Season on very thin ice
Does anyone other than Gary Bettman believe that equally sharing an estimated $3 billion in annual revenue with the players is less preferable than the current unequal sharing of a guaranteed $0 in annual revenue?
Arthur Nastri
El Segundo
It truly does not matter at this point how much Gary Bettman and union head Donald Fehr believe in their respective causes. Perception is reality, and it sure looks like they are intent on blowing up the limited credibility the NHL had. How these two gentlemen managed to reduce to rubble a league that featured pro sports’ most humble and talented athletes is beyond me. A pox on both their houses.
Andrea Murray
Westchester He needs help
I just finished reading the article “Slugger with a support system,” which should have been titled “Josh Hamilton: It’s all about me.”
I’m so sick of these stories about these egocentric multimillion-dollar sports babies. I have a few questions for Josh Hamilton: Do you have a child in Sandy Hook School? Have you served in Iraq or Afghanistan? Are you a nurse who spends 12 hours a day running from bed to bed trying to comfort sick people and their families?
If you answered no to these and 100 other questions I could ask, then I’m sorry but I don’t have a lot of sympathy and I’m not interested in reading about the “Josh and Katie” show. Just tell me, for $25 million can you play something close to 150 games and can you lay off an outside slider?
Thomas Sexton
Huntington Beach Cashing out
My late friend Bob Woolf was one of the first sports agents. Woolf repped Larry Bird when he came out of Indiana State. When Larry signed his contract for $1 million a year Bob told me that in the not-toodistant future pro athletes would be earning $10 million a year and more. He also regaled me with his stories about negotiating with Red Auerbach regarding Larry’s contract. As Jim Peltz’s article notes, Bob Woolf was correct and Red Auerbach is rolling over in his grave.
Philip S. Hart
Los Feliz
I guess with the salaries of the athletes and politicians, our country is in better shape than we are led to believe. I guess middleclass America just has not heard that.
Frances Sikorski
Porter Ranch
I don’t resent the salaries paid to athletes for the simple reason that entertainment (movies, TV, music, sports) generates a huge amount of revenue. It seems fair that the people with the actual talent are the ones who make the lion’s share. I have a pretty good idea of what’s required to perform on the athletic field, but have never understood what talent it took to be a team owner.
David Macaray
Rowland Heights On to the Lakers
I totally disagree that Pau Gasol is the Lakers’ problem. By letting Phil Jackson slip through his fingers, Jim Buss turned this season into a travesty. He is not the first son to tarnish his father’s legacy. It’s time to bring the tale of two Mikes to an end. Bring on Brian Shaw or transform Kobe into a player-coach. Teams play better for coaches they respect and vice versa.
Laurence Cohen
Los Angeles
Bill Plaschke defends Pau Gasol [Dec. 19] and it’s understandable. Plaschke leads with his feelings and Pau is a great guy. However, Pau is the Lakers’ most marketable commodity, and the team is desperate for youth, speed, and defense. If we’re playing for championships, the Lakers with Pau have no chance against Oklahoma City or Miami. If we’re playing for the nostalgia of three years ago, let’s keep Pau and try to get Lamar Odom and Derek Fisher back.
Frank Shapiro
Chatsworth
Feeling good about beating the worst teams in the league, and only once in a while at that, is like pounding your chest for taking candy from a baby.
Michael E. White
Burbank
Maybe they should change the name of the Lakers to the L.A. Kobes. Perhaps that would satisfy his monumentally inflated ego. His statue in front of Staples should show him with his palms up, whining to the referee for a foul.
He won championships with Shaq and Bynum — never by leading a “supporting cast.” His performance in the absence of Nash and Gasol would convince anyone that jacking up fallaway 30-footers is not a winning strategy in the long term. Smush Parker had it right.
The reason they won with Phil was because he could temporarily tame that ego. Good luck to Mike and Steve Nash.
Tom Bunzel
Los Angeles
The only thing that can make the Lakers’ saga funnier would be if Phil Jackson decided to buy courtside seats and sit directly behind Mike D’Antoni, with a look of disappointment on his face.
Jack Kirschenbaum
Los Angeles USC future
How depressing to read that Lane Kiffin has rehired himself to be the play caller next season. Now we can look backward and expect:
1. Short-yardage calls: repetitive off-tackle runs, one-yard sideline passes, three-yard passes when five yards are needed.
2. Medium-yardage calls: no slant passes, no roll-outs, ignore fantastic tight ends.
3. Long-yardage calls: occasional bomb to Marqise Lee, short pass to Marqise Lee, ignore Robert Woods.
4. Coaching intervention: frenzied arm-waving rush down sidelines to cancel touchdown play.
Ralph Martinez
Arcadia
And so Mark Sanchez continues the fine tradition of former USC quarterbacks auditioning as cap and clipboard model. Next stop on the tour, the Raiders!
Pete Russo
San Clemente A short stop
Before breaking his “Twitter silence,” Magic Johnson repeatedly ripped on the Lakers’ terrible defense. Says the guy who is going to employ Hanley Ramirez at shortstop.
Sammy Schultz
Los Angeles
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