Letters: Something’s still a little off with Dodgers

In trying to make some sense out of the Dodgers’ TV shame, Bill Dwyre suggested that fans could at least simulcast Vin Scully during the locally televised Freeway Series. But that’s just another fool’s errand. You can’t simulcast anymore, what with satellite relay delays and such. I tried, and Vin was one full pitch earlier than the TV.

Watching a game where you already know what is going to happen is fun for about a pitch or two — you can win a bet with your family that you can actually predict the future — but when that novelty wears off there is nothing more unfulfilling than watching a game knowing what is about to happen, even if it is Vin telling me.

Brian Gadinsky

Los Angeles

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When I turned down the volume on the Angels announcers so I could listen to Vin Scully, I found that Vin knew what was going to happen even before the ball was pitched! My friend thinks it was because of the signal delay, but I say we finally have proof that St. Scully is supernatural!

Tabina Davis

Los Angeles

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TWC really stands for Those Who Corrupt, Trouble With Cable, Tired Weary Customers, and Tyrants Without Conscience. So the next time Vin Scully starts his broadcast, he should say, “It’s Time For Dodger Blackout.”

Craig London

Encino

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As a Dodgers’ fan, I decided to go down to a new local restaurant, the Cable Cafe. When I ordered a hamburger, the waitress told me that I could only order it as part of a meal package, the cheapest being the Montezuma Special. It featured not only a hamburger, but also a pastrami sandwich, spaghetti, gyros, beef stroganoff, chicken noodle soup, chili, tacos, country ham, pizza, pancakes, and a banana split, all for $200.

I told her to forget it, I will contact my local congressman to fix the problem.

Roger Lawry

Ojai

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As an Angels fan, there is not much I “enjoy better” than this silly and greedy Dodger TV dispute.

“Enjoy better” is the Time Warner slogan. Get it? I know. Most of you don’t.

Ron Reeve

Glendora

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Baseball haiku:

Autumn’s pennant races

Dodgers contending

Sadly, nobody watches

Richard Dennison

Goleta

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The trading deadline comes and goes. L.A. stays put. So now it’s down to this: Kershaw, Ryu and Greinke, then pray for rain-ke.

Anthony Moretti

Lomita

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My wife and I love the Angels; we watch, attend or tape every game. We love almost everything about the organization ... except the announcing. Our announcers are just terrible. Every year, we look forward to the Freeway Series. Tonight, Aug. 4, we watched the Dodgers’ broadcast and, in one game, learned more about our players from Vin Scully than we have the last two years from our current crew.

Ken Kingsbury

La Verne

Transfer-mania

Thank you, David Wharton and Eric Sondheimer, for reporting on the increased numbers and impact of high school athletic transfers [“Leaders of Pack, Aug. 3]. The idea that young people seek to change schools in order to chase an athletic dream rather than for a better education indicates how lost we have become as a society. Maybe it is time to adopt the European club system, in which schools are focused solely on education and sports clubs deal exclusively with sports. This would free up vital education money in our public schools and allow the “athlete-student” to pursue his or her athletic dream with the club that offers the best chance to be developed, promoted and signed to a professional contract. Makes sense to me.

Reiner Kolodinski

Los Angeles

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Many thanks to the incisive and well-written articles by Eric Sondheimer and David Wharton that highlight a disturbing trend in school transfers of top athletes. Specifically, the efforts of parents and students not to “wait their turn” but play in popular athletic programs when they want to, not when it’s right for the team. What is not mentioned but in passing is the lack of parental caring about the academic performance of their children. It’s troubling that schools are willing to shill for these families who want instant gratification at the expense of learning and of learning loyalty to a school and teammates.

No wonder so many students arrive at colleges and act badly, drink, commit crimes or leave a program early for the pros; they learn it from their parents and whatever school enables them. It’s going to take a real tragedy or a failed lawsuit from a parent suing a school for letting their kid out without being able to read or write for this trend to end. Hopefully cooler and less sue-happy heads will prevail and remember that high school is supposed to be about learning and growth in all subjects and not just in the subject of “me, myself and I.”

Julie T. Byers

Arcadia

Halls of fame

Bill Plaschke’s visit to Dyersville, Iowa, and the baseball field used in the 1989 film classic “Field of Dreams” should inspire every baseball fan to make the same pilgrimage. My wife, son and I did it last summer. However, we also pushed on to Knightstown, Ind., to see the high school gym used in the filming of the 1986 movie “Hoosiers,” another sports classic. This life-changing experience is also free of charge, and visitors can shoot around on its court and visit the locker room. This is a trip every basketball fan needs to take too.

Patrick Adams

Eagle Rock

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Houston Mitchell writes an opinion piece about his belief that the Baseball Hall of Fame is over-bloated by mediocrity, and at least one reader is so incensed he wants to cancel his subscription. Lighten up, folks. It’s just one man’s opinion, light reading, a brief diversion, of no real import in the greater scheme of disorder.

In a world torn by war, strife, senseless slaughter, disease, drought and famine, sports is nothing but meaningless light entertainment. Our sports “heroes” are anything but (with the exception of a few such as Jackie Robinson who were afforded the opportunity to contribute to the attempt to eliminate a grievous societal malignancy). The real heroes are those selfless few who give their all to help others, such as the medical aid workers in West Africa, and as always, the peacemakers.

John W. Crouch

Huntington Beach

Johnny, be good

Regarding the question: Will Johnny Manziel have success in the NFL? The first question can be answered by asking the second question: Can Johnny Manziel go 30 days without drinking alcohol?

Russell D. Beecher

Canyon Lake

What’s the point?

I enjoy the almost daily photos in the Times’ Religion section of pajama-clad men pointing skyward. My mistake. It’s the Sports section, even though I’m less likely to see a photo of the man hitting the home run that led to the posturing. As a fan of religious ritual, I look forward to seeing a baseball player kneeling on home plate and bowing toward Mecca after hitting a homer.

Russell Stone

Los Angeles

Teed off

Where are those critics who claimed that Rory McIlroy’s decision to switch to Nike equipment last year was a shortsighted money grab and would derail his golf career? Probably buying tickets to Valhalla in the hopes that they will catch the next major-winning golf ball that he throws into the crowd.

Kenneth Spencer

Pacific Palisades

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Some are suggesting Tiger Woods’ gym workouts are hurting his play. Of late he looks like an NFL linebacker, and plays golf just like one. Better he spends that gym time on the golf course working out, and takes that weight off his sore back.

Ken Johnson

Piñon Hills

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I looked up delusional in the dictionary and saw a picture of Tiger Woods.

David M. Olmstead

Ventura

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