The Star System Continues . . .

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WAHLBERG.SLIME

Will Ferrell gave the USC graduation speech.  Deepak Chopra spoke at the Baccalaureate. There is the USC Schwarzenegger Institute for State and Global Policy. Celebrities are always given top priority at USC.

So is it a surprise that two restaurants at the new USC Village are Wahlburgers and Trejo’s Tacos? Wahlburgers is owned by actor Mark Wahlberg (and Donnie and the rest of the family. Trejo’s is owned by actor Danny Trejo.

53 thoughts on “The Star System Continues . . .”

  1. Re. the new ‘University Village’ Signage banner that can be viewed through the chain link fence at Jefferson and Hoover (SW corner) reads ‘Opening – August 17, 2017’. The rest of the perimeter has the chain link with the green fabric behind it – no access whatsoever.

    Top of campus where for us old timers – TAMS and Silverwoods – completely paved in with large pastel colored concrete and a few planters.

    Lots of cars on both side of the Coliseum (Expo and MLK) for that ‘pay $90 and hit a bucket for Swannie’ move inside the Coliseum.

    • TAMS and Silverwoods —–hadn’t thought about either of them for decades. Thanks for the memory, Alv!

      • Yeah Mike back at ya’ same with the ‘original’ ‘901 Club – right next to that LAFD station.

        The village looks like the ‘real deal’ man oh ma the Expo Line is used by an awful lot of people and I mean an awful lot! Every car south/west bound out of downtown LA maxed out – at least one of the trolley lines is being used daily and often.

        • Since I moved to Maui I haven’t set foot on the USC campus. To tell you the truth, Alv, it would almost make me sad to see the changes that have occurred —-and to sense the presence of so many ghosts of beloved friends roaming the Rose Garden, Mudd Hall and the Coliseum grounds…..

          • Mudd Hall – man what a sweet bldg. that is! The Metro Line stop for the university stop on the south side stops directly in front of it.

            Crenshaw is a real mess from Exposition all the way down to Florence because of the new airport trolley line under construction and below Florence it’s a narrow mess all the way to 120th (I-105) as you cross into Inglewood – when they open up the new stadium Crenshaw will definitely be a north south artery to avoid.

            Mike the campus looks pretty good – most of the changes are on the edges especially west towards Vermont. Heritage Hall has been all spruced up for the better. Reggie Bush’s Heisman is not displayed if they even have it – kind of think that’s good ole’ Haden with his ‘pc’ idiocy.

            Funny how that scandal Haden was 100% in has had absolutely no follow-up since it broke a year ago June 2016 – not a single peep then again we’ve all been spared having to listen to Haden’s 20 second radio moments – almost a goofy as the ones Tom Brokaw’s been recording.

            Wonder if we’ll see Haden over at the new village on the 17th – I’ll bet he’s dying to be there….yeah he is.

            Patton’s last line comes to mind per Haden “…all glory is fleeting!”

          • Beautiful piece, Alv. Thanks so much for taking the time to construct such vivid “word pictures” —
            I’m laughing at your remarks about Tom Brokaw. What a complete tool that poor man is!
            Yeah, Haden totally skated on the Charity deal. It seems like he saw it as a “Put The Haden Family To Work” Project. Probably better to let family get real jobs and deliver as much money as possible to the poor kids who need it.

          • “Put The Haden Family To Work” Project!
            That’s exactly what he thought Mike!
            He sure stepped out of the spotlight quickly after it all was brought to light. He must have a great legal team on his side.

          • It’s called payroll. All foundations, or at least many, have paid administrations, pr etc., including the clinton foundation. Quite normal actually, although at the same time at least a little unseemly

          • He found a way to pick pocket his university and scholarship money. It was legal, but still not right.

          • Honestly, Sam I don’t know enough about it. I heard some stuff, but I never trust the news anymore written or taped. Just call me a cynic or a fool.

          • Truthfully I don’t know the exacts either. Haden seems like a great guy. But I never would have thought he’d be involved in something like this.

          • In many, many ways Haden was and is a great guy. That’s why we’re disappointed in him—-we were holding him to Sir Galahad standards.
            I’ll tell you something, though —-if USC winds up playing for national championships in both football AND basketball under coaches selected by Haden, Pat’s gonna be looking pretty good in the long run.

