People of Minnesota Are in Quite a State After Murray’s Visit

Viewpoint has received dozens of letters on the prospective baseball strike. Barring a settlement, a special edition of Viewpoint concerning the strike will appear next Tuesday.

This is in reply to Jim Murray’s derogatory article about the state of Minnesota and its people.

As a person of English heritage, I would rather be with the “leakage” from Scandinavia in Minnesota than with the smog-filled “brains” like him in “Glorious California.”

Pity those of you who know no change of seasons. Actually, our summer wasn’t Friday morning; it lasted all day Friday and on into Saturday. Fortunately, the air cooled and the breeze picked up by Wednesday, which helped air out our state from the visit of Jim Murray.

Now you are where you belong in wonderful California, with the fires madly raging all about you. Next come the mudslides. Enjoy!

Don’t stand too near the ocean during the earthquake, or you may be one of the first to go, and then all the Johnsons and Olsons in Minnesota would have to mourn a true man of the pen. One so glib in his description of state and people he has never been lucky enough to really know. How insulting and tacky!

Maybe we should have charged you for breathing our fresh air and being able to see our beautiful skyline and lakes and rivers. Jim, attack our Dome, but not our state and people.

PEGGY COLE SWENSON

Minneapolis

Yes, the Metrodome has its problems. It is a source of controversy in Minnesota as well as elsewhere. But I take exception to the remarks Mr. Murray made about Minneapolis and the state of Minnesota. Of course it gets cold here; we are located in the north. As a matter of fact, some of us actually like watching the parade of seasons.

Believe it or not, those of us who live between the coasts lead interesting lives. Mr. Murray should ask Pincus Zuckerman, Neville Mariner, Dominick Argento and Prince or one of the score of other creative artists who have made Minnesota their home. Maybe he should talk to the host of presidents of corporations headquartered here. Maybe he should stroll the campus of the University of Minnesota or visit the Mayo Clinic.

I have lived in Los Angeles; Lyon, France; London and Minneapolis. From my perspective, if living in a place with clean air, clean water, clean streets, a low crime rate, a cultured and educated population, and a consistently honest, progressive and humane government, is stepping into a “time warp,” then I’ll live in the past.

CHERYL A. NELSON

Minneapolis

As a former L.A. resident, give me the time warp and, please God, don’t send me to the smog-bog ever again.

BARBARA MARTIN

Minneapolis

Cavaliers of the 70s Are Treated Unfairly

In Sam McManis’ article about the state of professional sports in Cleveland, he writes that the Cavaliers are “a classic study in ineptitude since being granted an NBA franchise in 1970.”

Had McManis done his research, like all good reporters should, he would have found that the Cavaliers won the Central Division title in 1975-76 with a record of 49-33. They proceeded to take the eventual world champion Boston Celtics to six games before losing in the Eastern Conference finals. Also, in the seasons 1975-76, 76-77, 77-78, the Cavaliers won 135 games. Only L.A., Golden State, Philadelphia, Portland and Washington won more in that period.

JOE McDONNELL

Sepulveda

I am sick of L.A. Times sportswriters’ little comments about Cleveland sports teams, or about the city itself. Cleveland’s air is about 10 times cleaner than L.A.’s, there’s no 20-mile traffic jams and the skyline is more than just a bunch of glass boxes. It’s nice to have winning sports teams, but that’s not the city’s fault; it’s the owners and managers that stink.

Thank God I’m moving home.

C. HENRY

Los Angeles

Forget About Pay, A.C., Stay and Play

I realize that A.C. Green’s agent likes money, but Green should think of himself. The Lakers are world champions. He has a chance to play with Magic Johnson and James Worthy. He is the last rookie who will ever have the opportunity to play with and learn from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

Yes, he can play in the backwater leagues of Europe for big bucks, or stay and earn the right to play with the champs.

DAVID ELLENSTEIN

Van Nuys

Sparky Lost Not Only a Game, but a Fan

Because of Sparky Anderson’s total disregard of the American League West and California Angels in particular, I became a fan of the National League All-Star team for the first time in 30 years.

His A.L. East powers really did him proud in what is probably his swan song as an All-Star manager. I am sure Gene Mauch will do a much better job next year.

RANDY THOMPSON

Thousand Oaks

While watching the All-Star game, I saw San Diego uniforms on the field, in the dugout, in the bullpen and on the coaching line. Was the All-Star game between the American League and San Diego?

GARY GARDNER

North Hollywood

More Than Dickerson, Rams Need a Team

Poor Eric Dickerson, how misguided he is. The Rams were a mediocre team before him and remain one with him. In fact, they are poorer because of him--one dimensional and predictable. In other words, boring.

Football is a team game. Individual records are for baseball. Consider, on the day Dickerson broke O.J.’s record, the Big A was many thousands short of capacity. Is it coincidence that the NFL’s record-setting runners have performed for mostly mediocre or poor teams--Jim Brown, O.J. Simpson, and Walter Payton?

Let’s play football. Give it to Barry, Charlie and Mike. Let’s see Dieter resurrect the passing game. Let’s give the men up front a real reason for blocking their butts off. Let Eric watch. From Ken Norton’s office.

ED STONE

Los Angeles

To Vince Ferragamo, Thanks for the Memories

I am appalled at the silence in the media and the lack of recognition on the part of the Rams for the consistent effort and contribution Vince Ferragamo made to the team and Southern California sports fans over these past many years.

Thanks for the memories, Vince. You’re a class act and better away from an organization that proves year after year that it’s not.

THOMAS M. LUPO

Dana Point

Attacking the Valley With Uncommon Valor

Scott Ostler gets my vote for the “John Rambo Sports Journalism Award” for uncommon valor in the face of a derisive public. Vilified and reviled in these very pages, he struck back with a vengeance. Ignoring cat-calling critics and evading the verbal volleys of vehement Valley-ites, Ostler went on the offensive and took the moral high ground against the Express and the USFL.

Principle may be out of vogue with sports readers, but Ostler stuck to his guns. There is grit beneath the humorous veneer, grit and integrity; the right stuff for the sports pages. Way to go, Scott.

DAMON L. MOORE

Santa Monica

Long Live John Henry, He’s One of a Kind

God, do I love John Henry! I am so relieved that he is in the caring hands of trainer Ron McAnally and owner Sam Rubin. This wonderful horse is not one in a million. He is one of a kind. Long live the King!

IRA WILLIAM HOLROYD

Chatsworth

A Rose Is a Rose, but Is There Always a Rose?

Is there a quote from Pete Rose in the Morning Briefing every day? Or does it just seem that way?

BOB SCHROEDER

Huntington Beach

Letters should be addressed to Sports Viewpoint, Sports Department, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles, 90053. They should be kept as brief as possible and are subject to condensation. They must include a signature and a valid mailing address.