At least Helton talks a good game
After reading Clay Helton’s take on his job status, it is obvious that he is either in denial, clueless, or an incredibly good liar. And if he seriously believes that there is nothing wrong with the USC football program, we can add delusional to the list. He may very well be a wonderful guy, as everyone is quick to point out, but the team does not need a “good ol’ boy” running the ship. They need a proven and effective leader, a coach who will do just that, “coach,” and develop the talent on the team. It’s not happening and he needs to go. (Maybe take Lynn Swann with him). Robert Hallett
Lomita
Would someone please tell Clay Helton that having your boss publicly state that your job is safe actually means start reserving the U-Haul? William David Stone
Beverly Hills
Kudos to Dylan Hernandez for his on-the-money diagnosis of the USC football program. USC should change its moniker to Triple U — undisciplined, underachieving and ugly football. They should be trying to recruit two- and three-star athletes that really want to play football and not the prima donnas they have now. Let’s clean house going forward. I can wait for the turnaround but not this charade. Louis Stratford
Huntington Beach
After the disgraceful loss to Cal, I propose a new definition of USC: Un Sportsmanlike Conduct! Sam Abrams
Hermosa Beach
Let’s talk about senior citizens. No, not the usual kind, but the football kind. Coaches always want seniors — they’re proven, know the ropes, act as coaches on the field, etc. But after watching the USC-Cal game, I wonder. USC seniors seemed to turn certain victory into defeat.
Consider a game-changing hike into the end zone, a taunting penalty removing any chance for end-game heroics, a sideline dust-up causing teammates to turn on each other as evidence that a senior discount may be costly. Ralph Martinez
Arcadia
As permanent head coach, Clay Helton’s record against Power Five opponents without Sam Darnold is 4-9 with six double-digit losses. Under his uneven and oft-bumbling leadership — which manifests on the field in a stunning dearth of physicality, discipline and player development — USC is plumbing depths of national irrelevance not seen since the dreaded Paul Hackett era. Yet even now, after receiving an effusive vote of confidence from his boss, it appears the athletic administration has stubbornly misconstrued consistency with mediocrity.
If better days are ahead, as Helton defiantly asserts, it won’t be until there’s a new head coach. Will the last person leaving the Coliseum please turn out the lights? Steve Ross
Beverly Hills
Whenever Cal beats USC, two facts are obvious: 1) Trojan football has a serious problem; and 2) Cal’s about to lose its head football coach. Konrad Moore
San Diego
Song sung Blue
Regarding Bill Plaschke’s column on the fans’ worrying that the Dodgers’ “plan” not to go over the luxury tax will doom the team to failure: Hogwash. Dodgers fans, sorry, you do not have a god-given right to having ownership spend a bajillion dollars to try to buy a championship even if such a strategy worked (which it usually doesn’t). This ownership team has brought the city six division titles in a row. What other team in any sport has that kind of streak (other than the Harlem Globetrotters)? None, I think. Playoffs, especially in baseball, are a crap shoot; being in the game is the key, winning is often a result of chance.
Stop whining, Dodgers fans. With a less savvy management group you could have a huge payroll, the best player in baseball, and a sub-.500 team. Just ask the other “L.A.” team. Andrew Rubin
Los Angeles
I just got an email from my office administrator saying that a missing glove had been found. The first thing that came to mind was, it must be Yasmani Grandal’s. Ken Feldman
Los Angeles
King and his court
Without two games essentially saved by the newly acquired Tyson Chandler, the Lakers probably would have the same start with or without LeBron James. In some ways the development of the kids seems arrested in deference to “the King” on the court.
Notice also that all the free agents supposedly ticketed for L.A. are coming to settle with new teams (Butler, Leonard, George, etc.) Since the Big Three with Bosh and Wade, no mega-star seems to want to play with LeBron. Coincidence? Perhaps not. Bob Goldstone
Corona del Mar
Shots on goal?
The Kings’ “Enough is enough” campaign to protest shooting carnage in America is a joke. There is only one way to prevent mass shootings: strictly control the sale and possession of guns and ammunition. And the only way to do this is to vote out of office Republican presidents, congresspeople and state legislators who are controlled by the National Rifle Assn. and vote for the economic needs of the NRA and gun manufacturers rather than the safety of all Americans.
“Enough is enough” is not nearly enough. Bob Lentz
Sylmar
It makes perfect sense that the Kings are now the worst team in the NHL; there’s only room for but one King in the house at Staples Center. Marty Foster
San Francisco It’s the coaching
Sam Farmer’s article illustrating the lack of NFL interest in current UCLA and USC football players is troubling. Both teams have had top-20 recruiting classes for the past five years but have seemingly failed to develop their talent. In my opinion the coaching staffs at both schools need to be held accountable. Mike Anderson
Sherman Oaks
Quick hits
The No. 1 NFL play of the week occurred after the Rams’ game Sunday, when Andrew Whitworth donated his game check to victims of the horrific tragedies that occurred last week in California. Alan Meersand
Manhattan Beach
Andrew Whitworth donates his game check to the Borderline shooting victims. The Steelers’ Le’Veon Bell turns down $70 million to play football. Who’s out of touch? Dave Eng
Thousand Oaks
Swoon over Miami
I’ve enjoyed your retrospective stories about the UCLA-USC football rivalry, but did you have to mention the 1998 Bruins? I still have Edgerrin James nightmares to this day! Jack Wolf
Westwood
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