Walton Has Changed, but Has It Necessarily Been for the Better?

I found the recent article on Bill Walton (Thirtysomething, June 23) a little distressing. I do enjoy Walton’s commentary and feel that he is a good basketball analyst.

What disturbed me about the article were the opinions expressed that Bill’s “change” has necessarily been for the better. The article made it appear that his social involvement and political activism were somehow flaws that he has now outgrown. From the article emerged the opinion that there was something wrong with being a vegetarian, calling for Nixon’s impeachment, having progressive views about race relations, protesting against the Vietnam War or hitchhiking through Portland. Even Walton himself claims that “I’ve matured a lot. I’m a lot smarter.”

Now more than ever we need people to question our government, politicians and public institutions. I find it sad that these types of issues appear to be no longer important to Bill and worry that in order to work in his chosen profession that he most likely has had to tailor his political and social views to whatever is considered “normal.”

BILL TAPP

San Diego