* When Rutgers athletic director Tim Pernetti, who resigned Friday, interviewed now-fired basketball coach Mike Rice, Pernetti said he was aware Rice had a reputation as being “a fiery guy with an edge” before coming to Rutgers. Pernetti said the two talked about it for five hours. So Pernetti hired Rice anyway because … ?
BOB BUSCAVAGE
Moriches, N.Y.
* If I did anything on the job close to what now-fired Rutgers basketball coach Mike Rice did, I would have been fired immediately. Coaches today get away with murder. Verbally and physically abusing players is unacceptable. Rice made homophobic slurs, shouted obscenities, pushed and grabbed players, threw basketballs at their heads and kicked them. It sounds like the actions of a 2-year-old on a temper tantrum. Why did it take so long for Rutgers to take the necessary action regarding Rice?
KENNETH L.
ZIMMERMAN
Huntington Beach, Calif.
* I am no fan of Rutgers, but the way people are overreacting to the video of former coach Mike Rice yelling at and throwing basketballs at his players is absurd. What would these people do if they heard what drill instructors in the Marines call recruits who screw up? The problem is, Rutgers is a bad team and schools don’t tolerate losing. Coaches know that is what schools really care about, and if they believe yelling and screaming will deliver wins, they will yell and scream.
PATRICK GRANT
Brooklyn
This Knight wins
* The only way Rutgers can revive its controversial basketball program after the Mike Rice travesty is to hand the reins to mild-mannered Bobby Knight. His coaching practices and courtside manner will continue as in the past without criticism — because he wins!
BILL GREEN
East Fishkill, N.Y.
Lessons not learned
* Ryane Clowe, Derick Brassard and John Moore, having just joined the Rangers, had not been “instructed” in coach John Tortorella’s “prevent” offense, so they went out and led the Blueshirts to a 6-1 victory over the Penguins on Wednesday, combining for four goals and four assists while resurrecting the dead power play. Now that they will practice under Tortorella’s “system,” they probably are done scoring.
MARTY PERRY
Massapequa N.Y.