Criticism Directed at Those Who Criticize

Tracy Dodds’ story on March 8 quoted Ralph Miller and Lute Olson criticizing Reggie Miller and the officials of games in which their respective teams played UCLA.

We believe that Pac-10 coaches are not permitted to publicly criticize officials. Clearly, it is not Reggie who should be held accountable for playing his usual brilliant game (41 points against Coach Miller’s Oregon State team), but rather Miller and Olson should apologize for their petty and vicious remarks. Their teams are incapable of stopping Reggie on the court, so they have taken their rivalries to a new forum: the press.

Why do two respected and successful coaches break the rules of their conference by slandering the basketball skills and character of an exceptional player and young man? With this public outburst, both coaches have taken considerable luster off their accomplishments to date. Public apologies by coaches Miller and Olson, and their censure by the Pac-10, are in order.

JOHN PALEY

BROOKS PALEY

Los Angeles