USC will play Nevada at the Coliseum on Sept. 2. And 100 years ago, USC also played Nevada at the Coliseum on Oct. 13, 1923.
- USC guard Drew Peterson suffered back tightness and scored only 5 points vs. Arizona on Thursday night, making 2 of 9 shots. But in his five previous games vs. Arizona, Peterson shot 25 percent from the field and 15 percent on 3-pointers. He averaged 8.6 points in those five games.
- If the Pac-12 Tournament started today, USC would play the winner of the Washington State-Oregon State game on March 9 at 8:30 p.m. USC is the No. 3 seed in the Pac-12 Tournament and could play Arizona again in the semifinals.
- And now for some history:
- This is Henry Aihara, who was a captain of the 1950 USC track and field team. Aihara grew up in Garden Grove, but was relocated to Poston, Ariz., during World War II and then won the NCAA long jump title in 1945 while attending the University of Illinois. After a stint in the Army, he transferred to USC and was part of two NCAA championship teams (1949-50).
- Here’s another in our occassional series on how important USC Homecoming used to be. USC football coach Jeff Cravath is interviewed by TV broadcaster Tom Harmon on Nov. 4, 1949 at the student Homecoming rally.
Harmon was the play-by-play announcer for the first televised Rose Bowl. He had won the Heisman Trophy playing halfback at Michigan just nine years before this photo. And some of you may remember him for being a sports anchor at KTLA from 1958-64. And yes, as the father of Mark Harmon.
- It’s time to celebrate Lindon Crow (again). Here he is intercepting a pass in third quarter of the 1953 Rose Bowl. The interception helped preserve USC’s 7-0 victory over Wisconsin.
Five years later, in 1958, Crow (41) intercepted a Johnny Unitas pass in the 1958 NFL Championship Game between the N.Y. Giants and Baltimore Colts, which has become known as the “Greatest Game Ever Played” and a turning point in making pro football the colossus that it is today. Crow led the NFL with 11 interceptions in 1956.
- The New York Yankees were hardly the only major-league team to play at USC. Here’s a picture from 1950 when the New York Giants played at USC. From left, Giants coach Herman Franks, USC co-coach Sam Barry, Giants manager Leo Durocher and USC co-coach Rod Dedeaux.
I’ve written frequently about Barry and Dedeaux. And even about Durocher here, who was grand marshal of USC’s 1951 Homecoming parade with his wife, actress Laraine Day.
So let’s talk about Franks. You might recall he was the Chicago Cubs manager from 1977-79 and San Francisco Giants manager (1965-68). But his real claim to fame came a year after this photo was taken when the Giants’ Bobby Thomson hit his famous home run (The Shot Heard Round The World) against the Dodgers in the 1951 NL playoff tiebreaker.
Franks was reportedly stationed in the Giants’ center-field clubhouse at the Polo Grounds (their home field) and stealing the opposing catcher’s signs through a telescope and relaying them to a Giants player in the bullpen during the game. He never admittted it, of course.
- Was the Coliseum busy or what in 1960? It had USC, UCLA, the Rams, the Chargers and the Dodgers. No wonder USC had two home games on Friday night that season. Here’s the busy September in a calendar courtesy of Michael Barnes.
- Given the weather, here’s a USC student riding his bicycle in the rain in 1977.
- This picture is apropos of nothing other than I like old NFL photos and this is a 1968 Redskins-Giants game at Yankee Stadium featuring Fran Tarkenton (who lost to USC in that 1960 USC-Georgia game in the calendar above, by the way).
PICTURES OF THE WEEK
A man relaxes on the roof of the Holton Arms luxury apartments in the 1930’s. This is very close to USC, as you can see St. Vincent de Paul church in the background and the Auto Club offices on the left, which are still there on Figueroa St.
Below, look at all the trees around the apartments at 405 W. Adams Blvd., before the Harbor Freeway disrupted everything.
VIDEO OF THE WEEK
We’re going back to 1974 for the Welsh legend Shirley Bassey performing at the Royal Albert Hall in London. And you can bet she is singing “Goldfinger.”
InsideUSC with Scott Wolf 
Wow, that was quite a load Mr. Wolf, especially the old pictures.
