DEREK SEDAM
STAFF WRITER
Heritage Hall was filled with people — people I had never seen before, but clearly old faces. Watching them shake hands and conversing with one another, this looked more like a Bingo game at the Elk’s Lodge than a press conference that was about to finally (and hopefully) stabilize our men’s basketball program.
This was the third coaching press conference I attended in the last two years. I felt like watching Brett Michaels give it another go on Rock of Love 3 (we all know it’s going to happen).
An Ivy League friend of mine loves to state his mantra—when one door closes, another opens—and Wednesday’s press conference introducing Tom Asbury as head coach was no different. Although most people in the room were buzzed with excitement at the chance to have a former coach right the ship, I couldn’t help but notice the pity party in one corner of the room.
Coach Eric Bridgeland stood there, slouched over ever so slightly, and had to take the conference like a man. There was no other way. With him and a few players looking on, guessing their fates in the hands of the commanding Asbury, the underdog role that the Waves had played all year was shown to its true potential. They stood no chance with a man so loved returning home to Malibu.
After the conference, Bridgeland leaned against a case of trophies, some of which he maybe hoped to add to when he followed Vance Walberg to Malibu, as he texted away on his phone.
I didn’t approach the interim coach after Monday’s blowout loss against Saint Mary’s, mostly because he didn’t come out of the locker room, partly because of the Gaels’ Mardi Gras-like celebration in the hallway of Firestone Fieldhouse. So I thought some words of encouragement would do justice after Asbury announced that he would bring in his own staff after the season was completed.
I went to shake his hand, but his were crossed.
“Good luck on Saturday coach, you know I’ll be there,” I said.
“Yeah,” Bridgeland muttered.
Is it a way to go out for anyone?
Certainly not, but in this new sports age in which results are expected and everyone is expendable, it’s just business. Dr. John Watson, our athletics director, tries to run a successful and profitable one, and because we do not have a football team, men’s basketball is our No.-1 priority in terms of public relations and cash flow. For Watson’s sake, bringing back Asbury will save his job. National championships in volleyball and tennis do not compare to a 20-win season in basketball.
It’s a shame Bridgeland will not be remembered here in Malibu.
People will forget how Bridgeland took a broken and puzzled team to the Bay Area, nearly pulling off improbable upsets against Saint Mary’s and Santa Clara just days after the departure of Walberg.
They will forget his gusty demeanor on the sidelines, his passion for winning and devotion to his team.
I think the worst part about it is that the students won’t remember because we didn’t show up.
We have a huge rivalry game against the Loyola Marymount Kittens on Saturday at 1 p.m. on their campus. It’s one of the best times you’ll have this semester. Go support our team and Bridgeland. Let him go out with our support.
02-21-2008