Putting the Hammer Down on Robinson

Frank Robinson’s brusque treatment of M.C. Hammer (Morning Briefing, June 15) brought back memories. As a college 18-year-old, I began a daily radio sports show. A lifetime fan of the Dodgers and Angels, imagine my excitement going onto the field to chat with Steve Garvey, Bill Singer, Frank Tanana and Angel center fielder Bobby Valentine, who upon spotting a wide-eyed rookie, took me to each of his teammates and asked them to give me some time. Frank Robinson was one. Long before a game, he sat in the dugout, eyes fixed on the field, and imperiously answered one question. As I began the second, he jumped up and stalked off, saying, “I don’t have time for this.” He proceeded to hang out with a group of presumably more important media types.

Frank Robinson went on to become the first black manager and a Hall of Famer. But after 19 years, he’s still a jerk.

RICHARD J. CLAYMAN, Los Angeles