QBs have to play waiting game
USC Coach Clay Helton just announced that he is not naming a starting quarterback before the fall. That means Max Browne, who was the top-ranked quarterback in the nation three years ago when he came to USC, is left hanging in the wind. The other quarterback, Sam Darnold, is a redshirt freshman. If I were Browne I’d be getting my transfer papers ready.
Ralph S. Brax
Lancaster
Now that your thorough coverage of UCLA spring practice is coming to an end, can you tell me whether Jim Mora selected Max Browne or Sam Darnold to start against Alabama?
Michael Wine
Sierra Madre
Into the Blue
Unfortunately, hope is not going to get the Dodgers to the postseason [“Dodgers hope for better results,” April 17]. As Bill Shaikin mentioned previously, Andrew Friedman’s problem is that he has only one reliable starter and one reliable closer, plus a gaggle of recycled rejects, over-the-hill journeymen and some minor leaguers masquerading as big league pitchers. Standing pat on this group means a long, hard season for Manager Dave Roberts and his charges. Too bad Friedman and Roberts and the so-called general manager don’t get it. See you in 2017.
Lawrence Kates
Los Angeles
While I was on hold with the Dodgers’ ticket line, the whole TV situation played out. I could listen to Charley Steiner, but not Vin Scully! Seriously?
Vincent Martinez
Arcadia
Bill Plaschke has written passionately and eloquently about the Dodgers blackout. The Times I’m sure has received hundreds of angry letters about it. All to little effect. There’s only one person who could possibly exert any influence over the powers to be at Time Warner Cable. He’s a Hall of Fame announcer, a respected voice in the community, a sports icon in Los Angeles who now even has a street named after him.
But, alas, he is also too classy and too much of a company man to publicly voice his opinion. But, if we were able to take just a peek into Vinny’s mind ....
Pete Salomone
Pasadena
I have an idea for a unique Saturday letters section. How about we go a week with no letters whining about Vin Scully? Oh well, I guess we blew it.
Andrew Weiss
Playa del Rey
As the dust has settled on the start of a new Dodgers season, I did not want to discuss the Dee Gordon trade or the fact that 70% of SoCal can’t watch Vinny. I don’t even want to make fun of the Dodgers’ multilevel nerdy executives. I do want to point out to Dodgers fans that they have the opportunity to bring their kids out to Chavez Ravine to watch the hardest-working player in baseball playing the game the way it is supposed to be played. Chase Utley is a treasure.
Doug Whithorne
Santa Monica
Comeback kid
For all those naysayers who thought that Jered Weaver’s career was over, it isn’t. Displaying his fierce competitive nature once again, Weaver seems to have regained his old form. Yes, his fastball isn’t what it was, but he’s made up for it with a new delivery and pinpoint location on his other pitches.
Weaver’s revival couldn’t have come at a better time for his team. Let’s face it, the Angels need all the help they can get.
Charles Reilly
Manhattan Beach
Sponsor this
So now the NBA has decided that the Lakers will be sponsored by, let’s say, a major car manufacturer and have it plastered on their jersey. Isn’t it enough that we are already bombarded at stadiums and arenas by such nonsense? We still have to pay $6 for hot dogs and $10 for beverages. All the advertising hasn’t made me run out and buy this car or that beer or eat there.
If it has to be this way, I’d prefer the Lakers were sponsored by Chick’s Bail Bonds.
Phillip Trujillo
Ontario
Over the years, many prominent NBA players have taken public stands on social issues.
Last week, it was reported that the NBA owners had voted to allow sponsors’ logos to appear on team uniforms. That’s fine. But they couldn’t come to a decision on moving next year’s All-Star game out of Charlotte, N.C. Seems the best they could do was to have the commissioner describe the situation as “problematic.”
It looks like the owners could take a lesson from the players in standing up for a principle.
Richard Young
Santa Ana
No more Mamba
Looking forward to finally, after all these years, once again rooting for the Los Angeles Lakers basketball “team.”
Wes Correll
Monarch Beach
Well, I hope the Kobe haters will enjoy their mediocre team with their lessthan-mediocre coach. It will be many sad years before the Lakers can return to the championship-caliber team that was so exciting to watch. And to have a legend like Kobe on the team again will be … who knows when? Kobe is once in a lifetime.
Happy mediocrity to all those haters and critics.
Carola de la Rocha
Los Angeles
1,000 words
Kudos to Times photographer Wally Skalij for the excellent photos depicting Kobe’s last games for the Lakers. The one that appeared April 11 showing Kobe posing for a selfie with two young Houston fans is one of the best I’ve ever seen. The looks on the girls’ faces reflect the pure joy they were feeling in a moment they’ll never forget. Priceless.
Paul Updegrove
Sherman Oaks
In case Blake Griffin can’t recover his rhythm fast enough for the Clippers, I’m sure the American Ballet Theatre might be interested [Sports section cover, April 21]. Not only does Blake have rhythm, he has form and grace. Kudos to Robert Gauthier for catching the moment.
Genie Saffren
Los Angeles
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