Kareem's blog goes indie

For the past few months Kareem Abdul-Jabbar posted to a blog on LATimes.com. As of Monday, it has moved to Abdul-Jabbar's own website (with sound, so turn down your speakers.) No explanation for the move has been posted by Kareem or the Times, but Executive Editor Meredith Artley told me via email:

We couldn't keep Kareem all to ourselves forever.

Readers will likely continue to hear from Kareem on the site and in the paper. He was the first of many unique, noteworthy voices we will be bringing on to the site to blog or contribute in other ways.

Kareem was at UCLA today — in full academic regalia — to give the keynote address at the inauguration of Chancellor Gene D. Block. You can watch Abdul-Jabbar's remarks at YouTube and see him join in the procession across campus. He was pleased that Royce Hall's movable podium ascended to his height so he didn't have to bend over like he does in many public appearances. Kareem is an alumnus of the UCLA class of 1969.

Crosstown rivalry?: There's also YouTube video of USC President Steven Sample praising the new chancellor and calling UCLA one of the most important universities around.

Noted: I direct the UCLA Newsroom site and help coordinate the YouTube channel.