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SPORTS & FITNESS

Mountain Views-News Saturday, February 24, 2024 


Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness 

professional who offers semi-private/virtual fitness 
classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit.
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness 
Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness.

HUDDLE UP

With HARVEY HYDE


UCLA FOOTBALL GOING AHEAD

I have questions. There must be a reason why a Head football coach at 
UCLA wants out so badly that he will give up 4 million dollars and go to an 
assistant job in the same conference (BIG 10) when UCLA will be playing 
them next year. There must be a reason why coaches at UCLA leave UCLA 
immediately following the season to move to a different position. (Most 
especially, D’Anton Lynn defensive coordinator at UCLA across town to 
DC at USC…. ) there must be a reason why UCLA attendance at the Rose 
Bowl has dropped to such a low.

Answers?: I have opinions.

It's called “leadership.” Who is the boss and what is expected from the football program.

It’s called “excuses.” We weren’t winning. Why not?

It’s called “organization” of lack thereof. Who selects the coaches and sets the expectation. Who makes 
the schedule so that fans are excited to attend games.

It’s called “tradition.” Which events that keep fans coming have been discontinued by a new 

Administration.

Then there is the concept of public relations: with fans, media, clubs, organizations – head coaches 
attending and representing your football program. Not sending a substitute and deciding “I don’t do 
those things.” As example, the Pasadena Quarterback Club has been established for more than 70 years. 
When I coached at Pasadena City College, I considered it an honor to speak there along with high school 
coaches, coaches from visiting teams playing our two main Universities. I represented my football teams 
PCC, UNLV, when I could. It was traditional to have both the USC and UCLA head coaches every 
season. On so many Fridays at 11:30 AM Terry Donahue, Dick Vermeil, Bob Toledo, Karl Dorrell spoke 
to a packed house. From USC, Pete Carroll, John Robinson, Clay Helton, John McKay, Ted Tollner all 
attended. Neither Chip Kelly nor Lincoln Riley have accepted our invitation to speak there. (Even though 
Pasadena’s Rose Bowl is the home field for UCLA.)

Members of the Club are sportsmen, members of the Tournament of Roses, media and local supporters 
of athletics -- many alumni from our two major schools. So many celebrities accepted the invitation to 
speak: Keith Jackson, Larry King, Chick Hearn, Craig Fertig, Bill Walsh and more were guest speakers. 
This is how you gain support and interest in your program and your teams and you. 

There are other valuable traditions that help sustain enthusiasm for your school. For UCLA, the Bruin 
Walk before games, when the team walks through the Tailgate section before the games. This was in the 
Rose Bowl era. This has disappeared. It is possible that when DeShawn Foster takes over, some of these PR 
traditions and new enthusiasm will return. All Bruins will hope. 

Here’s another question. Why is Foster back at UCLA as Head Football Coach, after leaving for the Las 
Vegas Raiders? Answer: He is a Bruin! He has a five year contract not a 2 year contract with Raiders. Who 
wouldn’t want the UCLA job? It’s a beautiful campus, they play in the Rose Bowl, the academics are great. 

What will be the challenge? Perhaps Athletic budget (poor management?). Chip Kelly should have known 
he needed to fund raise for a budget for NIL monies. Getting players today is high level competition. He 
did not. You have to love to recruit. Chip did not. Perhaps the AD lost some control of the last Head 
Football Coach. 

Some things have to be done whether one likes it or not. Foster should go out and speak. Recruit the 
community. Reinstate some UCLA traditions. Look at and respect the coaching greats at UCLA. As Foster 
has not been a Head Football Coach, he will need to be smart and look to others for support and inspiration 
and talent. He needs to recognize his own strengths and shortcomings and fill his staff accordingly. Be 
the CEO and have assistants he can count on for field organization, recruiting, strategies, etc. He’ll need 
to develop a philosophy of how to win, and what it will take. Knowing yourself is a strength if you take 
advantage of that knowledge. Wishing the Bruins great seasons ahead. 

Next time I want to discuss Lincoln Riley and his off-season hires of coaches on the defensive side of the 
ball. Has he accomplished his goal? Another good question.

