Less than a week after Pat Haden is named athletic director of USC and claims, "We're going to have a culture of compliance" and "I don't think we're going to have a problem with compliance with Lane," the school and its football coach are sued by the Tennessee Titans.
It reminds one of the old Talking Heads song, "Once in a Lifetime," whose chorus went, "Same as it ever was, same as it ever was."
Glenn M. Langdon
Garden Grove
Even with all of Pat Haden's degrees and scholastic honors, he'll still need a course in ballistics to contain a loose cannon like Lane Kiffin.
Tom Turner
Dana Point
Bill Plaschke should be ashamed of himself, advocating an "ends justify the means" philosophy regarding the Trojans' theft of Kennedy Pola from the Titans. I'm sure I'm not the only one struck full in the face by the irony/hypocrisy of the situation: Pola's creed is "You just do things the right way and good things will happen." What happens when you do things the wrong way, Bill? USC is about to find out, having been sued by the Titans.
Forget, for the moment, about the illegality, what about the moral issue of stealing one former Trojan from under the nose of another, the justifiably admired Jeff Fisher? Also, I have a hard time believing the equally admired and respected Pat Haden was the one really responsible for this theft. Haden knows better, but Kiffin is the very picture of arrogant self-interest that has become a Trojans trademark.
Gary L. Platt
Hacienda Heights
As one listening to the radio when Johnny Baker kicked the field goal to beat Notre Dame and being a USC fan throughout the years I have a thought for you.
Jerry Buss [July 24] is concerned with the supposed "lack of love" for Garrett. The Times could conduct one of its polls asking if people believe that Buss' letter caused them to love Garrett more — or could it be that they just might think less of Buss for lauding the ability, foresight and courage of someone who, by most accounts, received the just fruits of his actions (or lack of action) at USC.
Jerry, did you run that one by your PR people before it was sent?
Jim McClane
Torrance
Maybe the Titans are just envious of not being Trojans … right Mike?
Jerry Selby
Pasadena
So Jeff Fisher is upset at Lane Kiffin and USC for hiring Kennedy Pola. You mean the same Jeff Fisher who hired away Norm Chow from USC in the midst of possibly the greatest run in the history of NCAA football, then fires him …. delivering him to the crosstown rival Bruins? You mean the same Jeff Fisher who turned his back on his school when they so desperately needed him to take over the program and restore its credibility?
Please. This is the same guy who turned a victory over UCLA in 1980 into defeat by tipping the ball into the arms of Freeman MacNeil for the winning touchdown. Jeff Fisher is quickly working his way to being on par with Reggie Bush as "persona non grata" with USC family.
Robert Scott
Los Angeles
A survivor
To assert that Lance Armstong's performance in the Tour de France is comparable to the disappointing conclusions of the careers of Michael Jordan and Muhammad Ali, as Jerry Crowe does, is to entirely miss the point of Armstrong's return to bicycle racing. He had announced two years ago that his primary motive for coming out of retirement was to raise cancer awareness and he, as a cancer survivor and consummate athlete, most certainly did that.
"Winning is the only thing that matters" as a philosophical tenant of athletic competition does not apply in his case. Ask any cancer survivor.
Skip Nevell
Los Angeles
Boos for Lackey
Shame on you Angels fans who booed John Lackey on Tuesday. He left because the Red Sox offered him probably $20 more million than the Angels were willing to part with. Maybe too, he wanted to pitch for a team whose management cares about winning a World Series rather than just filling the stands and marketing the team into Downey, Rosemead and Arcadia. Maybe he was a tad abrasive, but he always wanted the ball and won more big games for the Angels than anyone else, including what will always be the greatest night in Angels history.
Craig L. Dunkin
Los Angeles
So John Lackey was "visibly irritated" Tuesday by the boos he received in returning to Anaheim Stadium for the first time since leaving. Hey, John, when you spurn a loyal fan base to sign with a hated rival, what did you expect? Get your hugs and kisses from the Fenway nutballs from now on, not from your jilted ex-fans in Anaheim.
Ken Blake
Brea
I completely agree with The Times that the Angels likely have bought the farm by ignoring their desperate need for hitting help. As an Angels fan of 60 years, watching their anemic offense is the equivalent of baseball water torture.
Joe Bonino
Glendale
