Athletes of Good Old Days Wouldn’t Recognize Ours

I am an avid sports fan, and I read the newspaper every day. I am sick and tired of hearing about Latrell Sprewell, Mike Tyson, the U.S men’s Olympic hockey team and Michael Westbrook. These athletes are trash, they have disgraced themselves, their sports and yes, even America.

Maybe our forgotten heroes like Pete Rose and Shoeless Joe Jackson should have taken lessons from these guys. If Pete or Joe had tried to kill his coach, eat his opponent, beat up his teammate and vandalize the front office instead of allegedly gambling on sports, I am confident that they would both have their rightful place in baseball’s Hall of Fame.

DAWN DRICKMAN

Canoga Park

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So Sprewell is anxious to “put this behind him” and get on with his life. Where have I heard that before? Oh yes, the politician who gets caught with his hand in the cookie jar, the accused who is acquitted by a technicality or lame jury, and all the other miscreants who “get away with it.” It’s the excuse of the ‘90s for those too egotistical to admit they screwed up and to ask forgiveness of their fellow man.

And we wonder why our children learn no personal responsibility today.

JUDY LACEY

La Verne

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Rather than whine about it, NBA Commissioner David Stern would be well advised to hail the Sprewell ruling as the work of a clever cartographer--the route to civility has been drawn.

The arbitrator may have found a lifetime ban for violence excessive, but he has provided a basis for future punishment. Stern may now proclaim that the next NBA thug who takes an opponent to the floor with a forearm or cold-cocks a rival in the hall leading to the locker room will be suspended for the rest of the season and fined $6 million.

The ruling provides Stern with the tool he needs. All that is necessary is the will to use it.

DAVID HAMLIN

Los Angeles

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It’s about time somebody took an objective look at the Latrell Sprewell story. In bringing Najee Ali’s viewpoint to the public [March 6], J.A. Adande did just that. We need more Najee Alis in this world.

TERRY BRANNON

Los Angeles