Where Have You Gone, Eddie Jones? A Nation . . .

A terrible week in sports just got worse. First we lose DiMaggio, and then the Lakers strip us of Eddie. I realize that Glen Rice is a great addition, but Eddie did not deserve to be treated as poorly as the Jerrys treated him.

Apparently, they mistook Eddie for an old, beat-up baseball card, offering to trade him to anyone who would listen. I heard he was offered to the Bulls, at one point, for an autographed photograph of Michael Jordan and a round-trip ticket to Tahiti (Jordan couldn’t sign the photo because of his finger injury so the deal was off).

Why the Lakers were so eager to rid themselves of Eddie I’ll never know. In the end, however, I don’t feel sorry for Eddie because he, like Joltin’ Joe, has gone to a better place. A place where management welcomes him with open arms and an appreciative smile.

So I’d like to wish Eddie the best of luck in Charlotte and thank him for the memories.

As for the Jerrys, I hope to see you at the Forum sometime soon. You should be able to recognize me, I’ll be the one wearing the Eddie Jones jersey, chanting, “Eddie! Eddie!”

VITO GABRIELIAN

La Canada

*

The Lakers sure rolled the dice, gave their star what he wanted--an outside shooter and a “thug” at power forward. Trouble is, what Shaq wants is not what the Lakers needed.

In trading Eddie Jones, they got rid of perhaps their best defensive player on a team that already plays very poor defense. Jones is also one of their best free-throw shooters. The take on Glen Rice is, apparently, great outside shooter . . . period.

I’ve been watching NBA playoffs for more years than I care to admit, and time after time the team that wins does two things better than the loser. It plays tough team defense and makes its free throws in crunch time. The Lakers don’t do either, so don’t be surprised to see them exit earlier than predicted once again this year.

WILLIAM BRADSHAW

San Diego

*

Mr. Popular, Eddie Jones, couldn’t hit a big shot if his life depended on it. His Laker life did, and he proved he couldn’t. Elden Campbell is the most lethargic, uninspired, overpaid player in the NBA. All he had to do was play hard and he’d still be here.

Glen Rice is a steal. He is exactly what the Lakers need. No doubts. No reservations. He’s a big-time player. What? He is suddenly going to forget how to shoot?

GENO M. APICELLA

Burbank

*

It isn’t often that a true fan favorite is traded in the prime of his career. Eddie Jones was such a player. This is not to say that Eddie was the most talented Laker, but he was without question the most popular. The rings of “Ed-die” were music in the Forum for the past five seasons. Eddie’s hustle and unselfishness were refreshing to see night in and night out. The Lakers did him no favors by hanging him out to dry on the trade vine.

The trade made great basketball sense, and Jerry West’s logic is without question. But take note Shaq, Kobe, Dennis, Glen, et al--the only way that any of you guys will capture the hearts of Laker fans the way Eddie Jones did will be to win the ring.

JAMES H. BARRICK

Ventura