Many Readers Expect Major League Coverage, No Matter Who Plays

In last Sunday’s Times, sports editor Bill Dwyre asserted that the criteria for “quality journalism” are “accuracy, fairness, distrust and cynicism.” Unfortunately, it appears that The Times has chosen to emphasize cynicism and distrust over accuracy and fairness at the expense of the readers.

The Dodgers remain hopeful that the parties will soon reach an agreement and that the strike will end in time for the Dodgers to begin the season with their current 40-man roster. However, if the dispute does not end soon, and the alternative to playing is no baseball at all, the Dodgers will play and make baseball available to the 73% of fans who, in a recent poll, indicated that they want to watch professional baseball, even if the 40-man roster does not return to play.

The Times should allow the readers to decide for themselves whether to read about baseball.

TOMMY HAWKINS

Vice President, Communications

Los Angeles Dodgers

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The Dodgers’ latest ad contends that they are fielding replacement players because “an overwhelming majority of fans” want them to do this. So now we are supposed to believe that the fans, rather than the owners on a reckless quest to break the players’ union, are responsible for the embarrassment that passes for major league baseball?

If anyone should get to complain about economic strife, it ought to be those of us who can’t even afford to take our families out to the ballgame anymore.

SCOTT KURASHIGE

Los Angeles

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I love reading a good crock, and Journalist Bill Dwyre wrote a beauty last Sunday. His position that The Times would cover replacement baseball on a minimal basis only, unless the public proves it is interested, was a wonderful diversion of the issue: Is baseball about the game or the players ?

MIKE MacDONALD

North Hills

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Journalist Bill, once again you are living up to the “World Champion” title bestowed upon The Times’ sports section by the late, great Jim Healy. I’m just surprised that you will be giving the replacement players as much ink as you state.

However, I take umbrage at your demeaning comments about the Three Stooges and comparing them to replacement players. At least the Stooges could hit (one another), throw (pokes to the eyes) and catch (pies in the face).

MARK S. SCOTT

Long Beach

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The Times is not even remotely aware of what the fans want. If you think sports fans want to read about labor negotiations, here is a news flash: Baseball fans want baseball news. Not strike news, not mediation news, not tit-for-tat news. Put your labor management news in the business section where it belongs and write about sports.

DAVID AMACK

Lake Forest

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You assail the professional baseball players at the brink of the season while loading your pages with 7-foot amateur freaks playing college basketball--players who mainly will never play pro. You cover Clipper games, as if that is major.

Why not be honest and admit your bosses want to cut coverage for lack of advertising, same as with your shrinking other sections. I know this will spoil your day, but if you cut back the coverage, I’ll cut back my 40-year subscription.

TED BENTLEY

Los Angeles

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Why don’t you go on strike and turn over the paper to replacement reporters and editors who are willing to cover baseball. When and if the regulars come back, then you can come back too.

W. CLIFFORD ISHII

La Palma

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Why don’t the owners wise up and publicly offer exactly what the players claim adheres to their “principles,” that is, free agency for all players every year. It would be amusing to watch Don Fehr and his herd of sheep squirm as they try to turn down an offer that in theory is everything the union says is just, but that in reality would reduce player salaries.

I will have more respect for the players’ union when they decide to come down from their moral high horse and admit that the fight is indeed about money and nothing else.

TOM VAN RIPER

Denver

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We all know that some people won’t work for a living, but then we have baseball’s so-called major leaguers who won’t even play for a living.

HAROLD E. PHELPS JR.

Alhambra

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If the baseball players can’t live on $1 million a year, let them learn how.

MARY YASOIAN

South Pasadena

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Bud Selig is giving used-car salesmen everywhere a bad name.

LEE HUTSON

Malibu

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Referring to the scabs on the Dodgers’ team as replacement players is comparable to referring to rain as liquid sunshine.

CARL M. LEVIN

Los Angeles

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If replacement players are going to play on opening day, opening day should have been changed to April 1.

LARRY STEVENS

Carlsbad