Readers Won’t Let Lakers Worm Way Out of This One

I thought the Lakers let go of Nick Van Exel because of his attitude problem. How can they now be interested in Dennis Rodman? It makes no sense. That’s like throwing away one of your sparkplugs to get a dent in your fender.

ADAM PLATTS

Northridge

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Brush fires, earthquakes, El Nino, killer bees, fire ants and now Rodman.

This has to be biblical.

ALEX LANDI

North Hills

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How do you expect Dennis Rodman to make up his mind about the Lakers when he can’t even decide on his sexuality, marital status, or basketball vs. acting?

MICHAEL GLUECK

Newport Beach

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What can you say about a classy, longtime L.A. icon who is willing to try for a Laker title by acquiring an idiotic, tattoo-covered, cross-dressing, groin-kicking, antisocial reprobate?

That a lifetime devoted to a supposedly classy organization can suddenly be blotched by a permanent stain that may last longer than the Clippers’ inability to win a title?

That Rupert Murdoch might not be so bad after all?

That honest, upright Zeke from Cabin Creek ultimately proved that you can take a boy out of the country, and eventually almost all principle out of the boy too?

ZACH HEPNER

Los Angeles

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Let’s make one thing clear about Dennis Rodman: The Bulls were one of the few teams in the league that could handle someone so off the wall without letting it distract them on the court.

When Rodman joined the Bulls, both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen had championship rings--a fact that practically forced Dennis to give them respect. Let’s not forget the comical scene of Pippen and Jordan tackling Dennis before he could go on a costly tirade against the referees. They all got up laughing. But can you honestly see Shaq getting in Dennis’ face to calm him down after a bad call? After all, Shaq has insisted he won’t be a baby-sitter or a mediator.

Laker Coach Del Harris could barely handle Nick Van Exel last year [so] how could we possibly expect him to laugh and shrug off Rodman’s shenanigans like Phil Jackson did? How quickly we forget the “Lake Havasu incident” where Cedric Ceballos interrupted his busy NBA season for a weekend of water skiing. The whole team felt let down and struggled to regain its focus. Imagine something like that happening every week.

There is no denying Rodman is the best rebounder of his era, and his hustle and drive have been matched by few players. But don’t expect Kobe, Shaq and Eddie to step up and be ringleaders in the Dennis Rodman three-ring circus.

NICHOLAS HAUSELMAN

Los Angeles

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Yes, Shaq, the Lakers lack your “thug,” the dependable power forward you have always wanted. But the fundamental weakness of Robert Horry, Travis Knight and Corie Blount is not their rebounding ability, it is their hesitance to shoot or penetrate. Whenever the ball touches their hands, half-court offense stops. Thus, Dennis Rodman is not the solution to Laker woes. Rodman impedes the flow of every offensive play, hogs rebounds, takes wild three-pointers and shoots free throws poorly. He is a superb defender, but a long off-season couldn’t have worked wonders on his aging body.

ERIC MA

Rancho Palos Verdes

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I’ve been reading now for two or three weeks from supposed “Laker fans” and I see nothing but bashing of the team and front office. People bashing Shaq and Kobe for being ball hogs (I’m sorry, but I don’t know of anyone else on the team I’d want to have the ball more than those two).

Others saying that Jerry West should retire (what other general manager has kept his team above .500 after losing all/most of their last championship squad? Red Auerbach or Jerry Krause? Or how about the Pistons, Rockets or Trail Blazers? No one has but Mr. Clutch).

And still others saying Rodman shouldn’t be a Laker. I just can’t believe that I’m the only one who thinks that having the reigning seven-time rebounding champ just may add something to the team (it doesn’t take a genius to figure that out).

I’m sick of it! Either stand by your team the whole time or just do us “committed” fans a favor and stay home during the championship parade in June.

BRIAN BUONASSISSI

Costa Mesa

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Do the Lakers really need Dennis Rodman? From all indications the first six games, the answer is no. This does not mean that I wouldn’t welcome the addition, but the real problem is beyond rebounding. The problem lies in the backcourt and again with the coaching.

With Kobe starting at small forward, Eddie Jones is the only legitimate shooting guard. Once again he is proving that he cannot handle the job. Couple that with Del Harris’ worse-than-ever substituting and stagnant offense and there shouldn’t be any wonder why the Lakers are dying in the fourth quarter.

Without a backup shooting guard and a wake-up call to Harris, we can already save our playoff money for next season’s increases at Staples.

GENO M. APICELLA

Burbank

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When I read the headline “Rodman Ready to Join Lakers,” I knew it was the beginning of the worst day of my life.

CAROL TABER

Santa Maria

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If Jerry Buss refuses to listen to Jerry West and Mitch Kupchak and signs the repulsive and psychopathically self-absorbed Dennis Rodman, I, for one, vow to not watch or attend any Laker game this season. And I’ll bet I’m not alone.

WILLIAM D. WOLFF

Los Angeles

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I have been a Laker fan for many years. I cannot believe they would ask Dennis Rodman to join their team. I think it is a disgrace and I would think the team would feel that way too.

TONI JACOBSON

Monterey Park

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I say get Rodman. Throw in Dennis with Shaq, Kobe, Del, West, Buss and Jack Nicholson, and Showtime becomes the biggest sitcom the NBA has ever seen. But anything’s better than sitting back and watching Utah dissect us in the playoffs again.

ANTHONY J. MORETTI

Lomita

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It was great to hear that doctors didn’t find any serious problems with Robert Horry’s heart. But then again, other than Shaq, I doubt heart tests on any of the Lakers would reveal much.

ROB OSBORNE

Redondo Beach