After the ‘Thrill’ is gone from the pages


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When I first took this column two and a half years ago, I envisioned saying goodbye in a three-part series. The first would be a detailed look at the birth of the column. Part two would be a retelling of its life. Part three would be an in-depth look at its title, “Thrilla on Manilla […]

The way the 2010 NFL draft should be


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Mock drafts are humorous attempts to satisfy our constant need to predict things. If you want to know how much value they hold, you should not overlook the presence of the word “mock.” Last year I ran a running diary for the first day of the NFL draft. Because I have the Thursday column this […]

Many USC athletic achievements unseen


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Matt Barkley. Dwight Lewis. Jennifer Song. These are students known for their athletic talents. They get recognized with scholarships and accolades. You’ve even read about them in this space. But it’s been a goal here at “Spittin’ Sports” to draw your attention to some of the lesser known but equally talented athletes on campus. Today, […]

What’s in a number? More than you think


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What does it take to be No. 1? Apparently more than whatever USC junior cornerback T.J. Bryant and sophomore wide receiver De’Von Flournoy have been doing this spring. Lane Kiffin stripped the players of their jersey numbers (No. 1) last week because he felt they were not meeting the standard of the number set by […]

Plenty of change for Trojan basketball


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Time for an update on basketball. It’s been more than a month since the Trojans suited up for the final time this season — about 45 days since USC finished off the season by losing its final five games, each by 10 points or less. Since then, the Trojans have been in and out of […]

Baxter can make a name all by himself


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I’m sure you have seen the video by now. After all, it has been watched almost two million times. The football player in the clip runs a sweep, darts to the sideline, cuts back once, twice and then a third time while defenders fall around him as if their legs suddenly turned to jelly. Running […]

Fear and self-loathing in column writing


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I have been writing this column every week for two and a half years, but the process feels more bizarre every time I pick up a copy of the paper. I try to come up with similes to help rationalize what still seems foreign to me. Lately, column writing has begun to take on the […]

Armando’s truck no secret to many Trojans


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Every commencement, he comes with his wife. There they are, taking pictures with dozens upon dozens of graduating seniors. It seems like almost everyone wants a picture with him, and who wouldn’t? Aside from Lane Kiffin and President Steven B. Sample, he’s probably the most popular guy on campus. He has Mark Sanchez on speed […]

Trojans lost without a true pitching ace


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Over the weekend, California swept the Trojans baseball team at Dedeaux Field for the first time in school history. USC’s record dropped to 15-17 on the season, including a dismal 2-7 in Pac-10 play. To make matters worse, USC coach Chad Kreuter reached a milestone no coach wants to encounter in his fifth season on […]

Only time will reveal Baxter’s ability


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It sort of just happened. True freshman early enrollee Dillon Baxter had a great day during Saturday’s scrimmage on Howard Jones Field, and things flowed from there. First, let’s clarify a bit. Baxter, a running back, had a really great day — so great, he broke a remarkable 50-yard touchdown run and led all backs […]