Friday, February 18, 2022---Women of Troy vs Utah
My friend and fellow USC alumna Eileen Osato, along with fellow USC alumnus Bing Lau and John Okura, arranged for one hundred JAO and SEYO girl basketball team members and their parents to attend tonight’s USC’s Women of Troy game vs Utah. This “Tomodachi Day” was arranged for the girls to see USC’s Alyson Miura play. After the game, Alyson would come out to take pictures with each team.
Before the game started, our Women of Troy were introduced on the big screen.
Here is the tipoff.
Our Trojan Dance Force performed.
During halftime, our Spirit Leaders and Song Girls performed.
Next, the “Third Quarter Highlights” were shown on the big screen. FIGHT ON, Jordan Sanders! FIGHT ON, Alyson Miura! FIGHT ON, Alissa Pili! FIGHT ON, Kyra White!
In the fourth period, the “Play of the Game” was shown on the Galen Center big screen. What a great length of the court pass by Jordan Sanders and catch by Rayah Marshall! FIGHT ON, Jordan Sanders! FIGHT ON, Rayah Marshall!
Alyson and her parents posed with Aileen's family. From left to right are Alyson's dad Blake, two of Aileen's nieces, Aileen, Alyson's mom Deb, Alyson, Aileen's brother Doug, Aileen's parents Sam and Marion, and Doug's wife Joycelyn.
Alyson posed with Aileen's two nieces (on the right) and three of their teammates.
Aileen, thank you for sending me the last three pictures.
FIGHT ON, Women of Troy!
Wednesday, February 16, 2022---Congratulations, Robert Woods!
Trojan Candy wants to personally congratulate my friend, Robert Woods, on winning the Super Bowl with his team, the Los Angeles Rams. Even though Robert is still on the injured reserve list, his team included him on their roster. He will receive a Super Bowl ring!
When I was volunteering at Heritage Hall, Trojan Candy met and interviewed Robert when he was a freshman on August 19, 2010. Below is my interview and Robert’s picture.
Since the football team had no practice and no workouts today, numerous football players came to the lobby. Seven of them came to the Heritage Hall desk for the first time. As soon as I set up, three new football friends came to the desk together. The first friend, who was wearing a Phillies baseball cap, was Freshman Robert Woods. Robert played for Serra High School in Gardena and grew up in Carson. He is undecided in his major but not in his hobby. Robert loves to play NCAA 2011! Trojan Candy can hardly wait to see his NCAA highlights in 2011. FIGHT ON, Robert!
Trojan Candy was at the USC Athletic Graduation Ceremony on May 12, 2016.when Robert was one of the two speakers. Here is Robert’s advice to his fellow graduates:
USC Football Alumnus Robert Woods took the stage next. He told the audience that he came back for three consecutive spring semesters to take classes so that he could finish what he started...to earn his USC degree. Robert said that the real power is Education. Then, he poignantly told us about what he learned from his sister Olivia Woods. Olivia passed away when Robert was fifteen. Her last words to him were, "I thought you were going to model. You have to be a model." Robert said that Olivia wanted him to be a "role model." To be an example and to be a leader. Robert told his fellow graduates, "Every model does not look the same. Be a model every day." Then he asked, "Are you going to model?" FIGHT ON, Robert!
My third picture of Robert was at our men’s basketball NIT game on March 19, 2018. Robert, again smiled for my picture.
Trojan Candy attended the USC Men's Basketball N.I.T. game against Western Kentucky at the Galen Center. During the game I saw him sitting in the stands. I recognized my good friend immediately and told my husband that Robert Woods was "in the house."
At the half-time I grabbed my camera and walked down to the courtside seats where Robert had moved to. He was talking with Athletic Director Lynn Swann. Then, during a lull in his conversation with other athletic department members, Trojan Candy yelled out to Robert. He walked over to me with a smile on his face. I asked him if he remembered me. Robert remembered me from Heritage Hall. I interviewed Robert in Heritage Hall when he was a Freshman at USC in 2010. I asked him if he gets back to Gardena to visit. Robert said he should. Next, I asked him to pose for a picture.
