The Lakers acquire a very talented but 38-year-old point guard and Lakers fans barrage The Times with letters declaring an off-season championship.
I give full credit to Jim Buss: He's lowered expectations so much that he's taken the Lakers from best franchise in the NBA to the pro hoops equivalent of UCLA football.
Mark Backstrom
Inglewood
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We all knew Mitch Kupchak gave up a ton to acquire Steve Nash from the Phoenix Suns, we just didn't know he threw in all the Lakers' water as well. Wishing Dr. Jerry Buss a speedy recovery from dehydration.
Larry Yells
Hermosa Beach
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It's always interesting to listen to whiny Lakers fans commenting on a departed Laker [Letters, July 7]. Derek Fisher, a pillar of the team for years, is derided as a 37-year-old, slow loser. He ended up with the Thunder and almost got another ring. He is being replaced by a 38-year-old guard who has how many rings? Uh huh, that's what I thought.
The return of Lamar Odom was scoffed at because Odom, a recent winner of the sixth man award, is inconsistent and mentally unstable? I'd say the Lakers have the man who is the most inconsistent and mentally unstable in the NBA. Name is Artest — ring a bell?
Richard J. Terrill
Torrance
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So Steve Nash got a haircut. Does anyone remember what happened to Samson?
Joel Rapp
Los Angeles
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Bill Plaschke wrote a generally complimentary column about the Clippers [July 11]. It obviously was too much for him and he lost it about 15 paragraphs in. He actually questions whether Blake Griffin can develop enough to become a full-time power forward. Bill, he averaged 20 points and 10 rebounds and was an All-Star and was selected to the Olympic team before being injured. If that is not full time, what is?
Bert Bergen
La Canada
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Bill Plaschke is a comedian. He states, "Very soon … the Clippers could easily be the best team in town." Really, Bill? Easily? Because they're into DeAndre Jordan for over $10 million a year for the next three years? Because they signed NBA castoffs Lamar Odom and Jamal Crawford instead of class act and sure Hall of Famer Ray Allen? Because they're counting on Chauncey Billups, at 36 coming off a ruptured Achilles', to start? Because they've hired Vinny Del Negro for another year? Because Chris Paul could easily leave after this year for a true championship contender?
Bill, are you sipping The Donald's Kool-Aid?
Frank Shapiro
Chatsworth
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This is why NBA players need to think about the decisions they rush to make. Ramon Sessions had the chance to take the $4.5 million on the final year of his contract and play with the most prestigious organization in the NBA. Take a year to prove to the Lakers that he is the real deal and set the foundation for a multiyear contract. But no, he opts out, thinking he has the power over the Lakers, and ends up in the NBA's version of hell, a.k.a. the Charlotte Bobcats.
Brian Haueter
Ventura
Penn State
When the sports pundits finally get tired of the Penn State scandal they will get back to pontificating about how to select a national collegiate football champion. They don't see, or don't want to see, that it is all part of the same culture. The aggrandizement of what should be ancillary to a college education into a professional fundraising machine, putting it ahead of students, education, young children or anything else that gets in the way.
Morton Winkel
Carlsbad
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Even in death, Mr. Paterno's efforts to defend the institution he destroyed seem incredulous. His postmortem letter continues to put the football program above the moral conscience of decency. This man had a choice and opted for the path that allowed him to retain his prestigious position, while children were being groomed by a pedophile under his watch. Freeh's report should be a death knell to Penn State.
And please take down Paterno's statue at Beaver Stadium. It's an embarrassment.
Marcelo Barreiro
Manhattan Beach
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Joe Paterno is not around to defend himself against Louis Freeh's scathing Penn State report regarding the Jerry Sandusky sexual abuse scandal. But that doesn't make him any less culpable. It's now obvious to everyone that Sandusky's despicable actions were swept under the rug in order for the football program and the university to remain unblemished. Football ruled over everything at Penn State while common sense and decency were thrown out the window.
Charles Reilly
Manhattan Beach
Los Angeles
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If the NCAA does not give Penn State the death penalty for 14 years of allowing a monster to molest innocent children, then there is no reason for the NCAA to exist.
Fred Wallin
Westlake Village
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