GAME #25: "CHRYSTAL"

USC @ UCLA

11.23.24

USC - 19

UCLA - 13

PASADENA MOVES INTO THIRD PLACE BEHIND COLUMBIA, SC & MORGANTOWN, WV [STILL THE FAVORITE]. BEING NOT A FAN OF LA, I WAS NOT EXPECTING MUCH FROM PASADENA. WHEN VIEWED ALONE, IT'S A LOVELY LITTLE TOWN! ON THE WAY UP FROM SAN DIEGO, WE HOPPED ONTO SURFACE STREETS INSTEAD OF SITTING IN TRAFFIC. FOUND SOME REALLY NICE LITTLE AREAS TO THE EAST OF DOWNTOWN. MY OPINION OF LA IS NOT AS LOW AS IT ONCE WAS. DOC BROWN'S HOUSE FROM BACK TO THE FUTURE IS IN PASADENA. GREAT CITY! SAW MARTIN SCORSESE, TOO!

THE ROSE BOWL IS NICE! HAD THE UNFORTUNATE DISPLEASURE OF WATCHING MY 2013 TIGERS LOSE TO DILDO WINSTON THERE A DECADE AGO. DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE THIS TIME. FOR BIG GAMES, ALL THE SEATS ARE OCCUPIED AND THE STADIUM LOOKS REALLY BIG. THEY TARP OF THE ENDZONE SEATS FOR UCLA, SO THAT MADE IT LOOK SMALLER THAN I REMEMBER. DID NOT KNOW THAT UCLA HAS A HUGE ASIAN STUDENT POPULATION. LOOKED LIKE A K-POP CONCERT. GOOD HOT DOGS. GREAT LOCATION!

WHERE TO EAT - BARNEY'S BEANERY! GREAT SPOT DOWNTOWN! DON'T RECALL GOING ANYWHERE ELSE. TAQUITOS ARE GREAT! MAJOR POOL HALL UPSTAIRS. WE STAYED OUT EAST AND THERE'S A BAR CALLED R PLACE THAT WE WENT TO BOTH NIGHTS. THAT WAS FUN. THAT'S WHERE WE MET "CHRYSTAL".

UP NEXT: 2025 PICKS AT HALFTIME OF THE TITLE GAME!