By the way, Johnny Unitas’ Colts won that 1958 “Greatest game ever”
and watching it with my Dad into overtime won me over as a football fan
Was there ever a song that fit a movie as much as “Goldfinger’
Oh, and Ohio St won that 1974 Rose Bowl game that was sandwiched between the Trojans’ 1973 and 1975 wins over the Buckeyes
Troy’s Japanese track star underscores the shame the U.S. has in its treatment of its own Japanese citizens
St Vincent de Paul Church, how I love ya how I love ya– Auto Club, not so much
Finally, who would have thought the coliseum could house a baseball diamond, well Wally Moon did with his “Moon” shots over the 250-foot Chinese screen in left field;
And the longest shot I ever saw was off the bat of one Hank Aaron, traveling forever into the coliseum’s cavernous center field, only to be caught at the fence
LikeLiked by 4 people
“Troy’s Japanese track star underscores the shame the U.S. has in its treatment of its own Japanese citizens”
Agreed. Then going into the army to fight for the country that had just interned you?!
LikeLiked by 2 people
that is a sad time in democrat party history,among many…those Japanese were americans and proved it in their conduct; many came out of it financially broke, but worked hard and made the system work for them through hard work; soon became business owners and their children did the same;I knew some personally. Perhaps some others could learn from them, but they like bilking the system too much.
Nice pixs and articles on Lindon Crow,another of my favorites from ’52-’53 teams.He had a nice long pro career with Giants,along with Frank Gifford an SC teammate.
LikeLike
Tim L,
Were Republicans opposed to Japanese internment at the time?
LikeLike
Yes, as you note, that was national policy: “On February 19, 1942, FDR issued Executive Order 9066, which led to the forced relocation of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans living on the West Coast. More than two-thirds of these people were native born American citizens. They were confined in inland internment camps operated by the military”
Also did so for those with German and Italian ancenstry.
“During World War II, the US Government interned at least 11,000 persons of German ancestry. By law, only “enemy aliens” could be interned. However, with governmental approval, their family members frequently joined them in the camps. Many such “voluntarily” interned spouses and children were American citizens.”
“Hundreds of Italian “enemy aliens” were sent to internment camps like those Japanese Americans were forced into during the war. More than 10,000 were forced from their homes, and hundreds of thousands suffered curfews, confiscations and mass surveillance during the war.”
It was bad–especially considering who bravely some later fought for the US– but should be said that it is easy for those who did not live through it to take the moral high ground. Others refer to them as the “Greatest Generation”.
LikeLiked by 1 person
So there was zero justification for internment camps, is that what you are saying? Was there discussion of anti Japanese sentiment toward those interred that would perhaps saved their lives? Not asking to argue, to learn a different viewpoint.
LikeLike
I think you missed my point, Steve49.
LikeLike
What was bizarre was that the internment didn’t apply to Japanese-Americans in Hawaii.
LikeLike
The U S of A prides itself as a nation governed by law(s). Remind me Salamis, what law did the 120k Japanese-Americans you ref., break to be forced into vile internment camps and have their hard earned property confiscated w/o a soupcon of due process.
F**k you and your moral high-ground B/S. My father was a Merchant Marine 1939 -1947. Not once in my childhood did I ever hear my father ever address in person, or behind their back, a J-A as a “Jap,”
In fact, I was not allowed to watch “Victory at Sea,” or any other TV series focusing on WWII.
But thanks be to God, Johnniekins “Yellow Feather” Wayne prevented a Japanese invasion on Balboa Island, as the Army’s J-A, 442 Regiment was crawling up the leg of Italy eliminating entrenched Nazi SS and Wehrmacht swine.
A 1000 years from now, the stench of the J-A interment after PH, will still stain the legacy of the US as much as the practice of A/A segregation and slavery, and the willful extermination of Native Americans.
LikeLike
–Glad I skipped the Arizona slaughter and went to bed instead. When you get up at
4 in the morning most days 8 p.m. is too late to start watching a ballgame
LikeLiked by 3 people
John,
You’ve heard the phrase “ready to play ball” — well, at least 4 times a season Andy brings our guys out “NOT ready to play ball.” It was obvious it wasn’t our night [again]. Arizona is a talented team with depth —but I believed the oddsmakers were right when they pegged us as only ONE point underdogs at home. I was Wrong.
