Ryan a Pathetic Figure? These Readers Express a Different Opinion

The credibility and integrity of the Los Angeles Times is seriously undermined when one writer can express two completely different and utterly contradictory opinions on the same subject within six months without so much as acknowledging that the previous opinion was expressed. Which Chris Dufresne are we to believe in the future?

Chris Dufresne on Nolan Ryan, April 1, 1993--”I’m glad you hung around long enough to tip your cap one last time around the league. . . . I pledge no such allegiance to any other player and profess I would not even follow baseball closely if not for the fact a 46-year-old freak of science, whom I’ve been tracking since I was 13 and spackled in Clearasil, is still pitching.”

Chris Dufresne, Sept. 25, 1993--”Nolan Ryan should not have returned in 1993 and, deep down, he has to know it. . . . Ryan should have counted his blessings and gone out in style, in one last burst of glory. . . . Maybe we will never understand why so many great athletes don’t know when to quit.”

TERRY A. MARCELLUS, Los Angeles

If Chris Dufresne were to write a commentary on the retirement of Sister Mary Teresa, it would go something like this:

“Sister Mary had the chance to be different. She could have retired at the top of her game, her place in the annals of spiritual philanthropy secured. Instead she will be remembered like others who refused to go gently: Moses wasting away in the barren desert, Joan of Arc burning in agony at the stake, Martin Luther King lying in his own blood. Unfortunately, Sister Mary continued to drag her tired bag of bones from one impoverished region to another. Like a broken-down bus, this shell of a woman remained determined to bring her message of hope and assistance to the neglected people of the world. If only she had known when to quit.”

ADAM E. FIERRO, Los Angeles

As one of the 60,000-plus fans at Anaheim Stadium on Sept. 17, I found Nolan Ryan’s performance that evening anything but pathetic. I suspect the 53 records that Ryan holds or shares will probably be remembered long after the memory of a grand slam by Dann Howitt.

PAUL AUSE, Northridge

The author doesn’t seem to understand the nature of the word competition. Nolan Ryan gave everything he had to the game for most of his life. How can an intensely competitive person like this just walk away when they think there’s a chance for one more good performance? I’d like to see the author giving up journalism as soon as he wins his first Pulitzer--as unlikely as that seems considering the lack of thought or emotion that went into this piece.

THOMAS J. SEXTON, Cypress

What’s this obsession with athletes going out on top? We wouldn’t have seen Jimmy Connors’ incredible run at the U.S. Open a couple of years ago, Sugar Ray Leonard’s fight against Marvin Hagler or some of Nolan Ryan’s most memorable games if they had gone out “on top.”

Chris Dufresne’s commentary should have been a celebration of Ryan’s accomplishments instead of an exercise in negative thinking. Only a Philistine will remember Nolan Ryan for his last pitch; the rest of us will remember him for being a great pitcher.

CHRISTOPH BULL, Hollywood

Had Nolan Ryan not continued, he would have been haunted by “what if” questions the rest of his life. At least now he can leave the game with complete peace of mind, knowing that all he had to give the game of baseball was left on the field. He could not have said this two years ago.

DONALD R. LIVINGSTON, Highland

Chris Dufresne had a chance to be different. He could have continued his mediocre career in obscurity, never revealing his ineptness as an observer of sports.

Instead, he will be remembered, somewhat pathetically, like other writers (mostly from New York) who refused to understand the effort and mentality involved in becoming a world-class athlete, seeking instead to grossly exaggerate the negative side of any situation.

It’s true that Willie Mays, Steve Carlton, Johnny Unitas and others continued to play a year or two too long; their skills had clearly diminished. But any decline in Nolan Ryan’s skills was insignificant, as was evidenced by his last game against the Angels (unless you believe every Angel player should retire for their inability to hit a 46-year-old fastball pitcher).

BEN STUART, Fullerton

Dufresne seems to forget the business of which he and Ryan are both a part: entertainment. Did Ryan ever become a side show or a clown in this rodeo? Did the fans go to see him on the bench or the bullpen? Was he paid to smile for cameras and sign baseballs? No, he filled parks around the league doing what they still wanted to see after all these years.

Yes, Mozart left us too early, but Dufresne would have discarded Beethoven when his ears could no longer hear his own notes. Will Dufresne someday cover his keyboard because the words no longer pour out so easily? If he does, will his end be more honorable than Ryan’s rage against the dying of the light?

JOHN V. HAGER, Pasadena

Three hundred and twenty-four victories. Seven no-hitters. More strikeouts than anyone ever. Only you, Chris Dufresne, could possibly remember Nolan Ryan “somewhat pathetically.” Stating that “this shell of a man” came back for the 1993 season because of the money is pathetic.

DARREN POLLOCK, Los Angeles

Unhappy Fan Throws the Book at A.C. Green

As a devoted Laker fan and an ardent bibliophile, I would like to recommend a list of books for A.C. Green to take with him to Phoenix:

“I, Judas” by Taylor Caldwell.

“Is There a Traitor in the House?” by Patricia McGerr.

“Lost Honor” by John W. Dean.

“Stab in the Back” by Malcolm Gray.

“Take the Money and Run” by Laurence Payne.

“The Traitor’s Contract” by Paul Mann.

ROBERT JOHNSTON, Temple City

Lampley Gets a Bogey on His Ryder Coverage

Jim Lampley’s precisely pedantic profundity in portraying the peerless Ryder Cup proceedings left me perceptibly pooped.

Golf is basically a game to be seen and not heard.

HOWARD KEEN, Newport Beach

Buddy Gets His Words Rammed Down Throat

Same old Buddy Ryan.

Same old worthless personality.

Same old overrated coaching ability.

Not to worry, Buddy, your nervous feet will soon be skittering back to the farm.

GREGG FREEMAN, Newbury Park

Buddy Ryan should learn that even a fish would not get into trouble if he kept his mouth shut.

JIM HICKS, Hacienda Heights

Walsh Doesn’t Have Formula for Success

Too bad “the Genius” didn’t explain the following equation to his Stanford team:

Two losses=No Rose Bowl.

Good luck in the Freedom Bowl, Bill.

MARK LARSON, Newport Beach

Oh, No! Not Another Mighty Duck Joke

Disney CEO Michael Eisner witnesses fighting in hockey and observes: “It’s gratuitous, it is silly, it’s sophomoric, it’s immature and it’s ridiculous.” Funny, that was the reaction of the entire hockey community when he gave his team its name.

BILL BOWER, Corona