Jordan and Gambling: Whose Business Is It?

Although I am not a gambler, I disagree with the premise forwarded in the June 10 articles by Dave Kindred and Mark Heisler, that people who play sports shouldn’t gamble. Until the NBA makes a rule that forbids gambling, the players should be allowed to do what they want with their money.

Mr. Kindred states that the amount that Michael Jordan lost is equivalent to a man making $50,000 losing $1,562. Let’s get this straight: The man makes $40 million every year. Even if he did lose almost $1 million gambling, he still has about $39 million left.

What concerns me more than Michael Jordan’s judgment is the judgment of your editorial staff. I find it difficult to understand why The Times would devote 56 paragraphs discussing the personal life of one of the players and only 21 paragraphs describing the first game of the NBA finals.

ERIC FISHER

West Hollywood

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Michael Jordan betting on golf is not gambling in the usual way people think of gambling. He is not betting on an event that is out of his control. He’s betting on himself, on his ability to perform.

And Michael seems to be consistently losing more than he is winning. This looks like he’s paying people to challenge him, like he’s giving them an incentive to do their best, and pushing himself to improve at the same time.

Hey, maybe Michael is bored with being so much better than everyone else on the planet in basketball.

There is a big difference psychologically between this and what Pete Rose was doing.

JOHN STAGLIANO

Malibu

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New T-shirt slogan: My dad played golf with Michael Jordan and all I got was this lousy T-shirt.

JOE HUBBELL

Grover Beach

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Please don’t ruin the NBA finals because David Kindred or Richard Esquinas has a chance to exploit somebody. Ten years from now, my friends and I will be comparing Michael Jordan to the new stars of the NBA. One of my friends will say Jordan had 63 points at the Garden, and my other friend will say, “I bet he didn’t.”

MATT STEVENS

Los Angeles

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I think Michael Jordan is still the most valuable player, but I admit, Charles Barkley is the most violent player.

STEPHANN ROHR

Los Angeles