Garrett Won’t Find Many Critics Here

Anyone who followed USC basketball the past two years had to seriously doubt Charlie Parker’s ability to build a solid program. His teams consistently displayed characteristics of being poorly coached--terrible defense, careless turnovers, mental mistakes.

Those who criticize Mike Garrett for dumping him either know nothing about basketball or don’t want to see USC emerge as a basketball power.

ROB OSBORNE

Redondo Beach

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I, along with thousands of other USC alumni, am very disappointed and shocked to find the bashing of Mike Garrett that has occurred in The Times for the last few weeks.

Certainly an athletic director at any university has the right to fire any of his coaches for what he or she believes to be cause and should not be expected to explain his actions to the media or public.

JOHN W. HAMILTON

Newport Beach

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New Management Course at USC.

Title: Employee Termination Method 400.

Prerequisite: No prior courses in leadership, ethics, logic or management needed.

Schedule: One session, 2-2:30 p.m.

Credit: Four units.

Instructors: Athletic Director Mike Garrett, supported by President Steven Sample.

ROGER GLAZBROOK

Glendora

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Times sportswriters are going to find that it is going to take more than two of them to bring down Mike Garrett. It is time that someone like Garrett took over the USC athletic program and insisted on no monkey business. Athletes must learn that their first goal at USC is a college degree.

JOHN SANFORD TODD

Lakewood

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Mike Garrett was absolutely right in firing Charlie Parker. He obviously knew that the direction and character of this team, proven by the antics of Avondre Jones and Cameron Murray, was suspect at best. If Paul Westphal is even thinking of coaching this team, we all should be thankful that USC is taking its first step to playing big-time college basketball. The next step would be to secure an on-campus facility, allow Jones to follow in the footsteps of the more infamous rap community and make Murray pay for a seat to a college game.

GENO M. APICELLA

Los Angeles

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OK, OK, OK. We got it. George Raveling resigned two days before last season, it was a rotten thing to do, but Charlie Parker stepped up to take over the team for the season. Parker was released this season with the team one game over .500. Some of the players don’t like it. Parker doesn’t like it. The USC administration believes Mike Garrett did the right thing and they support him. So do lots of others.

OK, it’s no longer news. Now can we please get back to sports. The Dodgers are in Vero Beach and the Angels are in Arizona. Let’s get on with things here. Thank you.

P. MIKE BRADY

Pasadena