Letter: Forget Rick; keep Soesbe

Ron@lasvegassun.com

Friday, Feb. 9, 2001 | 10:20 a.m.

I am writing this letter in response to two recent articles in your paper, one concerning the possible hiring of a new basketball coach and the other in regard to the possible firing of the UNLV baseball coach.

In regard to the latter, I find Rod Soesbe to be a good man and a good coach who seems to be doing an outstanding job under trying conditions. I have personally seen him out at his ballpark working on getting the field in shape. I also know he has to raise a lot of the funds for his program. I wonder if they have to do that at some of the top baseball programs in the country?

As to this shameless pursuit of Rick Pitino. I was in Rhode Island when he gave his pat speech of "never going to leave Providence." How do you explain letting other UNLV programs languish while your top administrator and athletic director chase the "Successful One" around the country ?

I do have a solution, though. Fire your president and take her salary to help lure Pitino if that's what you want. Then get rid of your athletic director and use his salary to help buy shoes and uniforms for Rod Soesbe's baseball program.

-- BRUCE MASTRACCHIO

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