Readers React: Steve Ballmer bails out Donald Sterling

Given the news that former Microsoft chief Steve Ballmer wants to buy the Clippers for $2 billion (“NBA record $2 billion offered for Clippers,” May 29), current owner Donald Sterling really does deserve one of those awards he’s advertised in The Times all these years. But instead of featuring the mugs of local civil rights figures, religious leaders or heads of charitable organizations, perhaps he could feature Ivan Boesky, Michael Milken, Dennis Kozlowski or even Bernard Madoff.

Sterling has just knocked the socks off of what any hedge fund manager with a 20,000-square-foot mansion in Connecticut could ever hope to achieve. Derivatives? Way too complicated. Mortgage-backed securities? We all know what happened with those.

Here’s what you do: Go to a mid-tier law school, scrape together some cash and buy a few apartments. Then buy one of the lowliest franchises in all of professional sports for $12 million. After a few decades, it’s time for a “I didn’t know I was being recorded” chat with a “friend.”

Done!

Tim Waddell

Thousand Oaks

Thank you for Friday’s compelling story about agricultural workers in the Central Valley (“Dreams die in drought”). I was moved by the plight of these families struggling to get by, and chagrined at the number of children they bring into the world and the stress that this adds.

If someone ever wondered about the differences between the haves and the have-nots, one need only read this story and the adjacent one about the obscene price Ballmer might pay for the Clippers.

The fat cats sit game-side doodling on their cellphones while field laborers eke out an existence, or don’t. Just think what Ballmer’s play money could do to help these farmers and their children.

I only hope the Mormon missionaries in the moving Column One learn from the example of Jesus to not only feed the poor but also to fight for justice for the least of those among us.

Philip Spradling

Pasadena

Clippers fans might want to heed the old adage “Be careful what you wish for.”

With $2 billion or more to make the Sterlings go away, one way or another fans will end up paying for that, in the form of higher ticket prices, pricier memorabilia and more.

Lew Aaronson

Culver City