the Philippines, so let’s put on a good show for the people in Manila.”.
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Meanwhile, Indiana’s Curt Cignetti leaves the Rose Bowl like a conquering hero.
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The Rose Bowl, Dodger Stadium, Banc of California Stadium, SoFi Stadium, City Hall and US Bank Tower will illuminate in blue and gold this evening in support of UCLA in the Final Four.
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Solid UCLA student turnout for move-in weekend before start of classes.
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Under Armour has informed UCLA that it is attempting to terminate its record $280-million apparel deal with the school. In an email to UCLA constituents, athletic director Dan Guerrero wrote "We are exploring all of our options to resist Under Armour's actions.".
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Mick Cronin said when his team got off the bus at the Mo Ostin Center, everybody was staring at each other, nobody wanting to leave. Finally, Cronin broke the silence. "Pool party at my house," he said. Story to come.
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Oregon's Dana Altman on exit of UCLA/USC: "Since I've been in the league, USC hasn't won the conference title or the tournament. UCLA maybe won one tournament, one league title. Arizona's been up there. We've won 4 conference titles. So our basketball league is going to survive.".
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Love this shot of Bill Walton taken by UCLA fan Richard Ofstein in March 2022 in the bowels of Pauley Pavilion. Writes Ofstein: “He is alone in his element where he starred as a player and delighted, amazed and at times befuddled his audience as an announcer. RIP. I loved him.”
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Mick Cronin: "I told our guys hopefully the fans that have embraced me is because they know I think it’s a privilege to coach at UCLA, like I’m not doing UCLA a favor by being the coach—they’re doing me a favor by letting me have John Wooden’s job.".
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UCLA is rolling out fake fan noise at practice for the first time this season in preparation for Autzen Stadium.
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UCLA point guard Tyger Campbell is returning next season, said his mother, Jennifer Krekeler-Campbell. Huge boost for the Bruins.
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Mick Cronin said he got in the elevator hotel here in Lexington with a guy and his two kids in Kentucky gear: "I said you're in the wrong hotel, you guys play in Milwaukee. He said, Coach, we just came to root against Louisville. That is the Commonwealth for you.".
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Five-star quarterback Dante Moore flips commitment from Oregon to UCLA, the biggest recruiting get of the Chip Kelly era in Westwood.
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Mick Cronin, when I told him I spoke with Joe Lunardi about needing to win Pac-12 tournament to get a No. 1 seed: “You spoke with who?”. “Joe Lunardi.”. “I’m not sure who that is. I really don’t have any comment on that.”.
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UCLA women's soccer team rallies from two goals down in the 80th minute to stun North Carolina in overtime, 3-2, and win the Bruins' second national championship in coach Margueritte Aozasa's first season.
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Jaylen Clark has been selected the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ defensive player of the year.
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Mick Cronin closes press conference with "Jaylen Clark, we miss you buddy.".
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UCLA defensive line gathers around Victory Bell that’s coming back to Westwood.
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Martin Jarmond has arranged for tickets for UCLA seniors in band, dance and spirit teams for last 2 rounds and Final 4: "This is their senior year, this is their last experience of March Madness and I wanted them to be a part of it as well, even if they had to be in the stands.".
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As Luke Maye conducts interview in front of cameras, Pinson walks up, pats him on back and interjects, "I passed him the ball.".
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Declin Manz, 12, a lifelong Trojans fan, wanted to get UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s signature on a hat at halftime because DTR had thrown him a glove at the Coliseum two years ago. So when DTR scored, Declin gave him his hat and got the memory of a lifetime.
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Mick Cronin said Peyton Watson packed for three weeks when the team went to Portland, he didn’t know the team would go home between rounds.
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John Wooden's son, Jim, said that Mick Cronin was the first UCLA coach since his dad left to call and introduce himself.
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Tip for journalists: It's a truly inane question, but ALWAYS ask if there's anything else that's noteworthy about a person/topic/issue at the end of an interview. I can't tell you how many times it's led to something that unexpectedly became the focus of a story.
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UCLA has won the Donovan Dent sweepstakes, landing the top player in the transfer portal. Story posting momentarily.
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Early in their careers, Tyger Campbell, Jaime Jaquez Jr. and David Singleton could have sulked. They could have rebelled. Heck, they could have transferred. Instead, they stayed to help restore UCLA to national prominence and a shot at banner No. 12.
