Letters: A good sign for Kobe, but not for Lakers

If the Lakers and Kobe wanted his salary to match his jersey number, how about he goes back to No. 8?

William David Stone

Beverly Hills

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I have followed Mitch Kupchak since he played at North Carolina in the ‘70s, and if there ever was a general manager as deft and brilliant as Jerry West, it has to be Kupchak. Which makes me nearly positive that during the recent Lakers dealings, Kupchak’s job has been to merely give in to the owner and then be forced to explain the lunacy of the owner-impostor, Jim Buss. Kupchak is highly adept at this and can make anything sound sensible, which is why Kupchak is great for the Lakers.

Since the late, great Dr. Buss’ departure he’s had to explain the likes of the Mike Brown hiring and firing, the Phil Jackson to Mike D’Antoni end around, the Dwight Howard debacle, the egg-basketing of over-the-hill has-beens like Steve Nash — and now this, the highly curious $48-million ring toss rush at Kobe-before-he-kites-out deal. If Dr. Buss was still here, none of this happens — and especially not the purchasing of a $48-million insurance policy for mediocrity for the next two years.

As far as “appreciating” Kobe goes, if, this summer, he threatened to leave feeling “underappreciated,” you could have pointed to his past contracts totaling a third of a billion dollars, the place where the bronze thing that looks like him outside Staples will be, and the door. Settle in folks, because thanks to Jim Buss, though, it looks like it’s going to be Luol Deng to the rescue.

Dan Johnson

Burbank

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Once again the Buss family has it backward. They’re greedy when they need to be passionate and passionate when they need to be greedy.

Loren Coleman

West Hollywood

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I’m not sure if Kobe was gloating in the picture after he signed his new contract, or just extremely pleased. I would have to say GLOAT, as in Greediest Laker Of All Time.

Brent Lorscheider

Arcadia

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Couldn’t Jim Buss have at least waited for Kobe to step onto the court so he knew exactly what he was (over)paying for?

Ron Ovadia

Irvine

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Lakers’ fans are now finding out what Knicks’ fans have known for some time — a rich father letting his incompetent son run the team will lead to nothing but long-term failure. For Jim Buss to offer Kobe an extension that prohibits the team from bringing in two star players shows that as long as the wrong Buss is in charge the NBA’s marquee team will be nothing more than the West Coast version of the Washington Wizards — if that.

Erik Schuman

Fountain Valley

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I’m amazed at the surprised reaction by several columnists to Kobe’s $48-million extension as opposed to him taking less a la Tim Duncan. All one has to see is the difference in personalities to know taking less for the team’s benefit is not in Kobe’s DNA.

Ken Blake

Brea

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The extension of Kobe Bryant’s contract can be summed up in three words: stupid, dumb and idiotic. Oops, that’s four words.

Dave Snyder

Grand Terrace

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Kobe’s signing means one of three things:

1) Kobe is greedy. For years we’ve misread him. He’ll take $48 million over any chance to get near another ring.

2) Kobe is delusional. He actually believes that this team is just a Zach Randolph or Rudy Gay away from a title shot.

3) Jimmy Buss is flexing. He sending an expensive message to future studs: “I’m an owner who takes care of stars”. I guess something had to be done to save face in light of the Phil and Dwight debacles.

In each scenario, however, Laker fans lose. We’ll have endure two more mediocre seasons, the inevitable spiral of Kobe’s skills and, worst of all, wait around until Kobe retires so the team can begin doing what it should have started two years ago — rebuild.

Paul Grafton

Morro Bay

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Kobe always talks about being just about championships, but he really demonstrated that he is really all about the money.

Richard Leeds

Irvine

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Bill Plaschke’s article about Kobe’s new contract shows how cynical he has become along with the rest of the sports world. How nice to see the loyalty shown by the Lakers toward a player whose impact made a huge difference to the team and the bottom line.

In today’s sports environment where teams and players change without a thought of this kind of loyalty (think Indianapolis Colts and Peyton Manning) congratulations to the Lakers for risking some wins and showing the world that contributions mean something.

John R. Oppenheim

Long Beach

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Please investigate whether Arte Moreno is advising Mitch Kupchak.

