Bruins dehydrated in Arizona.

Superman is allergic to Kryptonite. Apparently, the Bruins are allergic to Wildcats and Sun Devils.

First, it was Arizona State completing its season sweep of UCLA, the second victory coming at Tempe’s Wells Fargo Arena Feb. 12. Bruins Head Coach Ben Howland called the 74-67 defeat a “bitter, disappointing loss” in a comment to the L.A. Times.

The Bruins were quick to blame the loss on a “questionable” call made with 38 seconds remaining, when guard Darren Collison made what he thought was a game-tying layup. However, the officials waived the basket and called an offensive foul on Collison.

Afterwards Collison said to the L.A. Times, “The refs are going to make their calls. It is what it is.”

Perhaps Collison and his teammates could have paid attention to the stat sheet. The Sun Devils shot 60 percent for the game, including 61 percent from three-point range. All five Arizona State starters scored in double-figures, including 15 points and 11 assists by guard James Harden.

“They’re all good shooters,” UCLA’s Michael Roll said about Arizona State’s shooting percentage to the L.A. Times. “They kicked out and made the open shots. Now we’re back to battling with the rest of the conference.”

Perhaps Roll meant battling with the rest of the state of Arizona.

Two days later, UCLA traveled two hours south to Tucson, where the Bruins lost 84-72 at McKale Center. With the loss, UCLA dropped to 19-6 overall, 8-4 in conference.

Now, the Bruins are tied for third place in the Pac-10, trailing Arizona State (20-5, 9-4) by a half-game and Washington (19-6, 10-3) by one-and-a-half games.

“It’s weird, it comes and goes,” forward Drew Gordon said to the L.A. Times of the team’s momentum after its loss in Tucson.

Hey, in the wise words of Collison: “It is what it is.”



Recession? Not in Anaheim!

While President Barack Obama pushed Congress to pass his nearly $800 billion economic stimulus package to re-invigorate the American economy, Angels team owner Arte Moreno pushed his unilateral $35 million stimulus package to save Anaheim. Before residents of Anaheim get too excited, that money will be allocated to just two people: Bobby Abreu and Ervin Santana.

Abreu signed a one-year, $5 million deal with the Angels. Ironically, the amount is considered a bargain for a player with a career .300 average and .405 on-base percentage.

The left-handed batter hit .296 with 20 home runs, 100 runs batted in, 73 walks and 22 stolen bases for the Yankees in 2008. Such numbers would supposedly garner more than $5 million in a healthy economy.

Heck, Abreu’s deal pales in comparison to that of Santana, who only days later signed a four-year, $30 million deal to avoid free agency. Must have been a tough decision for Santana, eh? Maybe every unemployed American should consider playing baseball.



Beckham continues to hold Los Angeles hostage.

Sports may continue to be the anomaly in today’s recession. While most people around the world are negotiating just to keep their jobs, David Beckham is the focus of heated talks for a big payday for MLS and the Los Angeles Galaxy.

OK, so Beckham is willing to take a 33 percent pay cut to facilitate a deal between AC Milan and the Galaxy. However, it is questionable whether Beckham will really be hurting with the $4.4 million he would receive from AC Milan over 18 months, compared to the $6.5 million he earned with the Galaxy.

Apparently, the Galaxy will not be hurting much. If they agree to send the British soccer star to AC Milan, the Galaxy will receive at least $5 million from the Italian soccer club. While the Galaxy demanded between $10 million and $15 million, soccer analysts believe a deal will be negotiated between both figures.



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