Just What Is It About Those NFL Writers?

Your substitute Steve Springer asks, “Who is Marino talking to?” [NFL Rewind, Dec. 7] then he smugly states “Himself, really.”

No. If you can read and understand the structure of the English language you know that he is talking to the person who asked the inane question. He is talking to a journalist who had just asked a question that is journalism’s equivalent of a bad snap.

The job of the journalist is to provide the reader with an insight or comment from Marino that he didn’t have. “How tough was it to watch Vanderjagt kick the winning field goal?” is not a good question. We know it was tough; they lost the game and first place in the division.

I think athletes get tired of hearing questions and prognostications from people who are not good at their jobs but are very comfortable criticizing other people in other jobs. I thought that was perfectly clear from his response. The fact that you were not able to glean that more or less proves his point.

ERIC ZUDAK

Los Angeles

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It is Sunday, which automatically means that the totally untalented Steve Springer has taken another lame potshot at Cade McNown. Funny how Springer never seems to make snide remarks about USC alums who have violated the law. In other words, what is Todd Marinovich doing these days? Is he in or out of jail? His situation changes so often, I lose track.

OK, so McNown is not tearing up the NFL. And Rob Johnson is doing . . . what?

Springer seems to have the same disease that afflicts John “Heritage” Hall and Mal-adjusted Florence: USC homerism. Just wait two weeks, Mal will give us his monthly reminder that USC beat UCLA in their first meeting in 1929 (when Mal was only 35), 76-0. This ignores the fact that UCLA is 25-22-3 over the Trojans since 1950. But facts always do mess up USC boosters, I have found.

One last thing, Mr. Springer: You and your fellow USC frat types like to repeat the mantra: “If you are a Bruin, you are a Bruin for four years. If you are a Trojan, you are a Trojan for life.” How come I have never heard that one during basketball season?

DAVID M. PERKIN

Redondo Beach