Follow me @coachharveyhyde, and harveyhyde.com.

OVERCOMING FITNESS 
SABOTAGE FROM LOVED 
ONES

Over the years I’ve seen a lot of reactions 
when one person in a couple starts a 
brand new fitness program. One thing has 
persisted. How often partners sabotage 
the fitness goals of their loved ones.

It’s not easy starting to work out and eat 
better. Especially if these habits have 
not been part of daily living for many 
years. So when a partner (knowingly or 
unknowingly) does things that hinder the 
other’s progress or motivation it can derail their entire plan.

If you are the one trying to get fit, be aware of the following ways that you could be getting set 
up for failure. If you’re the spouse, do you recognize yourself doing any of these behaviors? 
It’s difficult enough for your partner to start something new, stick to it and be dedicated 
enough to see change. You can help by knowing that these things are all detrimental to them 
in reaching their goals. 


• Unhealthy Eating Habits -Encouraging or participating in unhealthy eating habits, 
such as bringing home tempting snacks or insisting on frequent high-calorie meals, 
can undermine your partner’s efforts to maintain a healthy diet. Excessive drinking 
or late-night snacking can hinder your partner’s fitness goals too.
• Sabotaging The Schedule - Intentionally disrupting your partner’s workout schedule 
by creating conflicts or not allowing them the time and space needed for exercise 
can hinder their progress. For example, if you know your spouse regularly works 
out at 5 pm M-W-Th, be aware to not ask them to do other things at those times 
or distract them at that hour until it’s too late for them to exercise. Constantly 
interrupting or belittling your partner’s workout routine can disrupt their progress. 
Respect their commitment to exercise and help create a conducive environment.
• No Emotional Support – Everyone needs an encouraging word now and then. 
Ignoring or downplaying your partner’s achievements and efforts to get fit can make 
them feel unappreciated. Emotional support is crucial for maintaining motivation 
and a positive mindset.
• Using Guilt Or Pressure – On the other side, forcing your partner to adhere to 
unrealistic fitness goals or using guilt as a motivator can create stress and resentment, 
making it harder for them to stay committed. Avoid setting up standards for your 
partner that are tough to reach or contribute to making them feel inadequate.
• Not Participating - If one partner is actively trying to get fit, and the other refuses to 
participate or engage in any physical activities, it can create a sense of isolation and 
lack of support. Find time to do something active together, no matter how little, to 
show you’re both on the same page.
• Focusing On Appearance - Focusing solely on physical appearance rather than 
overall health and well-being may lead to unhealthy attitudes towards body image. 
Encourage mental and emotional well-being too.
• Negative Comments - Criticizing or making negative remarks about your partner’s 
body or fitness routine can be demotivating and damaging. Constantly comparing 
your partner to others or making unrealistic expectations based on external 
influences can lead to feelings of inadequacy and frustration too.


So why do some people do these things? It could stem from a number of issues or a 
combination of many. For example, when one person changes the other could feel insecure 
and reflect upon their own accomplishments and shortcomings. Perhaps they perceive the 
possibility of being abandoned or that the spouse will find someone “better.” Sabotage 
here could be a way to protect from potential emotional pain, especially if the person has 
experienced past traumas involving betrayal or abandonment. Joining a new group, making 
new friends and having a new source of fun can be threatening to a spouse and even produce 
feelings of jealousy. Control issues could arise where manipulation comes in to play to exert 
power. Then there are always those who might think it’s fun to tempt the other with treats, 
drinks, snacks and other unhealthy items that they know are hard to resist. After all, who 
knows your weaknesses better than your significant other? But there’s always the chance that 
the person doing any of these destructive things doesn’t realize it, in which case it should be 
brought to their attention.

Whenever one individual in a couple embarks upon a fitness journey alone, the other 
needs to really be aware of how their behavior can impact results for the one they love. It’s 
important for each to communicate how they feel and what they need from the other for 
success. Getting and staying fit can be a fun, motivating and exciting experience especially 
when improvements are noticed. Remember, we’re all on the same team. Working to be 
healthier, look better, feel great and be the best we can be!


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com