Konrad Moore

Bakersfield

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Kobe signed, L.A. sighed. And not one of relief.

Mer Valdez

Long Beach

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There is a team named the Lakers.

Whose fame is as championship makers.

But they no longer will

Cause Mamba got 48 mil

Insuring a future of mostly Steve Blakers.

Gary H. Miller

Encino

The big decision

I write this as a dedicated UCLA fan before the big game and it pains me to do so. But the game should be irrelevant to Pat Haden’s search for a coach. He’s already there and there is no one that fits like Ed Orgeron.

Orgeron admitted learning from mistakes at Ole Miss. The proof is on the field. He has the Trojans — still on limited scholarships — rolling. And perhaps most important of all, he is the best recruiter in the country and will stem the flow of five-star, blue-chippers out of the Southland.

Finally for those clamoring for Jack del Rio, let’s keep in mind that he’s never coached a down of college football in his life.

If USC doesn’t name Orgeron head coach, I guarantee someone else will. And then USC can repeat the Kiffin years again.

Cy Bolton

Rancho Cucamonga

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Following USC’s win over UCLA, it will be a perfect O-Cajun to make Ed Orgeron USC’s head football coach. Here are 10 reasons why:

1. Too smart to exit team bus after humiliating loss.

2. Comes with his own song.

3. What’s better than “Haden’s Cajun?”

4. His 14th-ranked defense beats Texas A&M;’s 107th.

5. Jones, McKay, Robinson, Carroll didn’t attend USC either.

6. Learned (10 and) 25 great lessons at Ole Miss.

7. Coach “O” coolest, if not shortest, moniker.

8. Only a Rhodes Scholar could overthink this.

9. Hollywood ending for all the Marv Gouxs.

10. Students crossing out “Interim” cheaper than new stationery.

Jack Saltzberg

Sherman Oaks

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As with losses to Oregon and Stanford, and now, Arizona State — UCLA football has demonstrated that the Bruins are not quite ready for prime time.

Despite a dismal first half, their valiant second-half comeback fell a “nickel” short.

These gutsy, but uneven performances with key mistakes (a costly pick-six), missed opportunities (two botched field goals), and an overmatched, inexperienced offensive line are simply indicative of a very good team still struggling to become great and relevant.

Rick Solomon

Lake Balboa

Hard hitting

The social conscience of Bill Dwyre is admirably displayed in his Nov. 23 column on the concussed Wes Welker and the implications of such an injury for Welker and football players everywhere. Be that as it may, the football arena is no place for nanny-state sentiments.

Welker is a grown man and surely well aware of the possible consequences of a too early return to the game in his current condition. NFL football is a legitimate business pursuit. As dangerous as it may be, consenting adults have every right to pursue careers as players, right along with any other form of employment, such as bridge building, piloting space ships, logging, race car driving, etc., that has been historically identified as dangerous. Men and women will always pursue such venues because they satisfy a natural inclination of humanity.

Who doesn’t like to go downhill fast? Some just like to go faster than others.

Skip Nevell

Los Angeles

Double pumped

So Kirk Gibson thinks the Diamondbacks are so much classier than “the other team” because they sent Paul Goldschmidt to Australia while the Dodgers sent the inferior A.J. Ellis? What did Ellis do? Handled the pitching staff that came from 9 ½ games behind the Diamondbacks and beat them by 10 games. The amazing thing to me is that Gibson still has a job after blowing that lead.

How classy are Gibson and the Diamondbacks? Ordering Ian Kennedy to throw 95-mph fastballs at the heads of Yasiel Puig and Zack Greinke? Gibson selling his MVP trophy and Dodgers World Series ring? I guess that classy organization didn’t pay him enough. Whining like sore losers because some Dodgers harmlessly celebrated by jumping in their pool long after the stadium was vacated?

I think the Dodgers should show their class by no longer using Gibson’s famous home run in their promos. We have plenty of other great players and great moments to celebrate in our history. Far more than the “classy” Diamondbacks.

Michael Roth

Los Angeles

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Yeah, like the people in Australia know who Paul Goldschmidt and Derrick Hall are.

A.J. Ellis is more articulate than the whole Arizona starting nine.

Rick Mervis

Northridge

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