THE COACH’S APPROACH

“Raveling’s Rules” (by Patrick Goldstein, March 13) was right on target. I’ve known George Raveling since 1975, when he was head basketball coach at Washington State University and I was a goofy-looking, uncoordinated and rather shy member of the student body. When we first met, he bawled me out in his office for having written him a somewhat critical letter. Then he turned the entire meeting around by enlisting my help and making me feel that I was actually participating in the basketball program.

The coach is a loyal man who doesn’t forget those who have crossed his path. After I graduated, he continued to send me clippings about the team and invite me to functions. I respect both Raveling the man and the impact he has had on my life and the lives of others.

DON PIPER

Los Angeles

The most important aspect of the Raveling article was its emphasis on the positive. We need more of this type of reporting and writing instead of the negative kind that we see too much of in newspapers and magazines and on TV.

NORM BRADY

Los Alamitos

Goldstein’s article lets Raveling maunder on about how much he cares and about how much respect he has earned. But claims of that type seem to be typical subterfuge for the continuance of a career that has been steadfastly mediocre, first at Washington State, then at Iowa, lately at USC.

A 35% graduation rate is not much to brag about when one considers how few student athletes the coach, his assistants and his army of tutors are responsible for. If the USC School of Business were to graduate only 35% of either scholarship or non-scholarship students, heads would be adorning poles around Tommy Trojan. Perhaps if Raveling spent less time giving etiquette lessons or daydreaming in his office and more time coaching his charges, he’d not need to spoon-feed disinformation to naive reporters.

PAT PATTERSON

Huntington Beach