Don’t Let the Media Worm Out of This One

Bill Plaschke [“Hook, Line & Stinker,” Dec. 17] claims that Dennis Rodman is famous because he has green hair, tattoos, and uses vulgar language. Say what? Any shopping mall is teeming with people with green hair, tattoos, and vulgar language!

How many pro basketball players have won five rebounding titles, three championships, and helped break the record for most games won in a season? Rodman made the Pistons a much better team, and the Spurs, and the Bulls--a remarkable record.

Yes, this situation is our fault, but not in the way Plaschke says. Novelty sells in journalism, so when people become famous (after the positive stuff is known), the media look for new (negative) stories. After Michael Jordan became a superstar, there followed an unbroken series of negative headlines informing us, in tones of shocked scandal, that he played golf, visited casinos, didn’t always get enough sleep before basketball games, liked to play baseball even though he is not the world’s best, and even lost his focus after his father was murdered!

KARL FRYXELL

Crestline

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Three cheers for Bill Plaschke’s article enumerating the morally challenged values of those advertisers and consumer/fans who (literally) buy into the behavioral abnormalities of Dennis Rodman. No doubt some of these very same folk are the types who would, if presented with an opportunity, eagerly approach O.J. Simpson to ask for an autograph, based entirely on his past fame and/or present notoriety.

M.L. GOODMAN

Santa Ana

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In the recent article on Dennis “Look At Me” Rodman, I think Bill Plaschke forgot to check the stats.

The majority of people haven’t bought into Dennis Rodman, his book or anything else he might sell. You’re wrong, Bill. We do censure the clown.

You seemed to have left out the real culprits who could put an end to the Rodman freak show: the NBA, the Bulls’ ownership and David Stern. They are the ones who buy and sell Rodman--hook, line and sinker.

BOBBY HERBECK

Santa Monica

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It is sad but true that in life, as well as sports, the bad apple gets most of the attention, as well as the most press. It doesn’t have to be that way.

If writers like Plaschke keep on plugging the David Robinsons and Hakeem Olajuwons of the world, the good apples, our orchard will start bearing better fruit.

RALPH ONGKEKO

South Pasadena