Letters: Bill Plaschke has readers talking

Come on, Bill Plaschke, you know why Donald Sterling gave free admission to 1,000 underprivileged children for a game against Houston, in March; the Clippers had only two home games in February, against the Bulls and Celtics, teams that people will pay to see. Would Sterling give up 1,000 paying customers to do something for charity?

David Saw

Diamond Bar

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How dare Bill Plaschke take on Donald Sterling! It would seem that Donald is single-handedly trying to ensure the financial well-being of The Times with his daily advisements touting himself and his rental properties. We must recognize his creepy self-promotion and congratulate his contribution to The Times, even as we gag on a daily basis. We should also recognize all of the “leaders” of charities who grovel at his command and consent to be publicized in the recognition of their great benefactor. It is great to live in the Greater L.A. metro area within the aura of such a great man!

William Connelly

Brea

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It is undisputed that Donald Sterling exhibits unusual behavior and makes curious decisions, but blaming him for an ill-advised ad is akin to holding Plaschke responsible when your newspaper is delivered late.

Jonah Warren

Northridge

BYU’s code

Bill Plaschke applauds BYU’s adherence to their honor code, but it must be said that the code is prehistoric and really a violation of civil rights. Yes, the kid signed on and agreed to it, but the punishment doesn’t fit the crime. Suspend him for a game or two if you must, but come on! Forgiveness, people. Forgiveness.

Frank Shapiro

Chatsworth

The Duke

Thanks to The Times and Bill Plaschke for their obits on the passing of Duke Snider. They captured the essence and innocence of the Boys of Summer and the Duke of Flatbush, the pride of Compton. Although I’m too young to have seen these immortals play in person, I thank my parents, whom I just lost, for instilling in me the pride and legacy of these Dodgers greats and what these teams meant to the ethnically and racially diverse borough of Brooklyn and later, Los Angeles.

Roger Kahn and Doris Kearns Goodwin so eloquently captured the larger meaning of these individuals and their impact on society. They were more than just a baseball team. They were a right of passage. God bless Vin Scully, Jackie, Newk, Pee Wee, and the Duke.

David Perez

Garden Grove

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Nine years ago, I was lucky enough to celebrate my 50th birthday by attending the Dodgers’ fantasy camp in Vero Beach. Each team had two managers and mine were Carl Erskine and Duke Snider. I will always remember the one-on-one time I spent with Duke, listening to all the stories and experiences he had over the years with the Dodgers.

One morning I was riding in the golf cart with Duke. We must have stopped a dozen times for him to meet and sign autographs for fans. I asked him, “Duke, doesn’t it bother you that everywhere you go people want to meet you and get an autograph?” As we pulled up to the field, he said “It’ll bother when they don’t!” With that, he got out, signed a couple of autographs, turned, gave me a big smile and a wink. RIP Duke.

Mark Larson

Newport Beach

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I had the honor of meeting the Duke several years ago, where he took part in a panel discussion along with Lou Johnson and Wes Parker, accompanying the opening of the “Baseball as America” exhibit at the Natural History Museum of L.A. County.

The Duke fielded the first audience question: “Duke, who was the second-best center fielder in New York?” After the laughter died down, he skillfully directed his reply elsewhere.

Barclay Livker

Los Angeles

Magic moment

What a day for memories at Pauley Pavilion last Saturday. Kevin Trapani’s dramatic putback reminded us of his great-grandfather John Wooden. And Jack Haley Jr.’s airballed three-point shot reminded us of his father, not Reggie Miller.

Paul Feinsinger

Agoura Hills

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Bill Plaschke, sometimes the readers beat you black and blue with their beefing and sarcasm, and sometimes you make me want to pull my hair out. But then you roll out that emotional column that you are so capable of writing. The Bruins passed you the ball, and this time you scored.

Helen Freeman

Anaheim

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One reason UCLA is not nationally ranked is that East Coast readers and voters don’t get the results of West Coast evening games.

I just returned from New York. Neither the New York Times or USA Today reports the scores of West Coast teams. Worse, the Times’ top-25 listings showed Arizona beating UCLA, 71-49, instead of the other way around.

Al Sheahen

Sherman Oaks

Blue money

I purchased tickets to attend an April 2 game of the Giants against the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. The Facebook posting stated that the prices would be 60% off. But ultimately they seemed to be the same as regular prices. The ownership is ruining my faith in the Dodgers. You cannot lead people to believe they are buying one thing when they are buying another.

Scott Bentley

Malibu

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Thank God Bud Selig rejected the loan from Fox to Frank McCourt. I hope this is the first step in getting McCourt to relinquish ownership of the Dodgers. The only thing scarier than McCourt keeping the Dodgers is the possibility of his sons someday owning the team. As far as I’m concerned, anybody with the McCourt name, including Jamie McCourt, has absolutely zero credibility in the Los Angeles area.

Ed Ramirez

Port Hueneme

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You know that the Dodgers are in financial trouble when they sign their No. 1 pitcher to a one-year contract at minor league payroll numbers.

Sol Bialeck

Van Nuys

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Instead of seeing Marcus Thames as a defensive liability, maybe we should celebrate the fact that the Dodgers have finally filled one of the most glaring holes in their lineup: DH.

Ned Rice

Marina del Rey

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How refreshing to read about Rod Barajas being excited and proud to play for the Dodgers. Now if the rest of the team buys into his enthusiasm, maybe Donnie Baseball will have a successful inaugural season.

Ken Blake

Brea

Too excited?

OK, I can’t take it one more time. “A Thundering Third?” Really? You act like the Lakers were in a playoff game. The 41-9 Lakers play the 21-38 Clippers, who just made a major trade and have new personnel to integrate, and suddenly the Lakers are thundering?

Just report the game and leave the hysteria to the overdubs of upcoming attractions in theaters before the movie starts.

Martin Wauson

Westminster

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Regarding the letter Mo Levasseur from Massachusetts, are you saying the good folks in Boston Garden would not boo in an All-Star Game if Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum all checked in the game at the same time? To quote Bynum — are you serious?

Kathleen Bryson

Irvine

Who’s boring?

Talk about industrial-strength chutzpah!

Where does T.J. Simers get the nerve to trash the ESPN “Mason & Ireland” show [March 1] when his own offerings on radio and TV were so pathetic as to have him charged with felony boredom? I also suspect the steady mean-spirited scribblings he provides as a columnist perhaps are due to his possession of very intimidating photo negatives of one or more executives at The Times.

Sid Skolnik

West Hollywood

No bargains

“Collective bargaining” is the big issue between players and NFL owners. Who cares? What is needed is some collective boycotting of these games by us fans until the ticket prices are affordable.

Bob Ginn

Arcadia

Name game

Taking a page from the newly formed Big Ten “Legends” and “Leaders” divisions, maybe the Pac-12 should proactively consider “Guilty” and “No-Contest”.

John Brunel

Tustin Ranch

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