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UC regents give UCLA the A-OK to join Big Ten provided Bruins take mitigation measures involving travel and other athlete well-being issues.
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UCLA athletic director Martin Jarmond helps pull the Victory Bell up the ramp at the Coliseum.
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Bill Walton will be on ESPN's College GameDay on Saturday at UCLA.
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UCLA beats Washington 40-32, goes to 5-0 for first time since 2013.
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Dick Vitale told me he hopes to call UCLA-Gonzaga as he goes through chemo because his doctors want him to stay active and he will have had at least 72 hours since his most recent treatment. Everybody in college basketball is on Team Dickie V.
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RIP Bill Walton. In addition to being a legendary basketball player and broadcaster, he was always gracious with his time and made everyone around him feel like the star. My last encounter with him came in the Galen Center parking lot after the last UCLA-USC game. [continued].
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UCLA’s heartbreaking loss to Gonzaga hurt so much because it wasn’t just the end of a season, it was the end of an era in which Jaime Jaquez Jr., Tyger Campbell and David Singleton didn’t raise a banner but restored the fabric of a program.
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BREAKING: Debt-laden UCLA was on a grim trajectory to cut sports until it cashed in on a move to the Big Ten
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Have now been to every Big Ten city/town/outpost. Nebraska is tops for convenience of getting in and out, not to mention hospitality.
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Mick Cronin: "My takeaway is an offensive foul not called, they hit a three. An offensive foul not called on a guy who had the best dunk of the season.".
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WOW, PART II. UCLA storms back for a 57-54 victory over Arizona after holding the Wildcats without a field goal over the final 8:46.
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UCLA is offering promotions for the Washington game Friday at the Rose Bowl: Former season ticket-holders can get $55 tickets for $20 or $119 tickets for $40. Six local Costcos are offering four sideline seats for $99. Also, free tickets are being given to various student groups.
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UCLA's football team goes to 11. The Bruins are No. 11 in the AP poll.
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UCLA legend Cade McNown, the only quarterback in the UCLA-USC rivalry to go 4-0 in those games, is being inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame on Saturday in Las Vegas.
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In case anyone needed a little sunshine in their day, here’s Josh Kelley.
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UCLA's Kenneth Nwuba has announced on Instagram that he will come back for a sixth season.
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A great day for UCLA sports has gotten better. Freshman forward Berke Buyuktuncel has been cleared by the NCAA and can play Monday against No. 4 Marquette in what would be his season debut.
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Harvard-Westlake’s Christian Horry, son of onetime Laker Robert, has committed to UCLA.
This wouldn’t be possible without my family, God, and my friends. I appreciate everyone who always believed in me and supported me throughout this journey. Thank you to Coach Savino and everyone on the UCLA staff for believing in me and helping me reach my dreams.💙💛#GoBruins
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Also, Tyger Campbell overtook Tyus Edney for No. 2 on UCLA's all-time assist list last night and now has 655. A reminder that Campbell and Jaime Jaquez Jr. each have one more season of eligibility remaining . .
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Just seeing this now, from Dana Jacobson interviewing Mick Cronin and Jaime Jaquez Jr. on TNT after the game, another example of Jaylen Clark always remaining with the team.
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Mick Cronin on negative recruiting against him no longer being his defensive style: "The new thing is tempo—‘Look at their tempo. Look at their tempo.’ You know what I say? ‘Look at the temperature’ because we’re going home and it’s going to be 75. I’m grilling out on Christmas.".
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Longtime UCLA broadcaster Chris Roberts has passed away. He was the best in the business and an even better person. Will miss him very much. Can hear his call in my head as I write this. Captured a glorious era in Bruin sports.
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An agreement has been reached between UCLA and Chip Kelly. An announcement is coming shortly.
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Mick Cronin on being humble: "I tell guys the truth; I’m not very popular in this era but I don’t care. The problem, to really give you a truthful answer is, they’ll be told that I’m the problem from their outer circle and that they’re all great players." [more 1/4].
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UCLA players broke an end zone huddle with a loud "F--- SC" that could be heard in the press box.
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Freshman guard Abramo Canka said he owned UCLA clothes before coming to Westwood because UCLA T-shirts and hoodies are sold at H&M worldwide: "People actually buy UCLA stuff in Italy and everybody knows UCLA.".
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I have been told that Rick Barnes would definitely accept the UCLA job if formally offered it.
