LETTERS: Lyren doesn't deserve criticism

To the Editor, As one of the managers of the men's basketball team, I have watched not only the games, but also attended every practice for the past three years. From observing first hand what goes into playing a varsity sport, I think all Penn athletes should be saluted. Anyone who can handle the sacrifices required to be a varsity athlete while carrying a strong academic load deserves our utmost respect, whether it be the star of the team or the last person off the bench. Yes, maybe Lyren has had a frustrating season, but an "embarrassing" season, certainly not. Even though Lyren is a fourth year player, it cannot be forgotten he was forced to sit out almost the entire season last year due to injury. It is very difficult coming back after not playing for an entire year. Cohen is right in the fact that Lyren learned from two of the best guards in the nation. Yet, Cohen is wrong in stating this was such a great advantage for him. Playing behind such a powerful backcourt, he saw virtually no playing time his freshman and sophomore years. With minimal invaluable game experience, I don't know if I would call this an advantage? Cohen is simply wrong when he says coach Fran Dunphy does not give Lyren the freedom to drive and or shoot. Dunphy's theory is to shoot the ball when you're open, no matter who you are. I can honestly say I have NEVER seen Dunphy get upset at a person for shooting, no matter how badly they miss, as long as they had a good look at the basket. Furthermore, Cohen suggests that since Lyren is shooting a steady 40 percent from three-point land, he should shoot more. Maybe, he's sinking 40 percent of his treys because he's only shooting when he gets good looks at the basket. Thus, if Lyren began to shoot more when he wasn't open, he wouldn't be such a successful shooter? I think Cohen should quit writing about subjects in which he has no knowledge and let the coaching staff and the team decide whether or not someone "deserves" to be a Quaker. According to everyone associated with the team, Lyren definitely deserves to be a Quaker. Jennifer Morris Men's basketball Team Manager Engineering '97 u To the Editor: I was extremely disturbed by the mean spirited personal attack launched by Miles Cohen against Jamie Lyren in Tuesday's DP ("Lyren simply failed to step up," DP, 2/18/97). Within the context of the Penn basketball program, his comments cross over the boundaries of tasteful literary license and border on outright arrogance. As an avid fan of the basketball team for over 30 years, I have witnessed many peaks and valleys. However, I have never lost sight of the fact that all the players who have played in the Palestra are first and foremost student athletes -- not the typical mercenaries who have increasingly dominated the Division I basketball scene over the last three decades. Certainly the won-loss record of this year's team has been a disappointment to all loyal Quaker fans. However, I know personally this pales in comparison to the frustrations felt by the players and coaching staff who have devoted an incredible amount of time to the ill-fated pursuit of an Ivy League Championship. To single out an individual player as the primary source of the team' s problems is unconscionable. In my opinion, Cohen owes Lyren a written apology published in the DP. I would also expect that he would refrain from engaging in any further character assassinations under the aegis of a University affiliated publication. Quite honestly, Cohen's brand of irresponsible journalism has no place at the University of Pennsylvania. Thomas Motley Wharton '72 Cohen is accurate To the editor: All of the letters received by the DP opposing Miles Cohen's right to criticize men's basketball captain Jamie Lyren have been completely unwarranted and without cause. It is important to note that Cohen wrote the commentary ("Lyren simply failed to step up," DP, 2/18/97) as a commentator, not a reporter. As a commentator, Cohen's job is to just that, to comment. Webster's Dictionary defines "to comment" as "making expository or critical notes or remarks; making reflections or observations." Cohen carried this out to a T. In order to examine this controversy most accurately, we must consider Cohen's remarks to be irrelevant. In other words, the content of the article is not as important as the capacity in which it was written. It does not matter what was said, only that he had the right to say it. The First Amendment of the United States Constitution gives total "freedom of the press." Cohen carried this out to a T. Whether or not Lyren made a mistake by fouling Gabe Hunterton, whether or not Lyren has been told by coach Fran Dunphy to "think pass first," whether or not Lyren puts out 100 percent every game or whether or not Lyren fulfills his duties as captain should not matter. It is clear, however, that Cohen did indeed fulfill his duties as a commentator. Cohen carried his job out to a T. David Hyman College '99