It Was Sprewell’s Defining Moment

Reader LeGrand Clegg’s etymology is as flawed as his sociology [Viewpoint, Jan. 3]. The reason people call Latrell Sprewell a thug isn’t because he’s black; it’s because he’s a thug. The word “thug,” far from being a “code word for blacks,” came into common usage some two centuries ago in colonial India, where there were hardly any black basketball players. It’s an absolute certainty that the epithet has been applied to vastly more white punks than black punks.

The primary definition of “thug” given by Webster’s is “a brutal ruffian.” If that doesn’t describe Latrell Sprewell, I don’t know what does.

Clegg is absolutely right, however, in suggesting that Bill Plaschke owes Johnnie Cochran an apology. It’s inexcusably demeaning to refer to anyone as an “attorney.”

ALLEN E. KAHN

Playa del Rey