Whom Do They Like Less: Downey or CBS?

Please, if Mike Downey wants to have “bright and bouncy” dreams about Bonnie Blair, let him keep them to himself. Blair is pleasant and charismatic, but above all she is a 27-year-old woman , whose Olympic victories in women’s speedskating are unquestionably the result of talent, hard work, strength and sheer determination. Rather than starting his front-page article by examining those facts, or even giving us a real picture of Bonnie off the ice, Downey delved into a fantasy in which he “imagined” the perky prom behavior of “our girl.” This isn’t journalism, it’s sexist fluff that undermines the achievement of a dedicated athlete. I cannot believe that Downey would dare write anything comparable about a male competitor.

DEENA BERG

Los Angeles