Were Lavin and Davis Right to Blow Whistle on Referee?

I am a lifelong fan of UCLA basketball, but I am getting weary of hearing the Bruins complain about the officiating every time they lose. The only support they offer to support their claim that the referees have “cheated” them is the disparity in the number of fouls called.

The fact is that the Bruins play a very aggressive and risky style of defense, trying constantly to intercept passes and steal the ball from their opponents. But this defensive style also leads to foul problems.

In the four games, UCLA is complaining about, the Bruins had 47 steals while their opponents had only 25. Trying to get those steals, the Bruin players committed numerous “cheap” fouls by reaching in or going over the backs of their opponents. Steve Lavin must teach his players to position themselves properly on defense and to avoid those ill-advised fouls.

As George Raveling said during the broadcast of the UCLA-Stanford game, playing risky defense to get steals can be “fools’ gold.”

DEAN SUSSMAN, Studio City

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We are heading toward the 21st century, but with regards to evaluating the work of officials, the sports media may as well be working in Pleasantville. Reporters have no problem criticizing teams, coaches, players, administrators, fans and even other media, but as far as individual referees are concerned, it’s hands off. I don’t know why or how these officials received their pope-like status, but evidently it exists.

UCLA has lost three Pac-10 games and Terry Christman officiated all three. I was not at the Oregon State or Washington game, but I was sitting baseline at the Stanford game. It was apparent to me early on, as everyone around me can testify, that the officiating was poor and that Mr. Christman was the crux of the problem.

In the Bruins’ next game, against USC, Christman called a technical foul against Baron Davis. Former USC coach George Raveling, doing the game for TV and sitting right next to the incident, said that the call was improper.

I’m not implying that the Pac-10 has a festering scandal, similar to those that have recently occurred at Northwestern and Arizona State. But I know what I saw, and I will not apologize for voicing my opinion.

IRWIN SHPIRO, Agoura Hills

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Note to Baron Davis: You’re playing defense with your arms and your mouth and not with your feet. Once you stop reaching for spectacular steals and start beating your man to the spot, you should begin collecting fewer fouls and more admiring fans.

Note to Steve Lavin: You embarrassed the UCLA basketball program by your buffoonish outburst at Washington and if you ever behave that way in Pauley Pavilion for any reason, this 19-year season-ticket holder will begin calling for the cancellation of your gilt-edged contract immediately.

It’s now pathetically obvious that the players are running the program and that you are a psycho-babbling cartoon of a major college coach who is currently incapable of forming them into disciplined and occasionally resplendent representatives of the UCLA community, win or lose.

DAVID MAGEE, Rancho Santa Fe

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Lavin is a poor role model for today’s basketball players, many of whom come from neighborhoods populated by bad role models. I wasn’t at the game nor did I watch it on television. But I did see the news clips. Lavin is said to have been in full control of himself and was making a statement: Sure, like Sprewell was in control, like the spitting baseball player, like all the other sports figures are when they make their “statements.” The world doesn’t need teachers like Lavin. We already have too many of those, helping to bring our society down to its lowest common denominator.

TITUS J. SANTELLI, Mar Vista