Meanwhile, Another Team Hired a Coach

Congratulations go out to the Laker organization for securing the services of Phil Jackson. With him come eight NBA championship rings, renewed hopes for another NBA title and a guaranteed fan base for the new Staples Center.

Congratulations also should go out to the King organization. They hired a guy named Andy.

MIKE TRUJILLO

Torrance

*

As a long-suffering King fan, I am disappointed and a little surprised by the selection of Andy Murray over John Van Boxmeer. It seems to me that Murray would be the right choice for their AHL farm team, (younger kids, developmental situation, etc.) very much like the high school kids he’s coaching now and closer to the Canadian national team than a jump to the NHL.

MATTHEW L. DADAY

Rowland Heights

*

The Kings never disappoint me. I will have seen the next two sequels of “Star Wars” before we see a real hockey team.

Keenan, Nolan, anyone with some NHL experience would start to give us credibility, but shopping centers, a sports complex, a high school coach and a lot of rhetoric are all King management can offer to the fans.

Thank you, Helene Elliott, for being honest instead of quoting the AP press bulletins. Out with Taylor. I’ll wait for the 50% off King tickets.

PAUL BILLIG

Malibu

*

The Kings must feel they have disgraced themselves because they now appear to be committing ritual suicide.

JAMES S. BRUST

San Pedro

*

Dave Taylor, you have done it again. You’re batting 1.000 now. Dave, not only can you not sign one decent free agent, or make one respectable trade, now you hire a minor league coach for your minor league team, run by you, a minor league general manager.

GINO ACETO

Chino Hills

*

Prep school coach Andy Murray is just the man to lead the Kings to the finals--the CIF finals!

NICK ROSE

Newport Beach

*

If any of the Kings’ fans had any doubts about our current ownership/management, they have to look no further than the hiring of Andy Murray and the non-hiring of Palffy/Fleury/Nolan/Van Boxmeer.

The Kings couldn’t come close to filling the Forum with the team they fielded this year, and they’re going into a brand new, larger arena. What kind of an incentive do they give the fans to attend games? Not much! Even more important, what kind of hope do they give those players who do show up to play? Even less!

CYNDI CONROW

Hollywood

*

The Times should be commended for prominently featuring not one but two stories about a local hockey team at this time of the year. Nevertheless I feel compelled to defend the Kings against the attacks of Helene Elliott. She says “the Kings could have--and should have--done better” and attacks General Manager Dave Taylor for his hiring of Andy Murray. This might be understandable if there was a “Phil Jackson-like” candidate lurking in the background, but Ted Nolan, John Van Boxmeer and even Dave Lewis do not even remotely resemble such a choice. Besides, Larry Robinson was a high-profile candidate and look at how successful he was.

PETER GREENE

Pacific Palisades

*

That sound you heard was the Kings hitting rock bottom.

Call me when you finally start getting serious.

KEVIN FEST

El Monte