Finding the Positive in O’Neal Deal

It is sickening to read about all the complaining and moaning from these so-called Laker fans regarding ticket prices and the decision to get Shaq. I would much rather pay $21 to cheer at the Forum than pay $9 and watch a borderline mediocre team.

Remember, L.A. is a star-driven place and presumably that’s why we like living here. Besides, who would have been a better choice for Kazaam, Jon Koncak? I think we should applaud Jerry West for all the sleep he has lost. I haven’t been this excited since June of 1988.

MANNY IBAY

Santa Monica

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What Peter Lee, Tom Sloss, Donald E. Fricke, P.J. Gendell and others (Viewpoint, July 20) all had in common in their negative assessment of signing Shaquille O’Neal is they know next to nothing about even the basic fundamentals of the basketball business. That’s why they swim in fishbowls and Dr. Buss swims on golden pond.

DOUGLAS LITTLETON

San Marino

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People say that sports teaches values. Well, let’s ask the question: What values does sports teach? To answer that question, let’s examine two headlines from July 18’s paper.

The sports headline read, “Lakers’ Price of Poker Reaches $121 Million.” A Metro headline read, “Thousands Wait to Apply for City Jobs.”

Regrettably, the answer is obvious. Sports teaches the wrong values, to value money and to be greedy.

The Lakers’ actions are disgraceful, and Shaquille O’Neal represents the epitome of greed. I for one will boycott any products that he endorses or advertises.

Good luck to all the hard-working people who applied for the city jobs.

ARCH MILLER

Arcadia

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It bugs me when I hear people say that the Lakers spent too much money on Shaq. I wonder where those guys will be after the Lakers win a couple of championships.

NIGEL MILLER

Bermuda Dunes

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It has already started! Part of the reason Shaquille left Orlando was because of the bonehead fans who write to newspapers complaining and naysaying.

How could you possibly have anything negative to say about the Lakers landing a legitimate superstar? Would you rather have the bumbling front office of the Celtics? Wait until Jordan retires for good and see if the Bulls can win another championship for a decade.

GREG COOPER

Santa Monica

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Sure, Shaq isn’t worth $120 million (who is?) and if I were Jerry Buss I’d give him every cent. That move will win more games and sell more seats than giving $50 million to a Clipper center.

CURT GEBHARD

Redondo Beach

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Enough already with the whining, jealous crybabies who are finding all kinds of reasons why the Shaq deal was bad. L.A. needs a superstar. West figured out how to get one--with sacrifice and risk. Now shut up, sit back and enjoy a team that has huge potential.

ROD PATTERSON

Riverside

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For some time now, I’ve been receiving chemotherapy in hopes of getting rid of my cancer. I’ve been handling the side effects like a trouper, including the nausea. Then I read where Jerry West stated that signing a basketball player for umpteen million dollars was on a par with the birth of his children. It was then that I ran to the bathroom and threw up.

JOE STAFANUCCI

Van Nuys

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My heart goes out to Jerry West. Imagine being one of basketball’s all-time greats and having to lose sleep over whether some 300-pound oaf, who shoots free throws like my grandmother, will deign to accept $250,000 an hour to live in L.A.

BURT PRELUTSKY

North Hills

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If the Lakers can afford to pay Shaquille O’Neal such an astronomical amount of money, they are obviously making way too much money off of the public.

D. SURMANI MURDOCK

Venice

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It took big numbers to bring Shaquille to L.A. Now let’s see what kinds of numbers he puts up.

J. S. KLEINSASSER

Bakersfield

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I have been a Laker fan since the beginning and am frustrated that they feel the need to acquire a player like Shaquille O’Neal.

I believe the quest for O’Neal has nothing to do with anything except the ego of Jerry Buss.

JANICE MENA

Covina