Bruin Fans Are Tired of Playing High-Low

As a UCLA alum, I often get phone calls from UCLA telemarketing students asking for donations. Sometimes I have to invent an excuse not to give. No more! Now I can say, “When Lavin’s gone, I’ll give, but not a cent until then.”

Jerry Christoff

San Gabriel

*

You have to give Steve Lavin credit. Faced with a team losing both its confidence and poise; criticized for poor coaching decisions and even poorer timeout calls; he made the one coaching adjustment against Cal designed to right the ship and establish momentum for the coming Pac-10 tournament: He had the players wear matching headbands. Boy, what a coach!

Leonard Levine

Tarzana

*

OK. That does it. I can’t take any more of this roller-coaster ride called UCLA basketball. Every other game I have exulted in another gig in the win column. Then, two or three days later, hopes of a great season are dashed. So now, it’s officially, finally over for me. I can’t survive this season any more.

You’re killing me, Larry!

Sue Coventon

Yorba Linda

*

Steve Lavin’s real blunder in UCLA’s loss to Arizona State wasn’t the timeout with just over two seconds to play, when the game’s outcome was virtually decided. It was his call for a timeout with nine seconds to go and the outcome still very much up for grabs.

He allowed Arizona State to regroup and, needing three points to tie, not only had his best three-point shooter (Kapono) inbound the ball, but he brings it in to the worst free-throw shooter (Bozeman) on the floor!

I don’t believe I have ever witnessed a coach actually lose a game for his team before, but Lavin came as close as you can.

Dan Weiss

Agoura Hills

*

I’ve been willing to give Steve Lavin the benefit of the doubt, but this has gone way too far.

The Bruins look lost on offense. Dan Gadzuric has shown almost no improvement in four years. There’s no point guard (what, Lav didn’t know Earl Watson and Baron Davis would eventually leave school?). They all run around passing the ball, no one sets screens, no one cuts to the basket, and I don’t think anyone has seen a pick-and-roll in years.

Hey Lav, that shadow isn’t John Wooden ... it’s the Grim Reaper coming to collect.

Alan Yudman

North Hollywood