Letters

Tuesday, April 14, 1998

Letters

LETTERS:

A fan of Lavin’s

At the end of Vytas Mazeika’s column about head basketball coach
Steve Lavin (Daily Bruin, April 8), The tagline informs us that
Mazeika "doesn’t know what he’s talking about." The truth of that
statement is evident from the beginning of his column. It’s a good
thing Mazeika wasn’t here in the 1950s, or he probably would have
told the readers of The Bruin that John Wooden’s record was
"unacceptable" to him. I can almost hear the words: "Coach Wooden
has been here for more than a decade and hasn’t won a single
championship; let’s replace him with a proven winner. " (Wooden’s
10 national championships didn’t begin until a few years
later.)

Mazeika says coach Lavin "is no Denny Crum." Crum’s been a good
coach, but his championships are behind him, Lavin’s are ahead. The
other coaches he mentions are some of the best in the country and
are obviously great coaches, but UCLA’s decision to make Lavin head
coach was the best thing that’s happened to UCLA basketball in a
long time. His teams represent UCLA well, and will win
championships. Not every year, of course, but Mazeika’s list of
coaches includes a couple who have never won a championship.

I like Coach Lavin’s "Bruin Attitude" – guidelines for the
players like "Be a role model off the floor," "Be humble in
victory, gracious in defeat," "Never quit on a play! Never!" I like
his intensity and his positive energy, and I have no doubt he’s a
winner! My suggestion: Show some patience and support Coach Lavin
and the team; you’ll be rewarded with banners and a team you can be
proud to support.

Stuart Wolpert

Alumnus, UCLA Class of 1981

Philosophy

HEADLINE!!!

The controversial Sierra Club ballot initiative does not go as
far as to "condemn immigration" as the Daily Bruin reported on
April 7, but to "adopt a comprehensive population policy for the
United States that continues to advocate an end to U.S. population
growth." Although I am against the inititiative as many active
Sierra Club members are and will vote to adopt the Board of
Directors alternative of taking no position on immigration, I still
find it immflammatory for The Bruin to report such an inaccuracy.
There is enough internal and external strife over this initiative
as it is!

Andrea Leigh

Staff, UCLA Library

(Conservation Chair, Wilderness Adventures Section, Angeles
Chapter,

Sierra Club)