Dream Team Sparks Unpleasant Visions

Scott Miller’s article (June 25) on the ultra-tight security given to Team USA while practicing in San Diego pointed out the new reality that the modern athlete has to deal with.

We often complain about how much money they make and how much more distanced they’ve become from the regular Joes that pay to keep them Ferraris and Gucci shoes. The Michael Jordans of today are a lot different then the Stan Musials of yesterday for a very good reason: The modern fan or groupie has increasingly become obnoxious with their overzealous adulation of superstars.

How does an athlete tell whether his autograph is for little son Jimmy or if the guy is going to hawk it on the market like a T-bill? If they stop and look up acknowledging one, they’ll be dead meat. They’ll sign autographs for a small group for a half and hour or so, and when they have to go, they’ll get jeered by the crowd that swelled to 100 or more.

It’s no wonder that Chuck Daly called in the National Guard to protect his players. With so little time to get ready for the Olympics, they would have never got anything done if they let the circus come to town. Give ‘em a break . . . they’ve got a job to do.

BILL PIKE

Carlsbad