Isn’t It the Coach’s Job to Motivate Players?

Every time the L.A. Kings lose, which is about two-thirds of the time, their coach is quoted as saying: “We played only one period, everybody was asleep the other two.”

I thought, rather naively to be sure, that it was the coach’s job to motivate his players, and make sure that they earn the $5,000 or so for each hour of play. I never hear any talk of changing coaches who can’t inspire their players, or changing general managers who sign these do-nothing athletes to generous contracts.

GUY R. TURGEON

Los Angeles