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UCLA has given fans who came to the Bowling Green game in 100-degree heat a $25 credit in their ticket accounts good for any other Bruins athletic event.
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Corona Centennial power forward Devin Williams picks up a USC hat, momentarily acts like he's going to put it on and throws it away before revealing a UCLA shirt under his jacket while saying he's committing to become a Bruin.
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I'm a journalist, but I'm also human. I'm devastated. Jalen Hill was such a sweetheart. I'll always remember his smile, even in the worst of times. The last time we spoke, after he announced his retirement, he laughed as we hung up. Thank you, Jalen. You will always be special.
I am saddened to confirm that former UCLA basketball player Jalen Hill has passed away, his high school coach, Josh Giles confirmed. "To hear something like this is next-level devastating," Giles said.
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UCLA is the only college to have three Olympians in men’s basketball at the 2020 Games in Kevin Love, Jrue Holiday and Zach LaVine.
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Just two reporters at UCLA football practice today in this “major media market.”.
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Mick Cronin held a meeting with his players at the Mo Ostin Center after returning from LAX: "I told them, ‘If this is the worst thing that happens in their life, they’re going to have a great life.’ ".
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Mick Cronin: "I take it as an insult that other people are surprised that my team is going to play hard and play defense. That people thought we shouldn’t be ranked with the recruiting class we had. To me, it’s insulting that people were surprised the way we played last night.".
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Gabriela and Jaime Jaquez Jr. have become the first sister and brother to reach the Sweet 16 in the same season. Long before the season started I wrote about their hopes and what playing together at UCLA meant to them.
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Already done more in NIL than his predecessor.
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UCLA quarterback Chase Griffin will donate $11 for every point the football team scores this season to the L.A. Regional Food Bank backpack program. He’s already donated $30,000 of his NIL earnings to the charity.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. on passing Bill Walton on UCLA’s all-time scoring list: “I’ll be sure to tell Bill when I see him.”.
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Mick Cronin said there's a grad assistant job open for Houston volleyball player Kate Georgiades after she dove over a table to save a ball and then raced back into the play to help her team win in the NCAA tournament: "It’s the greatest play of the year.".
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Mick Cronin: "When you play here, you wear the most important jersey in the history of college basketball. You're not gonna put on a jersey that means any more in college basketball than it does here.".
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David Singleton on the muted celebration: "We’re going to celebrate, but we know the job’s not finished. We made it to the Sweet 16 but we go to a school that they don’t hang anything but national championships up.".
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Trent Perry says he’s coming back to UCLA next season.
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UCLA fans have turned out today at Intuit Dome. Somebody might want to tell them about this place called Pauley Pavilion.
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Pat Riley with Jaime Jaquez Jr. at his introductory news conference today.
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Talking to Jaime Jaquez Sr. about his son's decision to return for one more college season, it was apparent the younger Jaquez knows the NBA and other things will be waiting for him once he moves on. Said Jaime Sr.: "What’s not going to be there is UCLA.".
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As I asked David Singleton what UCLA was going to do to celebrate, Russell Stong IV threw a triumphant fist into the air and interjected: "Team film session and recovery.".
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This weekend marks 45 years of @latsondheimer covering high school sports in Southern California. I am humbled and honored to have been his colleague for roughly half that time. Let's all pass along congratulations for his peerless work ethic, dedication to preps and good humor.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. goes No. 18 to Miami, great spot. First UCLA senior taken in first round since Darren Collison in 2009.
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Jaylen Clark told Andy Katz he’s keeping his options open and could return to college.
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Jaime Jaquez Jr. repping UCLA from coast to coast.
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Spent some time before the NBA Finals finding out what makes former UCLA benchwarmer Josiah Johnson the league’s top Twitter funnyman. My story for the LA Times:.
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Pac-12 is about to finish a combined 1-11 in bowl games and NCAA tournament. Utah’s bowl win prevented the shutout.
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UCLA-USC better be early and it better be announced tomorrow, no more of this six-day selection ending in 7:30 p.m. madness.
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Mick Cronin pounds his chest with a clenched fist and points at his father high in the stands inside Hinkle Fieldhouse as UCLA pulls off a huge stunner, an 88-78 overtime victory over second-seeded Alabama in a regional semifinal.
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Wrap your head around this: UCLA and USC could face one another as unbeatens on Nov. 19 at the Rose Bowl and again in Las Vegas on Dec. 2 thanks to the new Pac-12 championship format.
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