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Monday, 8/25/97 Mix of thoughts to stir up summer's end TALK: From baseball to beaches and worthy Bruins, Harwin tells all

Hey Bruins. It's my last Bruin column for the summer, and guess what? It's the last Daily Bruin of the summer, so for those on campus, whether you're at work, at summer camp, or in your fourth week of Summer Session C, let's stroll down the walk of this week's "Bruin Talk" ... For Bruins looking to buy a new car, I hear you can get a good deal at Ford of Orange. Just tell them that you're a student at UCLA (and that you're also starting in the backcourt of the basketball team next year) ... Speaking of bonuses for being involved on campus, I'd like to say I'm all in favor of the Undergraduate Student Association Council (USAC) getting an adequate stipend. But, doing it without the whole student body here is just one more tacky thing that USAC has done in recent years. As I said, I am all in favor of kids on campus being adequately compensated for making this campus a better place. If you're doing work, you should be paid. At the same time, I think it would be fair for the USAC to publish a monthly log in The Bruin detailing what they've actually accomplished. I won't be happy if the most significant thing they accomplished this summer was the pay raise. Actually, I think that USAC pay raises will be worth it, if they get the new international center (the one next to Dykstra) repainted from the toxic orange it is now. It's a definite eyesore on a campus that has spent so much money to look like an Ivy league school. It was probably some architect's idea (the same one who put golden arches over Ackerman). I still haven't found a McDonald's ... Mohini Bhardwaj, an incoming UCLA freshman, recently qualified to compete at the world championships representing the United States in women's gymnastics. From my perspective - from someone who does not know much about gymnastics - I was thoroughly impressed by her strength and presence at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships. This woman has some major hops - which in standard English means vertical leaping ability. If she adds some finesse she'd be like Michael Jordan who rounded out his game with a deadly jump shot ... And now on the late night dials, former Bruin Chris Spencer has joined the talk show circuit with "Vibe", and now is in competition with Keenan Ivory Wayans to get that all-important "urban" viewing crowd, which will get more packed later with Magic Johnson getting his own talk show. Wayans is not a good interviewer, and his monologue isn't very funny, although he's had some good skits. The show seems to expect that the viewer is low in the brains department. Not to show any type of bias toward a Bruin, but "Vibe" is very put together - but you would expect that from anything Quincy Jones lends his name to. From my viewpoint, Wayans' show will be dropped after a year ... Magic's show - I still have no idea why he's doing this - will be canceled after two weeks. And I think Spencer, who until recently was a virtual unknown - will stick around as something closer to a darkhorse ... I'd like to applaud Disney for dragging its heels with bringing back, and then suspending Anaheim Angels' outfielder Tony Phillips, who was recently arrested for possessing cocaine, but has been declared fit to play by Major League Baseball. Let's assume Phillips had a cocaine problem all season ... that might explain his under-.280 batting average, a decline in stolen bases and on-base percentage from previous years and his much talked-about temperamental attitude. In that case, he's been doing something that was detrimental to his playing ability, and affecting his team's chances of winning. Aside from the fact that as a celebrity he's considered a role model, I don't think it would be fair for him to collect his two-million dollar salary. A fine doesn't cut it, he should give back everything he has earned this year ... Any detractor of Hall of Fame manager Tommy Lasorda gets no love from me. Unfortunately during a week when his accomplishments should have been noted, newspapers, magazines and television still find time to put his legacy down. Basketball has recognizable faces like Michael Jordan and Shaquille O'Neal who are known internationally. And baseball has Tommy. In a time when baseball popularity has plummeted, and sports celebrities are making headlines because of legal troubles, Tommy Lasorda is still inspiring people to stick with their dreams ... And this week's Bruin No-Prize is going to the lucky Bruin who can answer the question, "Why do flies always fly directly to light?" For thousands of years flies and bugs have been drawn to light and fire (and it seems like they're always getting burned) ... Parking along the beach is scarce, with everyone out to dodge the dog days of August. (Unless of course you pay for it, but why do that?) Because it is my responsibility as giver of sage advice to Bruins, I found a somewhat convenient place to park and load up on food at Zuma Beach. If you go along Pacific Coast Highway, past Zuma Lifeguard Tower 6, 7, ... 12, you'll find right there: Trancas Market. There's a big parking lot there, and no "No Parking" signs ... And finally, Mattel has released Baywatch Barbie, complete with the classic red Baywatch bathing suit, bullhorn and towel. Early speculation is that new editions will include multiple-size breast implants to make the Baywatch doll more like her television counterparts ... A.J. Harwin Previous Daily Bruin Story UCLA adminstrators defend athletes' special treatment