Long Beach State breaks Fullerton’s hearts on Wednesday night

Long Beach State breaks Fullerton’s hearts on Wednesday night

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
Bedlam on Baltic Avenue
February 15, 2007


They say it’s tough to beat a good team twice.

But that’s what Long Beach State did. While I was taping on my cell phone me and Pete’s Posse’s forays into Titan Gymnasium, I knew that while the odds were against the 49ers numbers-wise, it put a lot of pressure of us. If we had dropped this game, of course I would be stoic and disgusted with the result. But if we won the game, it’s because of the pressure of having 15 straight games without a loss at their home floor (including 11 this season) became too much to bear for Bobby Brown, Scott Cutley, and Frank Robinson.

As we got on the coach to the Gym via 22 and 57, Dr. Vic Cegles, LBSU Athletic Director, as well as Bob Keisser of the Long Beach Press Telegram, accompanied us on the trip. It was a mellow ride, delayed by the usual evening gridlock, but as I got off and planted my feet on the ground, I said, “Fullerton, I have returned.”

We had some problems with our seating, but we eventually sat on the balcony. There was a railing, and this allowed us to stand on the seats, and even lean on the railing if we were to protest our decision. This was very advantageous for our group, as it allowed us to jump like the Cameron Crazies (whoever they may be), as well as yell obscenities when the calls by the officials were suspiciously questionable.

I helped lead some chants, as well as others, and I paced around to make sure they were fired up from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer. And they were. A couple of campus event staff tried to limit our antics, but they might as well get out of the way instead to relieve their stress. They couldn’t handle us, and neither did their players.

We won by ten point-again. 94-84. I was very proud of my team’s effort, as well as the Posse’s effort. But I knew at the back of my head that we have a long way to go before we get to where we need to be. On top of that, Homecoming week was on tap after a luau with the Warriors.


While Long Beach City is also taking care of things, sweeping through the South Coast regular season with a 76-73 win over El Camino, I have to feel for another junior college miles away that lost one of its players.

I don’t know Grayson County College that well. Heck, I don’t know how the Texas junior college system works. But whenever something like this happens, it really is depressing. Mike Ndiribe, a 6-8, 210-pound freshman who had big dreams ahead of him, got that-and his life-taken away in the locker room. I looked at the story on ESPNU, and I thought it was Deon Tresvant, but thank goodness it wasn’t that close to home. Again, you never want something like this to happen at any level. Because, when will it be my time? Or when will it be your time? Who will be next?

It’s like the day Hank Gathers collapsed on the floor during a Loyola Marymount game in 1990. But that was because he did not listen to his doctors. I don’t know about this. One thing’s for sure; you will be seeing an ESPN special on this. They are notorious [sic] for capitalizing on demises like this.

I hope Deon Tresvant becomes a 49er

I hope Deon Tresvant becomes a 49er

By Jo-Ryan Salazar
February 11, 2007

In between savoring the Dirtbags hooking the Horns, the men’s and women’s basketball team continuing to go different directions, women’s tennis doing business as usual, men’s volleyball pummeling NAIA doormats, and softball and women’s water polo going on shaky ground, and cross country becoming world-beaters, I must go ahead a provide a special announcement: Long Beach City’s basketball teams (yes, even the women) are good.

No, scratch good, GREAT. No, scratch GREAT, UNBELIEVABLE. I’ll get to the men later in this entry. First, the women. How do say consistent? T-r-i-m-e-k-a J-a-c-k-s-o-n. That’s it. Coach Trimeka Jackson is building a strong foundation at City. Her women’s basketball team wrapping up a share of the league title. Mary Hegarty’s women wouldn’t stand a chance. Sorry, but it’s the cold, hard truth. 18-9, 6-1 in South Coast Conference play, with El Camino left before playoffs.

Now, we go to the men. Mention the name “Deon Tresvant” and every opponent raises his arms and hands in despair. Against L.A. Harbor, the team he left ship from to join Gary Anderson’s Vikings: 48 points in a double-OT win, 100-94. The game after that against L.A. Southwest: 63 points in a triple-OT win-and the title, 132-131. Don’t even bother topping that, Kobe Bryant.

(Well, maybe he already has, but in this situation? I would reckon against it.)

I hope Deon Tresvant signs with Long Beach State. With Kejuan Johnson (who is a fellow LBCC alum) and Aaron Nixon leaving, we can use him, most definitely. I kid you not. When you have someone in the clutch like that who wins in that dramatic type of fashion, you gotta be salivating at that type of effort.

By the way, the men so far got another 20-win season (with our guys soon to follow). They are now 20-10 (7-0 in SCC play) and will probably be hosting a round or two in the playoffs heading to Fresno.

I won’t be surprised if Tresvant wins in quadruple-OT, with 100 points, and a ridiculous bevy of clutch shots and some to go with. Curse my inability to split into two people. I need to get out more.