Below is the email that I wrote on March 29 to Athletic Director Mike Bohn to support USC Tennis Senior Brandon Holt. I have added to the original email the pictures and new text which is italicized.
Below my email is the reply that Brandon sent me on March 30.
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Sirs, please forward my email to USC Athletic Director Mike Bohn. I hope that he chooses to publish my email. Also, please forward my email to USC Men’s Tennis Senior athlete Brandon Holt.
My email is as follows:
Dear Brandon,
Thank you for nearly four years of hard fought competitions, utterly tremendous shots, exciting victories and an unbelievable Pac- 12 Championship match in 2017 when you won the deciding clinching point match against the Bruin Gage Brymer!
I am so glad that I met you and your family on Friday, April 14, 2017, when I interviewed you for my www.trojancandy.com blog.
My husband Jim and I have become good friends with your grandparents.
Congratulations to you and the rest of the team on winning the 2020 ITA National Team Indoor Championships and finishing the abbreviated season ranked #1!
Also, thank you for acknowledging last fall at Monday Morning Quarterback that Jim and I attend every men’s tennis match and are big tennis supporters. Yes....we came to watch you play and win on Court 1!
Best of luck in the ATP. We’ll be rooting for you. Keep FIGHTING ON, Forever Brandon!
Love,
Trojan Candy (Candy Yee)
USC Class of 1968
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Hi Candy,
I received your email! Thank you so much for the support over my nearly four years at USC. I loved every minute of it and people like you made it extra special. I hope to see you soon! Please stay safe and tell your husband Jim hello for me.
Brandon Holt
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My husband Jim and I arrived very early for the USC vs. UCLA men's basketball game at the Galen Center. We were able to get an excellent parking space and early entrance into the Galen Center.
The Seniors were McKay Anderson (10/16/2018), Quinton Adlesh, Daniel Utomi (11/7/2019), Nick Rakocevic (8/26/2016), and Jonah Mathews (4/12/2017).
The game was tight near the end. Trojan Candy took several game videos.
What an unbelievable VICTORY!
FIGHT ON, USC Men's Basketball!
Trojan Candy met my sister Patti and brother-in-law Dudley Poon in the Coliseum parking lot. We were attending the inaugural USC Football Spring Showcase in the Scholarship Tower. The three of us entered at the Coliseum Press Gate and took an elevator up to the Tower.
Then, I saw them! Two USC football recruits! So excited, I almost ran over to them. They were freshmen Joshua Jackson and Gary Bryant. Trojan Candy interviewed Joshua first.
Joshua Jackson is a Wide Receiver. He graduated from Narbonne H.S. a semester early to enter USC this spring. Joshua is majoring in Real Estate Development. More personally, Joshua's favorite food is fried shrimp. His hobby is playing video games. Joshua likes RAP music the best. FIGHT ON, Joshua!
It's a good thing that Trojan Candy took a picture of Joshua and Gary Bryant together, because I forgot to take an individual picture of Gary when I interviewed him. Here is Gary's interview. Like Joshua, Gary is an incoming freshman Wide Receiver. He is from the Inland Empire. Gary is undecided in his major. His favorite food is seafood. When I asked him if he had any hobbies, Gary paused for a while...then he said his hobby is football. Gary's favorite movie is "National Treasure" starring Nicolas Cage. Trojan Candy likes that movie too! FIGHT ON, Gary!
The next new freshman recruit was talking with a gentleman. Since I was standing nearby waiting for my chance to talk to the recruit, the gentleman asked me to take a picture of both of them with his cellphone. I asked another person nearby because my hand always shakes when I take a picture with someone's cellphone. However, I told the gentleman that I would take a picture of the two of them with my camera and send him my picture. I would also put the picture in my blog article. The gentleman I met was Richard Brown. I sent him the picture I took with him and Kobe Pepe.
Now, it was my turn to meet Kobe, take his picture and interview him. Here is a smiling Kobe Pepe. Kobe is from Long Beach. He told me that USC is his dream school, and it is located close to home. Kobe is a Defensive Lineman. His favorite food is chicken wings. Kobe likes Polynesian music the most. His favorite movie is "Blindside." Trojan Candy loves that movie too! Finally, Kobe told me that he is a "big church guy." FIGHT ON, Kobe!
There was still some time before the program was going to start. Trojan Candy recognized a veteran USC player. Anyone could take one look at him and know that he was a football player. I tapped him on the shoulder and Alijah Vera-Tucker (12/12/2018) turned around and then looked down at me with a smile on his face. Alijah is a red-shirt junior Offensive Guard. He is majoring in Communication. Alijah chose USC for its academics. For hobbies, Alijah likes to "hang out" with his friends and play video games. FIGHT ON, Alijah!
Defensive Coordinator Todd Orlando, Offensive Coordinator Graham Harrell and Special Teams Coordinator Sean Snyder explained what they are planning for next season.
The program ended so Trojan Candy looked for the fourth spring recruit, Dave Parker. I was able to take his picture, but he had to leave. I'll interview you another time, Dave. FIGHT ON, Dave!
Then, I saw safety Talanoa Hufanga walking toward the door. I caught up with him! Talanoa, who is majoring in Communication, is a junior from Corvallis, Oregon. He likes to do anything outdoors. Talanoa's hobbies are hiking, boating, swimming, fishing and biking. His favorite food is pizza. Talanoa likes Polynesian music the most. His favorite movie is "Coach Carter." FIGHT ON, Talanoa!
Just then, a very familiar face came up to Trojan Candy. He was Kris O'Dowd (9/3/2009)! Kris showed me his Championship ring. I interviewed Kris almost eleven years ago in Heritage Hall. Wow!
My last picture of this remarkable evening is of two fellow Half Century Trojans members. Patti Poon and Jim Childs smiled for me.
With that, Trojan Candy says, "Good Night."