          • Enfield was a great solid move no question about it ‘but’ he stumbled into Helton after his awful ‘search’ upon firing Kiffin.

            Football is what matters and his ‘man love’ for Sarkisian was pathetic -any decent background search would have uncovered his (Sarkisian’s) issues with alcohol. It’s no better than when Mike Port (former LAA GM) traded with Pat Gillick for Kelly Gruber and neglected to do a simple p.e. that would have uncovered a serious shoulder injury.

            Port forced the LAA to find a new 3rd baseman. Haden blew the sole job search that defines USC.

            The jury is still out per Helton.

          • You’re a tough man Alvarado, a very tough man. But you did leave the door open on Helton, I’ll give you that. Btw, nothing wrong with tough, when it’s coupled with fair.

          • Coach Helton is going to wind up winning Alvarado over, Pudly76 —-right about the time he wins the PAC 12 Championship Game and USC heads to the playoffs as the betting favorite…..

          • Man, Alv. Pudly was right —you are tough.
            Okay, Sam-less 2018 will be the BEGINNING of the real test —-but an NC this season will go a long way toward buying Coach Helton time to develop a year in, year out winner.

          • C’est vraiment mon ami mais — I’d say I’m not alone per the perception of Helton’s skill set. if that seems cruel – so what? Life is tough – at USC you’d better win or get lost – we’re USC you want to have that “Gosh he’;s such a nice guy….we just dropped ‘x’ number of games but hey let’s give him another 3 years whatta’ ya’ say Lynn?

            ‘blank’ that and ‘blank’ him – news flashd to Helton win and win consistently or Helton go join: Kiffin, Orgeron and Sarkisian

          • Fair enough, I’ve heard many an opinion similar to yours, and quite frankly, some even much more extreme. Some rooted deeply in their own predictions of USC’s demise under the current coach. They refuse to give any credence to the notion that he had an effect on either side of the ball. Time will tell, my friend, and I’m hoping you’re truly as open minded as I suspect.

          • I get it Pudly76 – I too am hoping Helton is the real deal cause finding another coach is not easy and the last thing we need is that revolving door that hit us from 1981-2001 Tollner, Smith, Robinson II and Hackett. Right now we have nearly the same from 2010 – 2017 Kiffin, Orgeron, Sarkisian and Helton

          • Exactly right, what a mess this has been. Let’s all hope it’s over for a while.

          • I tend to repress things that make me sick to my stomach, Alv. Haden and the “Korn Ferry Executive Team” combined to produce the biggest joke search in USC history……
            #WishYouHadn’tRemindedMe

          • He’s an attorney, you’d think he’d of set it up legal. Funneling money is what you call it when your opposed politically or socially to the foundation or its founders. Trust me if anything was illegal the Times, ABC, everybody would’ve been all over it.

          • ‘blank’ Haden….that stunt was bad enough giving $60k per annum each to his sister-in-law and his daughter but the fact he then gave himself +$70K?

          • Mike when you think of the scope of social media; facebook, twitter,TMZ et. al. not a whisper since that scandal broke – rien! At a minimum you’d think the Times reporters would have reported a follow-up as to what was ‘settled’ ‘ agreed to’ ‘adjudicated’ something but nothing?

            One good thing it shut Haden up and removed him from any further ‘….I shall shape USC in MY images as I KNOW it should be…’ idiocy.

            As several have said Jack B I believe Haden was/is ‘Mike Rae’s caddy’

          • More undeveloped than that, marv……
            (except for a great golf course)….

          • Interesting choice of words. “More underdeveloped”, implies effort to make it that way. Less developed, implies lack of effort to develop. Hmmm.

          • Tell me you’re not one of those Viet Nam vets that went off the radar and are living in the jungle.
            Not that there’s anything wrong with it.

          • The funny thing is I saw a movie years ago about the writer, Carlo Levi, being banished by Mussolini to a small, deserted village of honest, humble people—and I remember thinking, “that doesn’t seem so bad.” I loved L.A and Oakland —but the little, deserted village seems pretty good right now.

          • Beautiful life for those who get it.. congrats my friend, you found your nirvana.

          • People with big hearts and open minds —like yourself, Pudly76 —-are the ones who’ve found nirvana.
            #ButMauiIsNextBestThing

  3. Trejos tacos are delicious and I don’t even live in Los Angeles. You should try it sir.

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