Letters: Rick Neuheisel era ends with a whimper

Four years ago, Bruins fans should have noticed that “Football Monopoly Is Over” ominously had way too many zeros.

Brian Robinette

Van Nuys

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While firing Rick Neuheisel was certainly a step in the right direction, I can’t help but think that the administration at UCLA really doesn’t care about the football program and we are therefore doomed to mediocrity. They have said and will say all the right things about putting up the money to compete with the Oregons and USCs of the world, but this alum will believe it when he sees it. Besides, even if we do, Dan Guerrero is the guy who will make the selection, and we all know what his track record is.

David Hirsch

Ventura

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I was astounded that Mike Leach was never mentioned as a possible candidate for the UCLA job.

He only turned a backwater school into a major contender with a high-powered offense. What might he have done with UCLA’s resources?

Instead the AD promises a long and fitful search with most of his eggs in the basket of someone who has already turned him down.

If Pullman can sign top talent in less than 48 hours, what is Westwood’s excuse?

And with Leach now at Washington State and Rich Rodriguez at Arizona, what if Chris Petersen says no?

Maddox Rees

Santa Barbara

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No one should be surprised that Rick Neuheisel failed at UCLA. His uncontrolled outbursts on the sidelines when players made errors would prevent many potential players from coming to UCLA to be embarrassed by their own coach on national TV. I am sure many gifted players who had options chose not to subject themselves to Rick Neuheisel’s sideline behavior.

Roy Fassel

Los Angeles

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Rick Neuheisel claims he shouldn’t have been fired this year because UCLA increased its conference win total from three in 2010 to five in 2011. I agree. He really should’ve been fired last year.

Rob Osborne

Manhattan Beach

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Rick Neuheisel was great at speaking to fans at the end of games, media interviews and giving pep talks to his players but was poor at coaching and picking his staff. Maybe when looking for a new job he should think about going into politics.

R.J. Mendelson

Playa del Rey

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Who would ever think of “UCLA” as the answer to the trivia question “Which college football team was No. 1 in the first BCS football poll (Oct. 26, 1998), as well as the first Pac-12 [South] division champion (Nov. 25, 2011)?”

Never has football mediocrity been so well rewarded.

Don Geller

Irvine

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UCLA in its ballet uniforms looked more prepared for Swan Lake than USC.

Wes Wellman

Santa Monica

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NAIA football power Azusa Pacific is moving to NCAA Division II. Isn’t it time for UCLA to follow suit?

Phil Young

Palmdale

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I don’t know which annoys me more: dimwitted sportscasters referencing the “warriors” on the gridiron (No, warriors currently are in Iraq and Afghanistan) or guys like Rick Neuheisel, who earn over $1 million a year whining about feeding their families. Hey, Coach, I hope some other dopey school hires you because if you think that $5.25 million in earnings over five years is tough to stretch, wait until you try to make the nut on the $1,800 a month that California unemployment pays.

Liz White

Los Angeles

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Hopefully in time Coach Rick Neuheisel’s tenure as coach will fade to memory and his legacy will return to “Rick Neuheisel, Rose Bowl MVP.”

Does anyone greet Magic as “Coach”?

Jayson Romero

Highland

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Note to NCAA: Want to build character and see an amazing team emerge? Sanctions leveled against the current USC team for the actions of others when these players were in junior high have seemingly helped inspire this coach and team to greatness.

Jennifer Cheffer

Irvine

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Most weren’t even in high school when the violations occurred. So it’s sad that USC’s probation means kids who did nothing wrong are now going to suffer postseason punishment. Of course, I’m speaking of the kids from UCLA now having to face Oregon in the Pac-12 “Championship.”

Dane Eurich

Redondo Beach

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The battle for Los Angeles is over. It is obvious that USC is the better football team.

It is also obvious that the USC football team is devoid of sportsmanship and class. Somewhere around 28-nil, the water boy should be in and calling the plays.

Rich Flynn

Huntington Beach

Back to work

Now I remember why I miss the NBA so much. The lockout is over, and they will play the first games on Christmas Day. I remember last year’s Christmas Day Lakers blowout loss and how Kobe explained to all those fans who overpaid for tickets that he really did not like playing on Christmas Day. Family time, I believe. I was in retail for 35 years and I worked a lot of holidays, and spent many Christmas days with my customers, but I always brought my “A” game: great customer service and a big smile.

So Kobe, why don’t you send me a couple of free tickets to that game, since I cannot afford to buy them, and if you decide to show up as well and the Lakers win I will apologize to you publicly at center court after the game.

Larry Weiner

Culver City

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Seriously, NBA? After locking out the players and insisting you desired competitive balance, are you really going to give us an unbalanced schedule? A schedule where the Lakers don’t play in Boston and/or the Celtics don’t play in L.A.? Why wouldn’t you want the Lakers to play the Heat in L.A. and in Miami?

You want a 66-game schedule? Perfect, do four games against your own division (two in each team’s arena) and two games against everyone else. That is 66 games for each team and would actually make the silly divisions mean something for once, as well as build on local rivalries. Such a schedule would be balanced and allow every season-ticket holder to see every team, which, as a Lakers season-ticket holder since 1997, is what I pay to see.

Lee Raphael

Tarzana

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I’m really having trouble finding the one word to help me understand Bill Plaschke’s thesis on the impending NBA season [Nov. 27]. Players should be booed and then praised all in the same breath? What a toothless mixed message coming from fans who have already paid princely sums for tickets, parking and bottled water. If fans really want to be heard they should simply not buy tickets to the first game. Season-ticket holders should just watch the game from home. Nothing would say dissatisfaction better than an empty arena. Otherwise, give it five or 10 years, we’ll be right back where we are today.

Fans need to speak with their wallets and their feet. And about that one word describing Plaschke’s thesis, I believe I’ve figured it out: naive.

Mike Kichaven

Sherman Oaks

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In announcing that a tentative agreement had been reached, David Stern declared that one of the primary motivations was the “little people” who worked at the basketball arenas and at nearby parking lots and restaurants.

If you believe that, I have some swampland in Kansas I would like to talk to you about.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

Move back, baby!

Regarding Plaschke’s, Simers’ and Farmer’s recent opinions regarding a certain NFL team moving to L.A., I for one would like to vote for a team that knows how to win, is disciplined and has tremendous talent at every position. Am I talking about the Chargers? Not! I’m talking about the Oakland Raiders, the team that owns the majority of NFL hearts in Los Angeles. Just win, baby!

Jeff Jones

Santa Clarita

Big deal

Not to be outdone by Ned Colletti, Jerry DiPoto traded a promising young Tyler Chatwood for another no-hit catcher, Chris Iannetta. If this is a sign of trades to come, ol’ Ned won’t have to worry, Jerry will soon replace him as the worst GM in the area.

Geno Apicella

Placentia

Fire!

In less than a week, the athletic director of UCLA and the general manager of the Anaheim Ducks have come to the same conclusion that neither they nor their players are the problem but rather their coaches. They say great minds think alike. That doesn’t apply here, though.

Ron Reeve

Glendora

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