Here is my friend Robert Woods.
FIGHT ON, Robert!
My last two pictures of Robert were taken from the ABC telecast of the Super Bowl Championship Celebration on February 16.
He was on the stage after the Super Bowl game.
Robert spoke at the Rams Super Bowl Championship Celebration at the Los Angeles Coliseum. He's holding the Super Bowl trophy with his wife and daughter to his left.
Double CONGRATULATIONS, Robert!!
KEEP FIGHTING ON, Robert!
Saturday, February 12, 2022---USC Men of Troy vs the UCLA Bruins
My husband Jim and I arrived at the Galen Center Founder's Banquet Room in time to hear Basketball Head Coach Andy Enfield speak prior to the game with crosstown rival UCLA. As he waited to speak, Coach Enfield saw me walk up to the podium with my camera, so he posed for me. Thank you, Coach Andy! At the podium, Coach Enfield spoke about the Arizona and Pacific games. He told us what to expect from the Bruins and that Isaiah Mobley would not be playing for us because of a concussion protocol. Then he answered some questions from the audience.
When Jim and I arrived at our seats, the Galen Center was roaring. The USC students filled all the seats at the north end and several sections upstairs. We were told that some students stood in line outside the Galen Center since 8:00 am this morning. The line had encircled the Galen Center.
I had to take this picture of the students as the team was warming up.
On the sidelines were the Spirit Leaders, Song Girls, and Dance Force shown in this video.
Now, it was time to introduce our team.
Here is a video of the tip-off until Chevez Goodwin scored the first USC basket.
Then he posed for a picture with his USC teammate Jeremy Hogue.
Next, Tony walked back into the arena and saw a friend. He gave recently retired USC SID Tim Tessalone a big hug. Then I tapped Tim on his shoulder and showed him my camera. Tony and Tim posed for this picture.
A few minutes later, my two grandsons, Kane and Zane, got Tony’s autograph. Thank you, Tony, and FIGHT ON!
During halftime, Trojan Candy walked to the north entrance looking for my friend Matt Barkley, but his seat was empty. Then I saw USC Basketball Alumnus Nick Young walk in from the north tunnel with his son. My friend Craig Kelley was walking Nick to courtside seats near the south basket. Naturally, Trojan Candy walked as quickly as I could to the basket. I waved to Nick and he came over to say, “Hi” and pose for this picture with his son.
I told Nick that my two grandsons were going to come get his autograph. Nick just smiled at me.
In a few minutes, Zane and Kane came. Thanks, Nick and KEEP FIGHTING ON!
My daughter Kelly recorded this video of Anthony Munoz signing for Kane.
Jim’s brother Ronnie came to visit us. From left to right were my husband Jim, two grandsons Zane and Kane, Ronnie who is a Bruin, my daughter Kelly and her husband Gen. In front of us are friends Barbara and Hal Keimi.
Luckily, our turnover at the end of the game didn’t let the Bruins tie up the game. We won 67 to 64!
The game ended, and the students stormed the court.
Luckily, Trojan Candy was able to record some of Drew Peterson’s KABC radio postgame interview. I stood right at the desk when the interview started.
Unfortunately, I was asked to move, so I finished Drew’s interview at a “busy” distance.
My husband Jim and I arrived at the Galen Center Founder's Banquet Room in time to hear Basketball Head Coach Andy Enfield speak prior to the game with crosstown rival UCLA. As he waited to speak, Coach Enfield saw me walk up to the podium with my camera, so he posed for me. Thank you, Coach Andy! At the podium, Coach Enfield spoke about the Arizona and Pacific games. He told us what to expect from the Bruins and that Isaiah Mobley would not be playing for us because of a concussion protocol. Then he answered some questions from the audience.
During halftime, Trojan Candy walked to the north entrance looking for my friend Matt Barkley, but his seat was empty. Then I saw USC Basketball Alumnus Nick Young walk in from the north tunnel with his son. My friend Craig Kelley was walking Nick to courtside seats near the south basket. Naturally, Trojan Candy walked as quickly as I could to the basket. I waved to Nick and he came over to say, “Hi” and pose for this picture with his son.
