And Then There Was Lakers’ Good News

Only Laker fans could find a downside to their team signing perennial All-Stars Karl Malone and Gary Payton. Dara Sheik [Viewpoint, July 12] said she would prefer to see the team compete with only “true Laker” players. Exactly which “true Lakers” are you referring to, Dara? Shaq (Orlando), Kareem (Milwaukee) or Wilt (San Francisco/Philadelphia), the cornerstones of all the “Los Angeles” Laker championships? Or how about our carpetbagger coach, Phil Jackson? At least Malone and Payton didn’t insist on emptying Jerry Buss’ wallet before jumping on the bandwagon.

Marc Cappuccio

Chino

To all those Laker fans who are finding it hard to deal with the fact that Gary Payton and Karl Malone will be wearing purple and gold next season, to those who say we don’t need them or don’t want them, I must say I too will find it hard to root for players I’ve grown up to dislike, but would you rather have them playing for San Antonio, Sacramento or Dallas?

Jason Grijalva

Whittier

As an avid Laker and Red Sox fan, I could not be more offended by the comparison of the Lakers to the hated Yankees.

Jerry Buss is rarely seen and almost never heard. Steinbrenner can’t shut up.

Most of all, you do not hear stories about people agreeing to play for the Yankees while taking a huge cut in pay a la Rick Fox and now Karl Malone.

Dan Strull

Woodland Hills

If Payton and Malone could have signed for more money elsewhere, then in effect they are paying big bucks for the privilege of taking the court with Shaq and Kobe.

The new Lakers aren’t a team -- they’re a fantasy camp.

Dave Cheit

Davis

The results are in, and the final score of the inaugural inter-sport trading match between the Lakers and the Dodgers is ... Lakers 2, Dodgers 0.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles