SEAN TINER

Is the thrill of winning greater as the underdog or favorite? Last night, unranked UCLA defeated #18 Tennessee 27-24 in Rick Neuheisel's first game has headcoach. Keven Craft, an untested UCLA quarterback, craftily guided a second half comeback that culminated with an overtime victory. The Rose Bowl erupted with joy and sports columnists around the nation praised the victory. Yes, the game was incredible and a proud accomplishment for UCLA, especially as Coach Neuheisel is rebuilding the program. But do we praise all victories the same? For years USC, the Bruin's crosstown rival, walks into the game and is presumably the favorite to win. Under Pete Carroll, the team is 76-14 (over an 80% winning percentage) . Typically, the Trojans deliver a victory and their accomplishments are also hailed. But do we cheer louder for the underdog? A victory is a victory. However, it seems that when one team surpasses its expectations, the cheer always resonates a little louder with the media. ...

Intangibles are the currents that help carry innovative ideas across uncharted seas. They are beyond the realm of control and can be easily forgotten. Intangibles frequently make the difference between failure and victory, bankruptcy and wealth, war and peace. They provide the extra push across the finish line. No matter how much money, education, strength or training, intangibles are often the reasons why good stories become epic. One of the most important intangibles is teamwork. Teammates are selected on character, experience, discipline and merit, but their overall performance is often out of the selector's control. -Would Michael Phelps break Mark Spitz's Olympic gold medal record without Jason Lezac's incredible come-from-behind victory on the 4x100 free relay? -Would Michael Jordan win 6 world championships without Scottie Pippen on the court? -Would Bill Gates and Microsoft achieve blockbuster success without Steven Ballmer's business savvy? With each success st...