Response to Van Exel Outburst Is Indeed Worthy of Framing

Nick Van Exel’s attack on a referee, following so quickly the head-butting attack by Dennis Rodman, shows how little respect some athletes have for authority and sportsmanship and how the sanctioning bodies have abdicated responsibility in allowing such acts to go relatively unpunished.

The Rodman and Van Exel situations are compounded by the generally accepted thought that young athletes take their lead from the pros. Is this really the lead we want them to follow? Rodman’s punishment was woefully inadequate, but because of it as a precedent, Van Exel’s could not be much more severe.

If the NBA had any integrity at all, the punishment would have been immediate suspension for the rest of the season while the situation was thoroughly reviewed.

JAMES E. VINT

Redondo Beach

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Since Magic Johnson’s return, the Lakers had been playing better basketball, but all was certainly not well. Cedric Ceballos went AWOL and Nick Van Exel attacked a referee. These were two of the team’s stars (and captains) who were forced to play second fiddle to Magic. I believe these two athletes could not handle the shake-up and their behavior shows some real character problems.

ROBERT NATHAN

Signal Hill

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Apparently, as Magic Johnson was quoted as saying, some of the Lakers don’t have adequate maturity. When a player has an outburst like Nick Van Exel, this reflects a basic failure in coaching, and some of the blame has to fall at the feet of Coach Del Harris.

If Harris cannot instill the Lakers with a consummate spirit of teamwork, so necessary in a winning effort, then he has to be held partially responsible when prima donnas such as Van Exel go off the deep end.

MARSHALL KLINE

Los Angeles

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Pertaining to Jim Murray’s column of April 11, where he states that fans support behavior such as Van Exel’s and that “If you get one letter sympathizing with the ref, frame it. It’ll be a collector’s item.” Well, Mr. Murray, here it is. Frame it.

Players such as Rodman and Van Exel should not only be fined, but should be criminally held responsible for their actions. A head-butt or a forearm to someone’s chest is an assault and should be prosecuted that way.

I as a fan do not support and in fact am tired of the publicity these hooligans receive. Fine, suspend and prosecute is the answer.

LARRY BICKMANN

Moorpark

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Focusing on a single fan’s smirk in a photo does not a general statement make. To break down a photo taken as an incident is unfolding and focus on one bemused reaction is absurd.

Whether fans condone it has nothing to do with it. The bottom line is, any player who strikes an official should be gone. It is not a right, but a privilege to be on that court, at that capacity, earning $23,000 a game.

The players must realize that every immature outburst sends a message to young fans that sportsmanship is dead, thereby setting back any semblance of discipline and class in sport.

SCOTT WILLIAMS

Studio City

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Mr. Murray, I resent your lumping together all sports fans as being so emotionally tied to the action and athlete that we have trouble distinguishing right from wrong. Could it be that the fan’s grin to which you refer was an expression of disbelief at what a jerk Van Exel was being?

Believe it or not, there are those of us who love sports but are repulsed by the increasing disregard these pro athletes have for their team (i.e., Ceballos), the fan, and the sanctity of the game.

MARK T. HAARER

Valencia

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If the Lakers had any more co-captains, they wouldn’t be able to put a team on the court.

P.J. GENDELL

Beverly Hills