Young, Dalis Face Readers’ Firing Line

Athletic Director Pete Dalis and Chancellor Young preaching to Jim Harrick about an “ethical breach”? Aren’t these the same two pillars of sanctity and integrity who sanctioned the sale of thousands of Rose Bowl tickets to a UCLA “insider” who subsequently brokered them for hundreds of thousands of dollars? Aren’t these the same two champions of honesty and virtue who then lied to the alumni and season-ticket holders, stating that there were no available tickets?

Clearly, UCLA has the nation’s No. 1-rated Department of Hypocrisy.

DAN ROTHMEL

Los Angeles

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There’s no fanatic like a sports fanatic. Someone needs to remind the critics of UCLA Chancellor Charles Young that the integrity of a university is far more important than any of its athletic programs. A few weeks ago the president of the University of Rhode Island forfeited a football game because of an assault by team members on other students.

Let’s hope we’re seeing a break in the ranks of spineless administrators who for years have been letting the tail wag the dog.

FORREST G. WOOD

Bakersfield

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Now let’s see if I’ve got this straight. All during the period when the Bruins won those 10 NCAA basketball titles, their program was bankrolled by the late Sam Gilbert, who was of such character that they indicted him three days after he died. Inasmuch as the NCAA had already bestowed sainthood on the UCLA coach, they never could bring themselves to investigate a corrupt program that had become the worst-kept secret in this town.

Now along comes poor old Jim Harrick. He takes a couple of kids to dinner, is joined by some of his players, forgets to get separate checks and is made to walk the plank for what is essentially a parking ticket. Oh well, maybe they will get it right over there some day.

DOUG HAYS

Glendale

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Is this the same Chancellor Young who hired the federally convicted Michael Milken to teach UCLA students?

GEORGE A. ABBOTT

Temecula

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A thought for Chancellor Charles Young, that role model for the student-athlete who had several encounters with the law over driving under the influence and who created his own admission policy for the children of his cronies: Chuck, you picked a bad day to stop drinking.

MICHAEL ROUSE

Torrance

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Pete Dalis doesn’t know what “embrace” means? That is when the public pays an athletic director enough to be a member at Bel-Air Country Club.

KENNETH G. HAYMAKER

Sherman Oaks

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I am afraid that Jim Harrick’s incredulous “What’s the big deal?” reaction to his firing speaks volumes about the integrity impairment that was his downfall. Hats off to Chancellor Young and Pete Dalis for recognizing that UCLA basketball deserves better.

STEVE WESTMAN

Pasadena

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I don’t like UCLA. Never have. Never will. I’ve said for years that they don’t have any heart, and more recently it seems that they don’t have any brains, either. Jim Harrick is a first-team guy and ran a clean program. Maybe even SC will have a chance to beat them if they self-destruct.

TED L. BARTSCHERER

Pasadena

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If only Coach Harrick was caught with hookers and cocaine in a Dallas hotel room, he still might have a job.

DAVID McKENNA

Los Angeles