The Last Lavin Letters of Season (We Promise)

A young, energetic coach brings four McDonald’s All-Americans and a boatload of tradition to the Sweet 16 and loses to a tough team playing excellent basketball. If we were to follow the recommendations of Charles Chiccoa, Tim Kawakami and the rest of the Steve Lavin haters who seem to dominate the sports section, that coach should be fired.

So . . . good luck looking for that new job, Coach K!

SAMEER BAKHDA

Northridge

*

For all the Bruin fans who want to string up the coach and then slit their own wrists because the season ended without unfurling the program’s 12th banner, look at the facts. This is a very young team that, saving a bad error in judgment regarding their readiness for the NBA by Moiso and Gadzuric, will have essentially the same team next year. Steve Lavin in four seasons has won 20 games every year, has taken his teams to the Sweet 16 in three of four years and to the Elite Eight once. This coach and this program have a bright future if you would just put away the sharp objects.

Now if they don’t win next year. . . .

WILLIAM DAVID STONE

Beverly Hills

*

I admit I was fooled. I was fooled when I honestly thought that the Bruins would beat Iowa State because of their eight-game winning streak. In reality, they beat five lousy Pac-10 teams, an overrated Stanford team, a Ball State team they should have beaten by 30 and Marylan (the team with no D).

Good coaches make adjustments during games. The only adjustment Lav did during halftime was to apply more Brylcreem to his hair. The new Pyramid of Success in Westwood is to con the regents into thinking you’re a good coach, get your million-dollar contract, buy your Jag and million-dollar home.

RICHARD KATZ

Los Angeles

*

Meet the new Bruins, same as the old Bruins.

PATRICK MCMAHON

San Dimas

*

As a former Iowan, I appreciate the sportsmanlike way The Times put the Iowa State victory on page U1.

WENDELL H. JONES

Hacienda Heights