J A Adande

What is it about Los Angeles Times sportswriters that gives them this uncontrollable urge to turn into social critics? First we have Bill Plaschke lecturing Tiger Woods on what he should be doing to support Martha Burk. Now comes J.A. Adande ranting about CBS concentrating on the Masters golf tournament instead of breaking in to give news flashes about the war in Iraq and coverage of Martha Burk's failed protest demonstration. ("Too Bad CBS Coverage Stayed the Course," April 13). As a journalist, Mr. Adande should have known that when Jesse Jackson announced he was not going to Augusta he gave a clear signal that the protest would be a nonevent.

I just wanted to thank The Times for all of the exceptional, in-depth hockey coverage you provided this season. What's that? The coverage was minimal at best? But what about the columnists? Bill Plaschke's sob stories about the NHL athletes? Oh wait, that never happened. How about J.A. Adande's critical looks at the game in general? Never saw the light of day. Heck, at this point I would even settle for one of Diane Pucin's misguided reporting attempts. I guess thanks for nothing.

Suppose you're the second-biggest city in America. Suppose, however, you don't have a pro football team, like Tampa Bay, Buffalo and Indianapolis. In such an unbelievable case, you send J.A. Adande to write a column on the front page of the sports section about San Diego against Philadelphia. Adande wrote that the game was boring, but it was still better than the NFL game we had in L.A. last Sunday. DAVID KOHNHORST, Sunland

I find it so hard to believe that any kid who liked baseball in the '60s or early '70s would have liked both the hated Giants and Dodgers at the same time. I think J.A. Adande ("No Last Licks at 'Stick for Him" Oct. 1) must have been a wimp in school as we had fights over the Dodgers and Giants in school. You didn't like both unless you were sick. To this day, Juan Marichal and Tito Fuentes could go fly a kite. I still hate them. RALPH MEDINA Newport Beach

Somehow I don't share J.A. Adande's enthusiasm of the Dodgers' signing of Andy Ashby. $22.5 million doesn't buy what it used to! Ashby is a career sub-.500 pitcher with an ERA last year of almost 5. If the Dodgers want to be a mediocre .500 club, then they got their man. Now they can concentrate on signing Darren Dreifort with his mediocre record for $50 million or so. I am sure that the Yankees and the Braves are shivering in their boots as they wait for Sheriff Malone's next move.

J.A. Adande would like readers to believe in his Jan. 12 column that Marvin Lewis, Baltimore Raven defensive coordinator, is the only deserving coach in the NFL to be overlooked for a head-coaching job. He also writes that "more suspect picks" have been given the opportunity over Lewis, an African American. Does it matter what color skin a coach has? Do we need to keep a tally? Adande thinks so, and it is this attitude that is no different than the possibility that Lewis may not be getting a fair shake.

Regarding J.A. Adande's article of Nov. 11, one thing comes to mind: You are wrong. The Clippers would have no title had they drafted Robinson and Duncan; Donald Sterling refuses to pay the money to keep good players (Mo Taylor is only the most recent example), which proves he is in the NBA to make money, not to field a winning team. David Stern should make him sell the team, as he is a disgrace as an owner. MIKE GASTON Orange

Sports Editor: Bill Dwyre Deputy Sports Editor: Dave Morgan Senior Assistant Sports Editors: Randy Harvey, Mike Kupper, Claire Noland Assistant Sports Editors: Athan Atsales, Alex Kimball, Jim Rhode News Editors: Bobby Armstrong, Brad Nelson, Steve Pratt, Vic Seper, Hans Tesselaar Copy Editors: Jim Barrero, Karen Chaderjian, Jay Christensen, Jerry Crowe, Bob Cuomo, Steve Horn, Roy Jurgens, Mike Kennedy, Rod Millie, Dave Moylan, Houston Mitchell, Paul Netter Writers: J.A.

J.A. Adande says that the Rose Bowl, in order to retain its stature, should support the use of major bowls as playoff game sites. I don't get it. There is no assurance that a Pac-10-Big Ten match would be part of an annual playoff. If it isn't and the Rose Bowl is anything less than the championship game every year, the character and stature of the game will be forever changed. Let's face it, the Y2K Rose Bowl was the end of an era. Stuart Weiss Los Angeles I'm a Sooner fan who enjoyed the Rose Parade and Rose Bowl game.

J.A. Adande's July 18 column was way off base in terms of his request that Tiger Woods get involved in the cause for women's rights. Tiger's business is playing golf, not crusading for causes. How come J.A. isn't hounding Arnie or Jack, who are actually members of the club, rather than Tiger? Let Tiger play golf and win tournaments. Greg Wheeler Corona These exclusionary rules were not formulated by people of African and/or Asian descent. They are the creation of well-to-do men of European descent.