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Jeff Tully Burbank High boys' basketball Coach David Goosen said he is ready to defend himself and willing to answer allegations of any wrongdoing associated with the Bulldog program. Goosen, a first-year coach who was put on administrative leave Friday, met Tuesday morning with Burbank Unified School District officials to address possible CIF Southern Section and district rules violations. "We met with Mr. Goosen and his father [Tuesday morning]

JEFF TULLY In less than a week, high school teams will be back in competition, as football, boys' water polo, cross-country, girls' volleyball and girls' golf teams kick off the 2004-05 school year. As is the case this time every year, anticipation for success is high, and optimism runs rampant among the coaches and athletes who compete at Burbank, Burroughs, Providence and Bellarmine-Jefferson highs. Before the first ball is rolled out, the first runner takes a step, or the first athletes hit the courts and the pools, anything is possible -- including a winning season.

Mark R. Madler Mark Seigel talks at least once a month with his son, Aaron, a sergeant stationed in Baghdad with the U.S. Army. The Tujunga resident is grateful when the calls come because he knows that his son is still alive, and he, in turn, can tell his son about what is going on back home. "I'm like the touch point for him to the realities of the homeland," said Seigel, a computer programmer. The next time Seigel talks with his son, he'll have some exciting news.

Jackson Bell The Rev. William Brunold has been called to take his message of love and faith from the comfort of First Lutheran Church to the battlegrounds of war. That's because Brunold, pastor at the church on Glenoaks Boulevard and Alameda Avenue and a U.S. Army chaplain, has been called to active duty. He expects to be deployed to the Middle East sometime next month, but said he could not provide more details. He has been the church's pastor for nearly six years.

BURBANK HIGH — Burroughs High girls’ basketball Coach Vickey Oganyan didn’t want her team to get caught up in the hype and emotion that goes along with playing against Burbank. Instead, the coach wanted her Indians to treat Friday’s contest like any other game, and not get drawn into the cross-town rivalry drama. The approach seemed to work, as Burroughs jumped out to an early lead and was able to cost to a 43-25 Pacific League victory at Burbank High.

I think most of us feel that Burbank is a good city in live in. It has a few faults, but who doesn't? But what's with the problems of the Burbank Police Dept.? The first problem is that only a small percentage of Burbank's police officers are women. We have a male-dominated police force. Another problem is officer Cindy Guillen, who is alleging social and ethnic discrimination. Then there is former deputy chief William Taylor, who joined other officers in a suit against the city of Burbank for the firing of minority officers.

I have been trying to find words to express my disgust for the hate-filled diatribe of Bryan Griem, who chose not to answer the simple question regarding repeal of "Don't Ask Don't Tell" with a spiritual answer, but filled his space by conjuring negative images that anyone who actually knows gay people will say are false ("In Theory: Should 'Don't Ask' law be repealed?" Sept. 29). And Jon Barta, who says that many homosexuals are fighting an internal battle against their "chosen" lifestyle.

Burbank Police Chief Scott LaChasse's apology for having to restrict the parking lot at Kmart and the surrounding area for such a long time after the shooting of two officers on July 2 ("Chief thanks public for cooperation", July 17) was well received by myself, as I am sure by most of the citizens of Burbank. His explanation of why this was necessary with regards to the investigation made a lot of sense. He also expressed his gratitude for the public's cooperation, and the many expressions of concern for the officers' welfare, as well as the cards and posters in support of the Burbank Police Department.

Re: “ Should India send a mission to Mars? ” In Theory, March 2. How do you discuss the economic woes of India without mentioning overpopulation, or, for that matter, birth control? You ask a bunch of local religious leaders to write about it, that's how. Alan Burnett Burbank