My husband Jim and I drove into the parking lot of the Coliseum, and it was sweltering outside. We were invited to attend the Coliseum Renovation Groundbreaking Ceremony. Inside the only seats that were available were in the sun. So Trojan Candy moved our chairs to an area next to the stage that had tables with umbrellas attached. Jim, my sister Patti Poon and I sat in the shade.
However, Trojan Candy didn't sit too long. Jim and I walked over to see a good friend who was sitting in the VIP reserved area. Our friend was retired Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe.
I returned to our seats and then I saw a familiar face. She was USC Alumna Melissa Ward. Melissa was standing with two other United Airlines pilots and was dressed in her uniform. She is the first African American female captain of a major U.S. airline. The three of them posed for me.
Melissa played on the two USC Women's basketball teams that won the NCAA National Championships in 1983 and 1984. In 1984 Trojan Candy saw my Women of Troy beat Tennessee 72-61 in the Finals at Pauley Pavilion to win the second consecutive National Championship. I had met Melissa in 2013 when she and other Women of Troy basketball teammates were honored in the Galen Center for winning these two NCAA Championships. Two Championship banners, which were donated by Jim and me, were hung up in the Galen Center that night (2/17/2013). The banners were moved upstairs to the practice gym.
I left Jim at our seats and walked to the tented area where the cameras and sound equipment were located. One of the sound equipment men said that I could sit in a vacant chair next to him. Thanks. A beautiful, cooler location! Then, I looked upward and caught this even cooler picture through an opening of the canopy!
After the Spirit of Troy marched in while playing music, the program started.
Then several Los Angeles City dignitaries spoke.
The official groundbreaking ceremony came next.
Trojan Candy ran up to the front and managed to get this picture of the groundbreaking.
After the program ended, Trojan Candy looked around for any fellow TGLA members. I gathered some of them, and my husband Jim took this picture of us. Trojan Candy, Christine Ofiesh, Barbara Hance, D'Arcy McLeod, Patti Poon, Sandy Johnston, and Marcia Montez.
As the crowd dissipated, I walked back to the viewing area to take more pictures of the "destruction." There were several friends in the viewing area.
My final picture of the day was this Olympics Wall with pictures from every modern summer Olympic games. The room was outside the Meeting Chambers.
What a memorable day.
Before the Women of Troy basketball game versus Cal, my husband Jim and I attended the Chalk Talk by Head Coach Mark Trakh. I decided to take a picture of all of my loyal friends who support Women of Troy Basketball and the new coaching staff with Head Coach Mark Trakh.
During the close game, some of our victorious men's basketball team, who had just swept Oregon and Oregon State in away games, were allowed to sit courtside. Naturally, Trojan Candy walked down to take their picture. I tapped Chimezie on his shoulder and asked if I could take their pictures. All five of the guys turned around and smiled. They were Jordan Usher, ?, Chimezie Metu (8/28/2015), Nick Rakocevic (8/26/2016) and Jonah Mathews (4/12/2017).
Then, friend Jordan McLaughlin (5/26/2015) joined his teammates. Trojan Candy walked down to take his picture.
FIGHT ON, Jordan Usher, Chimezie, Nick, Jonah and Jordan McLaughlin.!
Trojan Candy came to see the USC Men's tennis team play their opening match against UC Davis. It was so much warmer this Saturday than it was yesterday when the Women of Troy Tennis team played. Our men were lucky and warmer!
Now it was time for the Singles.
Our 1, 2, and 3 Singles won in order to clinch the match. As customary, the competitors shook hands at the net.
Since the team match was decided and on Courts 4 and 5 the scores were just tied at one set apiece, the players played a 10-point tiebreaker. I was at Court 5 to watch Jake Devine play his tiebreaker. It turns out that Laurens Verboven lost his tiebreaker moments before Jake Devine won on Court 5. Consequently, I missed taking Laurens' handshake. Sorry, Laurens.
FIGHT ON, USC Men's Tennis!