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.
Aileen, thank you for sending me the last three pictures.
FIGHT ON, Women of Troy!
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.
Double CONGRATULATIONS, Robert!!
KEEP FIGHTING ON, Robert!
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.
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.
Luckily, our turnover at the end of the game didn’t let the Bruins tie up the game. We won 67 to 64!
What an exciting night! It's always great to beat the Bruins!
FIGHT ON, USC Men’s Basketball!