Letters to the sports desk

Can’t we all be kids forever

I just wanted to say that I really enjoyed reading Eddie
Looper’s article (Feb. 8) on IM sports. Not only was it
entertaining, but it was all so true! Ah, to be a kid again and
enjoy on a regular basis the great games of dodgeball, kickball and
foursquare. Thanks for rekindling memories.

Keji Sojobi

A perspective from the past

I must say, Hector Leano is increasingly becoming my favorite
Daily Bruin columnist. The unique attitude and perspective he
brings toward the Sports section is refreshing and always
intriguing to read. I find his articles (I will focus particularly
on “Clothes make the student athlete,” Feb. 3) quite
relatable to the daily life of a measly first-year engulfed in a
sea of 40,000. Poetically analyzing “The Land Before
Time” (the first one, I’m assuming) instills a sense of
nostalgia by allowing me to escape to those fond childhood memories
that I so long to return to.

The only point that I would tend to disagree with is how he
claimed that the “backpack” is a turn-off for most guys
as an intimidation factor. Finally, I think his last paragraph
pretty much sums it all up. Whatever happened to the good ol’
days when buying a vintage shirt meant taking a trip to a slice of
heavenly goodness to buy a shirt that was actually printed from
that time period and wear it like a badge of pride? Indeed, what
must our forefathers be thinking?

Tommy Ursano

Judge on character, not backpacks

I just wanted to say that I was extremely insulted by the
article that (Hector Leano) wrote in the Daily Bruin. I know that I
do not stand alone, as many other athletes from various different
sports were also offended. The fact that he would judge a group of
people by the type of backpack that they carry to class is
absolutely ridiculous, and the fact that he would even judge us is
wrong. He makes extremely bold statements directed to specific
student athletes and (he) has the right to have (his) own opinion,
but he goes beyond that by insulting.

As for athletes taking their backpacks to class, it’s not
a bragging right or a way for male athletes to pick up chicks;
it’s convenient because they are given to us by the athletic
department. And for that matter, there is nothing wrong with being
proud of what sport one plays or being proud of where one goes to
school.

Nobody is asking you to look up to student athletes, but have
the decency to not flat-out insult who we are and what we do in the
school newspaper. If (Leano) is still wondering what (he) is
missing, it’s class and tact; it’s just too unfortunate
that (he) can’t purchase it.

Hannah Jun UCLA women’s golfer