NBA players will have to soldier on

After reading several NBA players’ comments about the conditions they must “endure” while in the “bubble” (being away from family for three months, poor food, Motel 6-like hotel room, etc.) might I suggest that instead of comparing their current circumstances to their “normal” life ( fivestar hotels and restaurants, first-class air flights, mansions, etc.) that they instead compare their circumstances to the soldier in Afghanistan who eats his meals out of a tin can, sleeps on the ground in the desert, carries a 100-pound backpack in 115-degree heat and is away from his family for 12 months or more. Perhaps this would provide the players with a better perspective. Joe Blair

Rancho Mission Viejo

I have always enjoyed watching Steve Ballmer cheer on his team, but your article shows him to be a man of considerable depth. He has done much for L.A., but I wish he would reconsider using that land in Inglewood for another sports venue. What is really needed in the L.A. area is low-cost housing. As far as I’m concerned, Staples Center is a fine venue for both the Clippers and the Lakers. Dawn Sharp

Claremont

According to your article, from of a net worth of $70 billion, Steve Ballmer has donated less than onehalf of one percent of that to youth sports programs. Most Angelenos, with far less wealth, give a much higher percentage of their incomes to charitable causes.

If he decided to increase his donations from $300 million to $3 billion, he would still have $67 billion left. Just a thought. Craig Loftin

Long Beach

Pandemic life

During this COVID-19 time, agencies, institutions and officials often do not clearly state the facts or truth. Information is announced as a guideline, recommendation or suggestion. For example, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health states that no high school team sports are allowed without physical distancing. How do you do that? Why not simply declare no team sports? Wayne Muramatsu

Cerritos

The Rose Parade has been canceled for the first time in 76 years.

The school systems in Los Angeles and San Diego have closed the doors for the fall.

Yet the commissioners at the Power Five conferences refuse to do what we all know, they must do, cancel the 2020 season.

Greed should not override human lives. Fred Wallin

Westlake Village

Clay Helton has managed to save his job and possibly win the Pac-12 football title. He has managed to eliminate Alabama and Notre Dame from the 2020 schedule. Now if he can spread more COVID-19 in Oregon and Washington he will be well on his way to a championship. Sheer genius! John Redmond

San Dimas

While the NCAA and its conferences are assessing the viability of football this fall, I believe it would be an excellent time for a fun experiment.

I propose a 64-team tournament played out in two bubbles, one West Coast and one East Coast. The teams would be chosen by a committee of experts, including athletic directors, coaches, sportswriters and broadcasters. It would be a six-week tournament played on Saturdays in November and December, after the MLB and NBA champions are crowned. William David Stone

Beverly Hills

Diamond cutters

No, former Dodger Yasiel Puig did not sign a one-year deal with the Braves. Thanks to the greed of the players, the deal is for a little more than two months.

That’s unless the Braves make the playoffs, of course — playoffs that should have been expanded if it wasn’t for the stubborn stupidity of the owners. Ron Reeve

Glendora

So it appears I will have to buy two cutouts and make sure they are next to each other in case the Kiss Cam spots us. Jeff Black

Los Angeles

No Skins game

Interesting to consider the first season the Washington team finally agrees to drop its name will coincide with the first time the NFL appears increasingly likely to cancel its season. If only it had not taken an infectious disease to fully awaken NFL owners (and corporate sponsors) to racism and CTE.

NFL franchise values seem presently poised for dramatic STF, Severe Fiscal Trauma, in the fall. Candidly, I’m more likely to mourn for compromised and lost player health than Jerry World’s fate. Konrad Moore

Pacific Beach

I have a suggestion of a name for the Washington pro football team. Name it after the politicians who work in that city — the Washington Hypocrites. Peter R. Pancione

Thousand Oaks

Unmasked

I watched the PGA Tour event for three hours last Sunday and saw not one mask on any golfer, caddie or official. Are they all emulating our wondrous hacker in the White House? Sam Tattu

Hermosa Beach

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