Tonya Gets to Skate, and a Lot of Readers Are Unhappy About It

In rapid succession, the U.S. Figure Skating Assn., a Clackamas County judge and the U.S. Olympic Committee decided not to decide, and the hot potato has double-axeled her way onto the practice ice in Hamar, Norway. Astonishingly, having so publicly wilted in its faint-hearted defense of the phantom notion of an “Olympic ideal,” the USOC has summoned the chutzpah to appeal to the International Skating Union and even (IOC President) Juan Antonio Samaranch to change Nancy Kerrigan and Tonya Harding’s practice schedules so they won’t have to share the ice.

The rationale is clear: The USOC made a spineless decision, and now desperately wants someone to kiss and make it better. The USFSA and USOC have zambonied their own ice; now let them skate on it.

ALLAN HOLLINGSWORTH

Los Angeles

*

I have played amateur sports most of my life. My fellow competitors played in the spirit of true sportsmanship. We played for the honor.

She knew of the assault on her fellow competitor soon after the attack and said nothing. She lied to the authorities until cornered in a deposition.

Now she skates in Norway and represents you and me and our families. Hooray for the USOC.

CORMAC O’HERLIHY

Marina Del Rey

*

Lynch-mob leader, oops, Sports Editor Bill Dwyre (Feb. 13) should be informed of the concept of due process. This difficult principle he so cavalierly wishes to sidestep is troublesome because, in his mind, Tonya Harding is guilty of something worse than having pitiful taste in men.

Mr. Dwyre calls the USOC spineless. I call them smart. The USOC, in not heeding ill-founded opinions from assassin/journalists such as Mr. Dwyre, who are more than willing to shoot first and ask later, showed excellent judgment, for they knew they had no legal leg to stand on, good knees or no.

LELAND P. HAMMERSCHMIDT

Ojai

*

I give Bill Dwyre a gold for his commentary. Like the Wizard of Oz, the USOC is but a shell of the ideals they profess to exemplify.

If the USOC really wanted to reduce the controversy in Lillehammer, then they should have excluded the cause, one admitted liar, from the American team. Maybe the USOC should go to Oz and ask the Wizard for some heart, brains and courage.

GREGORY KILLIAN

Irvine

*

Bill Dwyre is certainly entitled to his opinion regarding the USOC’s decision on Tonya Harding. However, Mr. Dwyre does not know what he is talking about when he places the blame on Harding’s lawyers and the legal system.

Dwyre says: “Tonya Harding might be the greatest bonanza to billable hours in the history of the State of Oregon.” Tonya’s lawyers accomplished for their client the ultimate 100% victory with a bare minimum of billable hours. In reaching this victory in a very short time, the lawyers very likely cut themselves out of a fee of $10 million or so, to which they would have been entitled on a recovery of a $25-million judgment.

MARJORIE MIZE LeGAYE

Santa Ana

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The more I hear, see and read about Tonya Harding, the clearer it becomes that, growing up, she should have spent more time in school and less time on ice.

ALAN MATIS

Woodland Hills

*

Damian skated, Lorena skated, Erik and Lyle skated. When it comes to skating at the Olympics, who could better represent this silly country than little Tonya?

BURT PRELUTSKY

North Hills