All Signals Point to a Controversial Laker Season

Kobe Bryant not only has had to carry the Lakers this year under heavy criticism, but now must suffer the indignation of a story alleging that Shaq has certain hand signals to keep the ball away from Kobe in the Laker offense.

Wonder what the hand signal is for “time for me to brick a free throw.”

PETER SHAW

Dana Point

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Well, I just finished reading another letter from a so-called “Laker fan” who, along with many others, is bashing Kobe Bryant for shooting too much.

I doubt very much if fans in Chicago ever bashed Michael Jordan much. When Jerry West and Elgin Baylor were shooting the lights out for the Lakers in their prime, no one ever accused them of ball-hogging. Lighten up on Kobe. He’s young, talented and still eager to become better. Quit stifling talent!

MOE H. LEE

Cerritos

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I would like to point out that all of the criticism Kobe is getting comes right after the season when he made it possible for millions of Laker fans to crowd the streets of L.A. like ants around a big piece of pie.

When you really think about it, nobody else on the Laker squad, or in NBA history, can do what Kobe does, and the only reason the Lakers got past the Kings, Suns, Trail Blazers and Pacers was because Kobe went beyond the criticisms of the morons who write about him being “unworthy.”

RAY SLEIMAN

Los Angeles

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Shaquille O’Neal, freshly graduated from LSU, made this comment [Times, Dec. 17]: “I’ve done a lot of things, but the years between 1989 and 1992 was the time of my life.”

I agree, which is more than his subject and verb do.

GEORGE W. FEINSTEIN

Altadena