Coaching Lakers is no Magic trick
Let’s see. Magic Johnson admonishes Luke Walton for his coaching. Let’s hope Magic did not convey any strategy he used in his 199394 Laker season when he abruptly quit as coach after going 5-11. Earl Roth Oak Park
Was Magic really mad at Luke Walton or was he mad at himself and Lakers management for dropping the ball on Lonzo? Jim Amormino Rancho Palos Verdes
Magic may be Luke’s boss but Jeanie Buss is Magic’s boss. Last year, Luke had nothing to work with, remember? How many people do you know that will thrive and deliver great results while being yelled at in a front-office environment for all to hear? Not a smart move. Georgette Rieck Santa Monica
I disagree with Plaschke’s position that Magic was wrong to scold Walton.
He did exactly what the situation called for. All the talent in the world is in this team, and if they’re not winning, it’s a product of poor coaching. It looks like they’re playing street ball. Phil Jackson always had a set offense every time down the floor. Personally, I hope Magic is already in the process of interviewing new candidates. Lou Shapiro Los Angeles
As a young sportswriter I covered the Lakers in Magic Johnson’s first year. I vividly remember a humble, respectful, wide-eyed rookie in the gym at College of the Desert that first day. Fast forward nearly 40 years and I’m no longer a young sportswriter and it seems Earvin Johnson has evolved into a known volatile leader. It saddens me that any organization will put up with this style of leadership, and by inference, that Jeanie Buss tolerates it. So much more is owed to the legacy of Dr. Jerry Buss, Bob Steiner, Jerry West and the many other professional executives who made the Lakers the storied franchise it is today. Ron Yukelson San Luis Obispo
If Magic wants to rip someone he should settle on the person who gave Lou Williams away. There’s no question that Lou could have made a difference in a few of the games the Lakers have lost. David Lawler Santa Maria
Magic, it is only human to get angry and I don’t blame you at all for being angry when D’Angelo Russell and Julius Randle are scoring 20-some points regularly. Dan McAdam Rancho Palos Verdes
Batter up?
Is Bill Plaschke preparing to retire? It seems that Dylan Hernandez is being groomed to replace him as the sportswriter designated to make ridiculous roster suggestions to the Dodgers. After Los Angeles was subjected to three months of Manny Machado’s lackadaisical efforts, it would be horrifying to be locked into more of the same with a long-term contract for Bryce Harper. Would one of the senior Dodgers end up strangling Harper as happened a few years ago with the Nationals? Kirk Norenberg Redondo Beach
Just finished reading 18 letters Saturday all lambasting the Dodgers’ season. Not one mention of the fact that the owner and previous front office graciously took a quarterbillion in bad salary off the Red Sox books a few years back. Also no mention of Ryu, Kershaw, Turner missing months of the season and Seager all of it. Just being in 2018 World Series was miraculous. Douglas Whithorne Santa Monica
Dear Dodgers front office:
Don’t blow this winter’s shopping spree. We need that home run-hitting infielder who will make the difference. But here’s a news flash: It isn’t Manny Machado. We need Machado and his no-hustle, kick-the-first-baseman attitude about as much as a fish needs a bicycle. Please spend spend your money wisely . . . on Brian Dozier. Jon Tisdale Monrovia
So Farhan Zaidi is leaving the Dodgers for San Francisco? Guess the Giants figured they weren’t striking out enough. Mer Valdez Long Beach A letter writer last week called critics of Dodgers analytics, “armchair managerial Einsteins.” When the front office was asked for a comment, Andrew Friedman inquired, “Are those armchairs lefties or righties?” Mario Valvo Ventura
After reading the letters to the editor all season from supposed Dodger fans, I find it hard to agree when I read that the Dodger fans deserve a World Series victory. If the editorial choice in letters is any sign, the Dodgers have the most “fair-weather” fans in baseball. It is disheartening to have a whole season trashed because the better team won. Suzanne Hudson Pomona
It is ironic that the Dodgers’ full-page ad thanking the “greatest fans ever” should feature the photo of a Dodgers player with his back to the camera. For going on six seasons now, the Dodgers have turned their backs on fans who ask nothing more than to be able to come home from work and catch a game on television. An ad is nice, but the “greatest fans ever” deserve better. George Pisano Rancho Palos Verdes
I would love somebody to give me $93 million “for a chance to prove a lot of people wrong.” Paul Brown Newport Beach
At a loss
After the Rams’ loss to the Saints, it was reported that “The Rams’ locker room was devoid of long faces,” and that “The crucible of trying to complete a perfect season was over.”
By that faulty logic, perhaps the Rams should lose on purpose this week so they won’t have to deal with the stress of trying to complete a near-perfect season. Jerry Rubin Santa Monica
The Chargers won in Seattle, despite another worrisome kicking failure. Boston’s century-long curse reportedly resulted from trading Babe Ruth. Flash forward, the Spanoses might just have earned their own misfortune leaving San Diego. No other NFL owner ever moved their team into a soccer stadium. And now the Chargers are incapable of finding a player to reliably score points kicking the ball. Konrad Moore San Diego
Fire on ice
The Kings’ recent firing of coach John Stevens is nothing more than rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic. It’s not Stevens’ fault the team is the deadly trio of overpaid, old and slow. It’s not Stevens’ fault the team has no cap space this season, a tad more next season and will be in Cap Hell until at least the 2021-22 season. Erik Schuman Fountain Valley
Et tu, Bruins?
Rome wasn’t built in a day. On the other hand, it didn’t start 2 and 7. Wes Wellman Santa Monica
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