How high in the air is Lindon Crow on that interception? Great photo!
Thanks, Scott!
With that deep, rich voice Shirley Bassey didn’t need all the goofy theatrics doing Goldfinger [the fight scenes were for shit in that film, btw — I can still remember the audience cheering when Bond pulled Grant’s coat down over his arms, tripped him & kicked him when he was down in From Russia With Love — the first time an American audience saw what a real fight looked like].
These trips down memory lane are a real pleasure. We have a lot to thank Scott for.
LikeLiked by 3 people
Good show as usual, Michael, however let’s talk ‘fake’ boxing in the movies. Of course it cannot be Real street-fighting, these are actors
LikeLiked by 2 people
VERY astute, John. It is REALLY hard to look good fighting in gloves….unless you know what you’re doing. The worst ever was Will Smith in Ali. The best was Daniel Day Lewis in The Boxer [although he didn’t turn his shoulder enough on his overhand rights].
LikeLiked by 2 people
Man, since we got the forum to ourselves MG let’s pull a
Gabby&So Cal number– No, I didn’t think so
‘Tanks’ again Scottie-Boy, the man who takes more abuse than anyone I know– but he takes it ‘like a man’ by not reading our drivel
It was a great ride through pre-Freeway days a time people actually watched out for you
LikeLiked by 2 people
The “fake” fight idea is GOLD, John.
But my heart wouldn’t be in it.
[Your Scott Wolf remarks are totally on the money. When he did question and answer stuff several years ago he showed nothing but wit, patience and good humor. It’s funny to hear people accuse him of all manner of sins when all he does is provide a really fun Trojan forum. And he does it as a labor of love. This InsideUSC thing will be remembered fondly by all who followed it —- but I hope the “fond memory” phenomenon is a long way off]…..
LikeLiked by 1 person
LikeLike
Didn’t Ed G compose the score for Goldfinger?
LikeLiked by 2 people
If that were true ’67 then ‘Goldfinger’ would read as ‘Gldfigr’
With that better get back to work
LikeLiked by 3 people
Hahaha 😂. No trojan1967, I won’t take credit for that. But if you look at the Guinness book of world records, I was the first guy to suck his own Dick. And let me tell you buddy, what a glorious feeling it was. I even Nutted in my own mouth as the Missus got jealous. 😂
LikeLike
In Ed’s version Goldfinger doesn’t kiss girls or seduce them into his “web of sin” —he just keeps asking them over and over again for their Notre Dame Report Card….
#It’sReallySick
LikeLiked by 1 person
Michael, good catch – it must have been “THX1137” that Ed worked on.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I understand Ed’s career really took of after that film…
#…AndThenHeBoughtSanFrancisco
LikeLiked by 1 person
Herman Franks, fabulous
First year, 1965, equates to Mays best and one of the best ever in a hundred years of NL ball.
Shirley Bassey, listen to various YouTube performances. Some will make your spine cringle. Acapella or London Philormonic(sp) orchestra.
Cal75 evaluation: many moons ago I begged socal to not respond to the poking he was taking. But in time he responded like humans do. He returned fire. And that’s when the fight started. His enemy engaged. You’ll remember pre election time, socals enemy was 95% political trolling. I observed on our gold chatroom and another important chatroom the same pattern. All coincidentally at about the same pre election time. Coincidence? Ha. Read between the lines. I have my theory. Not appropriate here. Not provable. I do not believe in coincidences. I’m not a detective but I sense a pattern.
Good day folks.
LikeLike
Translation: You can’t wait until pre-election 2024! 😉
LikeLike
Talking about cycling on campus, Scott reminded me of the cycling path markings at USC. They are simply the cycling path markings with a a curve across the top making the rider a Trojan. It’s a cute idea, but the first time my family saw them we were walking the opposite direction, which makes the marking look like a gasses wearing dude with an expression of surprise. The direction arrows make a V-neck shirt. My son kept wondering what stencil using graffiti artist had marked up the campus. I can’t post a picture, but once you see them you can’t unsee them.
LikeLike