I for one could picture Donald Sterling, after finally dumping Mike Dunleavy for good, going to his safe and removing a sealed envelope from beneath the piles and piles of cash not spent on building a more competitive team. On the outside of the envelope is written the words "To be opened in the event of Mike Dunleavy's departure from the Clippers." After carefully opening the envelope and removing a neatly folded piece of paper, Sterling reads the message: "I told you so. Elgin Baylor."
Tony Crale
Whittier
::
Donald, my man, what took you so long? When the Clippers hired Mike Dunleavy, The Times printed my outrage in the Viewpoint section. When he won one playoff game, the victory-starved Donald Sterling developed a "man crush" on Dunleavy and fired his loyal "lap dog," Elgin Baylor. When Sterling renewed Dunleavy's contract it was obvious that "The Donald" had taken the Kool-Aid. Finally, "Rip Van Sterling" has woken up from his slumber and evicted the snake oil salesman.
Willis Barton
Los Angeles
::
Most likely, Donald Sterling discovered he was going over budget on his St. Paddy's Day "invitation only" party, so Mike bit the dust.
Joe Cohen
Mar Vista
::
Mike Dunleavy was "stunned" that he was fired? That statement is, uh, stunning to me. Next, Dunleavy will be stunned to learn that the Easter Bunny is fake.
Craig P. Fagan
San Diego
What's wrong?
Buried in Bill Plaschke's column about the Lakers ( "Nervous Time") is a kernel of truth that explains everything about the team's sudden problems. In addressing the Lakers' lack of urgency to repeat as champs, Plaschke asked the question, "What exactly is Ron Artest doing these days, anyway?" and then noted that Artest "has yet to fit into the offensive flow or consistently change games like [ Trevor] Ariza."
And this, sadly, is the whole story. Ever since the Lakers swapped Ariza for Artest, the team has been slightly less than epic and is now showing a vulnerability that may be fatal. While Artest may look a little better on paper, the reality is that he is a true Laker about as much as Karl Malone or Gary Payton were – breezing into town with the hopes of snagging an easy ring.
Dave Finley
Tustin
::
The circle is now complete. Bill Plaschke has weighed in on the Lakers, and only now do I fully understand. Thursday's column was another Bill classic filled with both words and sentences. It seems that after great analysis Plaschke has come to the conclusion that the Lakers are not playing very well these days, which I am relieved to hear being that I thought it was only I who saw this.
But this column was much more. It was the rebirth of a true love story. A story of dedication and loyalty seldom witnessed in today's superficial world. Bill's true love for Shaq was once again displayed for all to marvel at. Plaschke points out that if Shaq were still around this all wouldn't happen. Shaq would simply summon his superhuman WORK ETHIC and use his endless ENERGY and DEDICATION and carry this squad over all obstacles. This is the kind of observation that only Plaschke would make ! He simply sees things the rest of us do not, it's a kind of gift.
Kudos, BP, you've proved once again that you are still truly ... employed.
Wayne Hampton
Manhattan Beach
::
After watching the Lakers get embarrassed by the Bobcats last week I cannot help but yearn for the good old days. No, not Magic and those great ‘80s teams. Just back to when Kobe sat with the ankle injury. What happened to that team? Where have all of those players gone?
Larry Weiner
Culver City
Frank's view
Frank McCourt says he "thought the team looks better on paper than it did a year ago at this stage."
Of course the paper he's referring to is the one that means the most to him.
His balance sheet.
Rich Ruiz
Long Beach
::
Concerning the continuing waltz between Mr. and Mrs. McCourt:
For the first time ever, I'm rooting for the lawyers.
Ted Belak
Sierra Madre
Stop fighting
Some of the letter writers last week were wondering if the viewers who took in the Olympic hockey games in record numbers will become fans of the NHL. I doubt it, because the fighting that slows down the game and is outlawed in the Olympics is not only permitted but tacitly encouraged in the NHL. Why is hockey the only major pro sport to slap fighters on the wrist with a five-minute penalty instead of immediate ejection? If I wanted to watch fighting, I would become a boxing or MMA fan.
The NHL needs new leadership that is unafraid to make a change to the rules and appeal to more fans.
Warren Lacker
Los Angeles
Merlin and Willie
I don't typically mourn public figures publicly, but I am so saddened by Merlin Olsen's passing. Growing up as a sports kid in L.A., you knew Merlin was a big deal and for all the right reasons.
