OVERPAID STARS

The sad part of Michael Walker’s article (“Sports Stars and Hollywood Celebs--Why America Loves Them All the Way to the Bank,” Aug. 18) is that although agents, athletes and actors are compensated far in excess of their talents and their cultural-social contributions, this parade of extravagance will continue.

The fundamental problem is the fans, the legions of mindless souls--moviegoers and jock worshipers--whose lives are so boring and empty that they simply must have their regular dosage of sports heroes and fantasy.

A lengthy fan boycott, unlikely as that would be, would send these overpaid individuals and their purveyors of excess a powerful message. Perhaps at some point in the future, they will manage to bankrupt the system, causing its breakdown and a subse- quent reversion to saner levels of compensation.

Lawrence M. Kates

Los Angeles