Jim Mora Gets Rightfully Ticked at Dumbass Reporter (UPDATED)

(Update at bottom of story))

It's rare when a coach is right for getting angry and walking out of a press conference, but in this case, UCLA coach Jim Mora did exactly the right thing.

Mora was rightfully angry during his Monday press conference that he began by talking about what he and the team were dealing with after the early Sunday morning death of walk-on WR Nick Pasquale.

You can read more about what happened to Pasquale RIGHT HERE

An emotional and difficult thing for a team to deal with as they begin another season.

That's when a reporter, whom to this point is un-named interrupted the proceedings by taking a call, then talking while Mora was trying to convey his thoughts.

You can very plainly see Mora trying to compose himself, admonish the reporter for interrupting and then rather than saying something he'd regret, he got up and left.

Bravo!



We've seen Mora during his time in Atlanta stick his foot in his mouth--a lot. But props to him for handling this the only way he could.

We hope he does not get grief for walking out, and don't think he will.

It's amazing to us how many reporters still don't get that whole common courtesy thing nor realize, the entire world does not revolve around them. We covered Sports for 20-years and are well aware that too many Sports Media members don't understand whatever access they get is a privilege, not a right.

And yet so many will leave their phone on, engage in other conversation, complain when it's "Too Cold" to cover a game (NFL Writers) and other inconveniences 1 billion others would gladly put up with.

((UPDATE--Per Ryan Kartje @ryan_Kartje--of the Orange County Register: 20 minutes after walking out of the presser, Mora spent time with the beat writers finishing his thoughts about Pasquale and how the team was handling the situation.

Kartje also tweeted that the offending phone talker during the presser was believed to be a photographer from the local NBC affiliate))

DEVELOPING: UCLA WR Pasquale Killed In Auto Accident

((HT: KNX Radio))

Disturbing news out of suburban Los Angeles where freshman UCLA football wide receiver Nicholas Pasquale has died after being struck by a vehicle in his home town of San Clemente during the Bruins off week. The Orange County Sheriff’s Department Coroner’s office said on their website that Pasquale was struck by a vehicle while crossing a street.

The accident occurred around 1:30AM local time this morning and the investigation is ongoing...

UCLA’s student-run newspaper, The Daily Bruin, reported Pasquale’s death...

Pasquale was entering his freshman season as a walk-on wide receiver...

From The Daily Bruin:

Jaime Ortiz, coach of the San Clemente High School football team who was a defensive coordinator throughout much of Pasquale’s high school career, said Pasquale was the “heart and soul” of the Tritons’ 2011 CIF-Southern Section Pac-5 Division runner-up team.

“We’re a one town, one team high school. It’s a very tight community here in San Clemente, and the (Pasquale) family has had a great impact on San Clemente High School,” Ortiz said. “It’s just something that’s sending shockwaves through our community. As a family, we just have to get close together and get through this all together.”

More when we know more...

PM UPDATE: San Clemente High School is going to hold a vigil Sunday evening to remember Pasquale

UCLA athletic director Dan Guerrero released the following statement: "The UCLA family lost a wonderful young man who represented the university, his team and his family well. Our hearts go out to the Pasquale family, and we will do everything we can to assist and support them, as well as his teammates, as they go through this unthinkable tragedy."

Here's early coverage from our friends at KABC-TV