FOOTBALL

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

There was genuine surprise at the reunion of the 2001 Elite Eight USC basketball team last weekend because no one expected Coach Henry Bibby to attend.

“Everybody was surprised he showed up,” a player in attendance said.

Why? Well, let’s just say players would swap a lot more colorful stories than heartwarming ones regarding their head coach.

  • Eric Musselman hasn’t tweeted since Feb. 13. USC hasn’t won since Feb. 8 and Musselman looked fed up after the loss to UCLA this week.

He can cite injuries but how many times can he bring in a whole new team? How many players are leaving after this season? How do you build chemistry?

  • USC baseball remained undefeated with an 8-0 record after defeating Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, 4-0, on Thursday night.
  • A Go Fund Me has been started to help Joanne Asman, the owner and trainer of Traveler, buy a new truck to transport the USC mascot to games and events after her truck was destroyed in a hit-and-run accident. Asman suffered a concussion and other injuries in the accident.

The new truck must meet requirements to haul a horse trailer and for live-animal transport. The Go Fund Me details are here.

Perhaps Lincoln Riley can see fit to make a donation.

  • And now for some history:
  • Despite being a football school, USC’s contributions to basketball never get enough credit.

Peter Vecsey pointed out that USC All-American Bill Sharman is credited with the creation and adoption of the 3-point shot.

And that’s coupled with USC coach Sam Barry being credited with the creatuin of the midcourt line and 10-second rule. Barry also holds the honor of being on the cover of a Wheaties box.

  • What makes the 1939 USC-UCLA game ticket below special is that Disney gave permission to use Mickey Mouse on it and as a Trojan no less.

Note that the ticket was printed by the Jeffries Banknote Co., which produced tickets for the 1932 and 1984 Olympics, and was still in business until 2017.

  • Here are some more USC baseball prospect stories:
  • Robin Yount thought about going to USC but told the coaches he didn’t like the uniforms. He ended being the No. 3 pick overall in the 1973 draft.
  • Lloyd Allen was a pitcher expected to go to USC but then was the No. 12 overall pick in the 1968 draft and went pro.
  • Ozzie Smith went to Locke High School, seven miles from USC, but the Trojans’ coaches didn’t even know who he was and Smith went to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo on an academic scholarship in 1973.
Sharon Tate, Roman Polanski and Candice Bergen at USC for cinema banquet in 1969.
  • Sometimes, I’m in awe of the events USC staged in the past. I’ve written previously about the DKA (Delta Kappa Alpha) professional cinematic arts fraternity founded at USC in 1936.

They used to throw an annual dinner on campus at Town and Gown and in 1968 it was like a mini-version of the Academy Awards: Jimmy Stewart, Mae West and famous director Mervyn LeRoy were honored.

Who else was there? Raquel Welch, Greer Garson, Vera Miles, Walter Pidgeon, Andy Devine plus legendary directors George Cukor and Robert Wise.

John McKay even showed up with All-Americans O.J. Simpson, Tim Rossovich and Adrian Young. They got the loudest round of applause outside of West. 

When West was introduced, she had a full-length mirror, furry rug, bed and chandelier surrounding her on the stage. Simpson, Rossovich and Young were in front of her.

“I’ve been honored for many things,” West said. “But this is the first time I’ve become a fraternity brother.”

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Virginia North

Junko Takazawa

Stefania Sandrelli

18 thoughts on “If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column”

  1. Hope Lincoln sees Scott’s suggestion that he spring for a new truck for Traveler. If nothing else it would make for great self promotion.

    btw, What is the world coming to when Scott posts a photo of a woman in a suit and hat, carrying a briefcase?

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    1. P. S.

      If Stefania Sandrelli appears in this space again I hope we see a photo from Divorce Italian Style…..

      #….that is the REAL Stefania, Scott

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      1. KAM: According to  CBS Sports,  following Tuesday night’s college basketball action, the Trojans are projected to be in the first four out for the tournament with a NET ranking of 58. Other teams in the first four out, per CBS Sports, include Seton Hall, New Mexico, and VCU.

        DON: ESPN’s Joe Lunardi also has USC in the first four out with Ohio State, California, and San Diego State in his latest bracketology projections.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. KAM: I look forward to Scott’s If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column like I used to look forward to Gentleman John Hall’s “The Hall truth, and nothing but the truth … “ and Columnist Mud’s “Notes On A Scorecard”.

        DON: Three great journalists!

        Liked by 1 person

      1. KAM: And like Pat Haden, Carol’s internet footprint has vanished!

        DON: They collect their seven figure salaries and lavish pensions and fade away.

        Liked by 2 people

  3. Does it feel wrong when Sybil isn’t here having his umpteenth hysterical pregnancy over Scott posting photos of Mickey Mouse as a Trojan or Roman Polanski hanging out with Sharon Tate or somebody [ok, me] posting at the wrong time of night?

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      1. Sharon Tate is so beautiful and her smile puts people in a good mood. But then you have to look at that sour faced pervert husband of hers.

        Liked by 2 people

  4. So, this woman is driving around without insurance?! If she gets into an accident and is at fault while driving Traveler to & from, they’re not going to go after her, especially if she’s uninsured.

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    1. Joanne Asman: Maybe I was insured, maybe I wasn’t. Either way I expect Coach Riley to bail me out and save me any outta pocket…and/or my deductible. If Scott helps me on this one I’ll make photos available for next week’s cheesecake section

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    2. Not everyone has uninsured motorist coverage that would cover a hit and run situation. It is not legally required. Any many people don’t have collision coverage particularly on a trailer. She clearly has limited funds. I hope the Go Fund Me is successful.

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  5. Scooter,

    The only thing Riley has done to help SC is take $44 million. That dude should give back and buy her a truck and a trailer and pay for the insurance for a year. he could write it off on his taxes.

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  6. When Scott becomes the weekly historian and doesn’t get preachy with nostalgia, he actually does very good reporting. It is inspiring to go to the college football hall of fame or the basketball H of F in Springfield, MA and see the Trojans who are immortalized. Bill Sharman may not have won an NCAA championship at USC, but he certainly made up for it with the Celtics. By the way, who was the AD who hired Andy to be our baseball coach? Now, if we could just pay some NIL money and get two or three of the top swimmers in the world like Peter Daland used to do. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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  7. Riley: ‘Traveler? What’s that? Can we cancel that too? And that bell. Can we ditch that? We need to do this to turn the corner.’

    Since Mickey Mouse is out of copyright, could SC make merch with the trojan Mickey Mouse?

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