Political Gumbo: City Wins This Time

The City scored victory in its battle against UCLA when a judge ruled against UCLA’s motion to take the City’s lawsuit to arbitration.

The college wants to take its ball and play at SoFi Stadium despite 19 years remaining on its 44 year contract.

The City unsuccessfully tried to get a temporary restraining order, but lost that battle.

Bruins 1-0.

However on Tuesday, Judge Joseph Lipner ruled against three UCLA motions.

A motion for arbitration, a motion to stay the case and a motion that would have blocked several college officials from being deposed.

Ouch, talk about an ass whooping.

3-1 Pasadena.

So what does that mean?

Here’s the short version, not too long and no big words.

As of now, the lawsuit goes forward in court and some UCLA bigwigs will be deposed.

The depositions are where the action is. The UCLA guys will have to answer specific questions about talks with SoFi.

Trust me the City’s legal eagles will ask the right questions.

All of which will be public record, perhaps.

I have a feeling the folks in Westwood file a motion to keep the depositions under wraps.

It just makes sense. If a lawyer files a motion to block a deposition then most likely they don’t want the client to talk about something.

You don’t need to be Perry Mason on that one.

This whole thing makes me wonder how much it is worth to UCLA to move to SoFi.

The athletic department is in debt, and the team isn’t worth writing home about.

Next year by the way they are playing seven games in the Rose Bowl, which is a good thing, but still they need to work on that whole tackling and scoring thing.

You know, the football part of the game.

Anyway, the ruling came at the end of an impressive week for the Rose Bowl.

Earlier in the week it was announced the iconic stadium will host the semifinals and the finals of men and women’s soccer in the 2028 Olympic Games.

Next, it was announced that the historic Rose Bowl Game will in fact remain a quarterfinal contest in the College Football Playoffs which allows for the game to be held on its traditional January 1 date.

Of course it will, nearly 24 million people watched this year’s Rose Bowl Game largely due to Indiana’s impressive run to the National Championship.

No matter the reason, that’s a lot of eyes on Pasadena on Jan. 1.

I still think the CFP folks should consider holding the National Championship in the Rose Bowl annually.

The parade and festivities are already in place and the fan base comes into Pasadena every year.

No brainer.