Top 5 Famous Athlete Sightings at UCLA

By Young Rae Kim on August 7, 2013

There are many perks that come with being a UCLA student: a top-ranked education, sunny weather, and dangerously tasty dining halls that former UCLA basketball player Joshua Smith is all too familiar with.

However, one of the greatest perks students enjoy is going to class with the possibility of running into somebody famous. UCLA is known to be a hot spot for celebrity sightings because of its affluent location in West Los Angeles. Among the celebrities seen frolicking on campus are also professional athletes and teams who frequently visit and train at UCLA facilities giving students a golden opportunity to meet some of the biggest sports stars.

Here are the five top famous athlete sightings at UCLA in the last few years.

5. Dwight Howard, Chandler Parsons, and Jeremy Lin

Just days after Dwight Howard chose to ditch the Los Angeles Lakers for the Houston Rockets, he was spotted working out with his new teammates, Chandler Parsons and Jeremy Lin, at UCLA’s John Wooden Center. Howard’s decision to team up with the Rockets turned him into the most hated villain overnight in Los Angeles, but that did not deter him from publicly working out in new found enemy territory. Maybe he isn’t as spineless as Lakers fans think?

4. Metta World Peace

Metta World Peace is known to frequently stop by Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center to visit patients. World Peace even received an award from the hospital for his commitment to reducing the negative stigmas surrounding mental illnesses and supporting mental health services. A fan favorite in Los Angeles, World Peace will be missed after signing a deal with the New York Knicks.

3. Real Madrid

For one week in the summer Real Madrid takes over UCLA’s practice field in preparation for their pre-season matches in America. The players are escorted via golf carts to and from their practice grounds yet most players are take time to sign autographs in between. This rare opportunity to meet these European idols draws in crowds of students and soccer fanatics to UCLA’s campus. Make sure to stay behind the barriers though or they will run you over. Just ask this poor girl.

2. The Miami Heat

When LeBron James and Co. visited UCLA in 2010 he was the most hated player in the NBA. Now multiply that by ten here in Los Angeles. His surprise appearance on campus led to a weird and bipolar reaction by students when the Miami Heat were spotted practicing at UCLA’s Student Activities Center. Students were seen rushing towards Heat players for autographs and pictures while others vigorously shouted anti-Heat chants.

 1. Adam Sandler

Okay, he might not be a professional athlete but he is famous and is somewhat of an athlete. The Hollywood actor and longtime UCLA supporter often spends his free time playing pickup basketball with students at the school gym. Check out some of his moves here.

Which other famous athletes or celebrities have you spotted at UCLA? Or on your own campus?

 

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format