Laker Stars Going Bump in the Night

Et tu, Magic?

P.J. GENDELL

Beverly Hills

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Hoping we are demonstrating upstanding and responsible parenting skills, there are three things my 4 1/2-year-old son is not allowed to watch: adult and R-rated movies, films depicting excessive violence and Laker basketball.

JEREMY SMITH

El Segundo

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Rodman, Van Exel and now Magic Johnson. The inmates have taken over the asylum.

BOB HARDMAN

Orange

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Magic just wanted some time off. The old man is tired.

BILL STEIN

Arroyo Grande, Calif.

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Given his exemplary history of on-court behavior, and considering the timing, it occurs to me that Magic Johnson’s “referee bump” might have been a deliberate act designed to take some of the heat off Nick Van Exel.

PAUL KNEIPP

Los Angeles

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The Rodman and Van Exel incidents were flagrant violations that were punished appropriately. The Magic Johnson bumping, however, is an example of what happens every once in a while in the heat of the moment. It is also not right and should be the subject of discipline.

The good officials, however, let the players blow off steam and try to avoid a confrontation by walking away as long as the protest is not personal.

But there are a few officials who seem to have a chip on their shoulder, go out of their way to bait players and coaches, and overreact to minor incidents. These officials should also be disciplined by the league and the results made public, just as discipline of players and coaches is.

RYAL HAAKENSON

Covina

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I agree that it was extremely thoughtless and immature of Nick Van Exel to push down a referee, but for it to be called a criminal act, which is what many fans and sportswriters claim, is laughable. In pickup basketball games, frat parties and even the home, assaults that far exceed the one that Van Exel committed occur all the time, and they are viewed casually, with minor exceptions, for the assaulter.

Any and all violence is wrong and should be criticized, but for my generation, Van Exel’s action was commonplace rather than criminal (or maybe criminal acts are commonplace).

BEN ABRAMS, 15

Beverly Hills

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The sorry apology of Nick Van Exel only shows what a sorry person he is.

JACK ALLEN

Pacific Palisades

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Why did Ron Garretson take the same type of flop he never lets Vlade Divac get away with? Why did Rod Thorn not see the obvious? And why was the press so quick to jump on the anti-Van Exel bandwagon?

BOB KOSS

Bel Air

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Get a grip, Nick. The only plausible reason little kids would ever look up to you is because you happen to be taller than they.

R.J. DEAKINS

Temecula

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“Go to your room. You’re grounded. No allowance for the week.” That’s about the severity of today’s NBA fines, which are no more than pocket change or beer money to the players.

If you haven’t already noticed, basketball has become a contact sport and for all the wrong reasons. Must the NBA wait until someone is severely injured before corrective action is taken.

The first step is to start holding teams accountable. What team’s attention wouldn’t you get if penalties were to include forfeiture of season and playoff games?

MARTIN SCHILLER

Honolulu

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Since the slam-dunk contest during the NBA’s all-star weekend has become too predictable and repetitive, it might be a good idea to replace it with a “slam-the-referee” contest. Any player who kills or permanently maims the referee should be disqualified, or at least have points deducted from his score.

STANLEY SAPERSTEIN

Los Angeles