Lavin’s Bruins Drive Fans Half Crazy

Last Saturday’s loss to Arizona was another painful chapter in the Steve Lavin saga and typical of his UCLA teams. As we often witness--as in the first half against Arizona--this team has the talent to run with anybody in the country. But then it falls apart. To be outscored by 33 points in the second half is inexcusable.

It sure is tough being a Bruin fan in Tucson. Where do I send my check to contribute to the severance-package drive?

JOHN C. GERMAINE

Tucson

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The problem with UCLA basketball is the fans. The fans that root for their team when they win national championships and whine about their coach, players and athletic director are causing the demise of the UCLA basketball program. The fans that ran out good coaches have made it impossible for UCLA to get a top coach.

The fans don’t understand one simple thing; if a coach is smart enough to win national championships, he is smart enough to avoid the idiots at UCLA.

ALLEN WYLY

Burbank

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Isn’t it about time that we cut a little slack for the poor guy who is trying to coach the UCLA basketball team?

When he first gets the job, they run off his predecessor before he can show the new coach how to fill out an expense account. Next Bill Walton trashes him on TV. Walton is to be commended for overcoming his speech impediment, but his brain still has a cramp.

Then Sheriff Malone rides into his office doing his best Sam Gilbert impersonation and uses the coach’s phone to call a Bruin recruit. Maybe he thought the kid could bat leadoff and play center for the Dodgers during the summer months.

The coach also loses half a dozen players who leave early, thinking they are the next Kobe Bryant, but wind up playing in that funny league with the red, white and blue basketball.

Finally, his boss gives him a five-year rollover contract and then proceeds to jawbone with every high-profile coach who doesn’t have a current job.

To top it all off, the U.S. Steelworkers have opened a new local on the UCLA campus and are signing up the Bruin athletes. What’s next, picket lines?

With all that help from his friends, it’s amazing that he is doing as well as he is.

DOUG HAYS

Glendale

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I suppose next week we will get an expose on Coach Lavin for:

a. Excessive jaywalking.

b. Bringing on the energy crisis.

c. Causing the rift between Shaq and Kobe.

The above makes as much sense as what has been printed this week.

JOE COHEN

Los Angeles