It’s Hunting Season and Writers Are Prey

From what I have read and what I have heard, Allan Malamud is a fine human being. A nice guy. But Allan, please stop publicly moaning about the elapsed time of sporting events. I will write a letter to your employer asking to pay you by the hour if you promise to acknowledge that commercials, timeouts, anatomy scratching, expostulating, expectorating and myriad other time-consuming antics are a part of most professional sports. Patience, sweet Allan, is all I ask.

EDWARD J. HANS

Sierra Madre

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What exactly does Bob Oates mean when he says the 49er quarterback position is still effective with Steve Young?

It wasn’t San Francisco’s defense that lost to Dallas, it was Young stalling out on fourth-quarter drives as he did Sunday and as he did in last year’s NFL championship game. Something Joe Montana never does in big games.

Seems to me that Oates is the one that’s found lacking.

DOUG WONG

Los Angeles

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In Bob Nightengale’s article, “From the Odd Man Out . . . ,” he states that Tourette Syndrome is a long misunderstood neurological disorder. Then he proceeds to perpetuate the misunderstanding by incorrectly identifying it.

Tourette Syndrome is a disorder that is characterized by both motor tics (such as eye blinking) and vocal tics (throat-clearing is the most common). The symptoms range from barely noticeable to severe and disabling.

“Sudden eruption of profanities” is present in fewer than 30% of all Tourette patients. It is inaccurate to cite this as a typical manifestation of the disorder. Much more common (though less shocking) symptoms of T.S. include obsessive-compulsive behaviors, learning disabilities, hyperactivity and conduct disorders.

In the interest of the children currently suffering from Tourette Syndrome, what do you say we set the record straight?

CINDY LIEBERMAN

Agoura

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The venom T.J. Simers shows toward Jim Everett is the kind of stuff one sees in high school reporting. Personally, I’d tell Simers to tone it down and if he didn’t, I’d fire him. Simers’ venom dirtying the page makes me wonder about those in charge.

ROD BARKER

Palmdale