What Manny Ramirez was to the Dodgers, Andrew Bynum is to the Lakers; only the Dodgers didn't let their parasitic dead-weight linger nearly as long. How convincingly must Bynum demonstrate that he is but a long lost bet, a man of little consequence to Lakers championships, a graceless, fumbling, useless, rich boy with a temper and a penchant for ignorance? Shown to be successful only in maintaining immaturity and consistently performing on a level nowhere near his eternally predicted but unrealized "potential."
The oversized handicap he presents to Lakers success may ironically justify his occupation of two parking spaces designated for the physically disabled.
Michael E. White
Burbank
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As a Lakers fan since they arrived in L.A., I am dismayed and disgusted by the way Jimmy Buss has treated the team's longtime loyal employees [July 23]. Why would he want to use Donald Sterling as a role model instead of his father? This does not bode well for the team or the fans.
Richard Strober
Tarzana
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I was in Europe this month on a two-week Baltic cruise. As my carry-on, I took a small duffel the Clippers had given as a promotion several years ago. Upon my return to LAX, the customs officer looked at me, carefully, noted the duffel, asked whether I was a Clippers fan and upon my saying that I was one of the original season-ticket holders, he said with a resigned shrug, "I was going to make you the next random person to send for a full luggage search, but I see that you have already suffered enough. Welcome back."
Twenty-seven years of misery, priceless.
Andrew E. Rubin
Malibu
Complete mess
Regarding the July 19 story on complete games, the owners don't want their pitchers going nine innings because that makes for shorter games. Pitchers expected to go nine innings throw strikes in the early innings so they have something left for the later innings.
Pitchers expected to go only six innings nibble at corners and the batters respond by working the count. Then comes the parade of relief pitchers.
Longer games mean more TV commercials and more stadium concession sales.
A typical game 30 years ago was 2 1/2 hours. Today a typical game is three hours. Maximizing revenue is the bottom line.
Lengthening games is no different than when owners canceled all scheduled doubleheaders to make more money. Or playing games in the rain to avoid giving out rain checks.
Bob Munson
Newbury Park
No to No-No
The Angels announcing the team's refusal to inform their audience that Ervin Santana was pitching a no-hitter because of some silly superstition was unprofessional. What's next? They don't show up for a game on Friday the 13th?
Daniel Rivero
Los Angeles
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What's more surprising? That Ervin Santana threw a no-hitter, or that Mike Scioscia allowed him to complete the game?
Mark Cortes
Northridge
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When I was told Ervin Santana had thrown a no hitter, it reminded me of Don Drysdale's response once when told about a Sandy Koufax no hitter: "Did he win?"
Rick Van Kirk
Irvine
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With the Angels once again in discussions about adding a new bat or some relief pitching at the trade deadline, I can't help but think back to all the potential deals they didn't make because the other team insisted on getting Brandon Wood. Think Bill Stoneman and Tony Reagins would like to have a do-over on those deals?
David Ayers
Huntington Beach
Field of dreams
Memo to Frank McCourt: If you leave, we will come.
Jeff Tritch
Eagle Rock
No pools allowed
As a longtime UCLA football fan I am excited about the start of Rick Neuheisel's Farewell Tour. I have entered an office pool and I am trying to pick the time and date of Neuheisel's termination. Can you advise me if UCLA's last game of the season, on Nov. 26, is a day or night game?
Dave Pick
Solvang
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