Raiders’ Victory in Court . . . Credit to Robertson

It was a pleasure to read your editorial, “Good News for the Coliseum” (June 23), in which you applaud the recent appeals court ruling in favor of the Los Angeles Raiders and the Coliseum Commission. Your editorial vindication of the foresight of the commission members in persuading the Raiders to come to Los Angeles is the more satisfying in view of The Times’ longstanding role as one of the very skeptics now proved wrong.

One would have hoped, however, that a paper of The Times’ stature could rise above past jealousies and given full credit for the achievement of bringing the Raiders to Los Angeles to the person most directly responsible, Coliseum Commission President William R. Robertson.

Without Robertson’s unflagging commitment to the project of attracting a professional football team of the first water to Los Angeles we would still be waiting, hat in hand, for Pete Rozelle to decide whether we merited a franchise or not. It was Robertson’s willingness to stand up to the sideline critics of his efforts, among whom The Times must be counted, that proved to the Raiders that Los Angeles could and would live up to the commitment.

Yes, the appeals court ruling was a great victory, and it is appropriate that The Times recognize it as such. But the victory would have been sweeter if your editorial had not been tainted by sour grapes.

WILLIAM LUDDY

Los Angeles