Rock 'n' rule, L.A. style
Give 'em some credit for a pretty clever marketing ploy, this dual cover issue of Los Angeles magazine for its November issue. In a city where the inhabitants are either pro-USC or pro-UCLA -- are there any other alliances? -- the magazine that otherwise wouldn't get anyone's attention except for its annual "Best Of L.A." issue has managed to make sure all Trojan and Bruin followers have a reason to fork out $4.95 to buy it this month.
Do the Bruins Rock! Or do the Trojans Rule!
Or should we stop ending ever sentence with an exclaimation point and just get to the premise: Why (USC/UCLA) kicks (UCLA's/USC's) Sorry Butt.
Katie, identified as being from UCLA's spirit squad (actually, it's the dance team), and Natalie, co-captain of USC's Song Girls, do a great job of sexing things up, making one almost want to buy both issues. Kinda like we did.
The 10-page spread inside appears better suited for the December issue, when the two teams actually meet in their annual football game (this year, it's Dec. 2 at the Rose Bowl, but maybe L.A. Magazine got ahold of a bogus schedule ... or they're simply Cal State Northridge grads).
But what one author and five researchers put together in an 80-plus quiz to see who's smarter about their school's comings and goings is a snappy way to kill a few minutes. A fake Wikipedia entry for each school is also inspired writing.
Some of the sports-related questions asked in the story, with the answers:
Q: What do Trojan fans kick on their way to the Coliseum to ensure good luck at a football game? a) a can; b) a flagpole; c) a parking meter; d) a Bruin.
A: b) A flagpole.
Q: What weighs more: The Victory Bell (which is a former Southern Pacific locomotive bell that is kept at whichever school wins that year's UCLA-USC football game) or Matt Leinart?
A: The Victory Bell (295 pounds) has 65 pounds on Leinart.
Q: Name the school whose athletes have won more Olympic medals.
A: USC: 234; UCLA: 213.
Comments
Loved the issue!!
Posted by: John Kennelly | October 28, 2006 04:30 PM