Heck, Man, Give Shaq That Vote

Well, it seems that Fred Hickman, if he were starting an NBA franchise, would make Allen Iverson his first pick. After all, in Fred’s perspective, Iverson is the most valuable player in the league. Right? If so, whoever got the lottery’s second pick would without question take Shaquille O’Neal. What does this mean? Hickman’s franchise is back in the lottery next year, while the second-pick team is deep into the playoffs.

Hickman might not lose any sleep over his choice, but he would lose his job.

DAN JENSEN

San Clemente

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CNN anchor Fred Hickman denies Shaq the honor of becoming the first unanimous MVP in NBA history by voting for Allen Iverson. He must have been impressed by Iverson’s leadership role, defensive play and team inspiration. Obviously, comprehension of the game is not a requirement to becoming an anchor.

STEVE SILVERSTEIN

Marina del Rey

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I wish Bill Plaschke had asked Fred Hickman this question: If Allen Iverson was so valuable, why didn’t he receive enough second- and third-place votes from the other 120 voters to finish higher than seventh overall? Iverson received only 132 points (to Shaq’s 1,207). Take away Hickman’s 10 points and Iverson ends up averaging one point per voter.

F.G. WOOD

Bakersfield

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Get off Fred Hickman’s back! I don’t disagree that Shaquille O’Neal is the best player in the NBA, but is he the most valuable? More valuable to his team than Allen Iverson? Or Chris Webber? Or Kevin Garnett? Probably, but it’s debatable. And the fact that it’s debatable means he should not have received all the first-place votes! Hickman’s vote maintains the integrity of the award.

Also, there seems to be a skewed perspective by many people (including Bill Plaschke) on how we are judging O’Neal’s development as a player. In his May 10 column, Plaschke tells the story of an individual who was “amazed” at observing O’Neal practicing free throws at the Lakers’ gym. Is our level of expectation of O’Neal so low that we are now amazed when we learn that he is practicing basic skills; skills that most high school players have already developed?

ROSS M. SMITH

Las Vegas

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Here is the quote from Fred Hickman of CNN, the lone dissenter: “You take Shaq away from the Lakers and you’ve still got a great team. You take Iverson away from the 76ers and . . . they are no longer contenders.”

This argument simply does not hold water. It turns the MVP balloting into not a judgment of Shaq or Iverson’s value, but instead a contest of the un-valuable-ness of the rest of their respective teams. Of course the Shaq-less Lakers are still much better than the Iverson-less 76ers, but that has more to do with Jerry West than Iverson being more or less valuable than Shaq.

This is the same kind of logic that prompted writers to give the coaching award to Doc Rivers over Phil Jackson. It seems clear to me that improving from sub-mediocrity to respectability is easier, and much more glamorous, than improving from very good to great. Ask Del and Kurt.

I hope Hickman enjoys being remembered in the same category as the one Boston sportswriter who didn’t vote Ted Williams as MVP the year he hit .400. I guess it gives Shaq something to shoot for next year, unless everyone votes for Lamar Odom because without him the Clippers would really, really stink.

D. BRIAN STERN

Los Angeles

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Who does this Fred Hickman of CNN think he is? Aren’t all reporters supposed to have professional integrity? This is either pure bias or pure stupidity. His validation of his decision reinforces his misconception of the definition of MVP. Allen Iverson may have had an impact on his team, but barely measurable against the impact Shaq has had on his team and the league as a whole.

Am I, 120 voters, and most of the nation the only ones that remember Iverson only going for 11 points in a game (0 in the second half) versus the Lakers? That’s a serious deficiency regarding attributes of an MVP candidate. Could you therefore consider Kobe Bryant among those candidates, since he managed to hold this so-called MVP to zero points in a half? I guess first defensive team is a justified accolade then.

By Hickman’s validation that “if you removed Shaq from the Lakers they’d still be a great team, but if you removed Iverson from the 76ers they’d be like the Clippers, Hawks or Bulls,” then what if you removed Malone from the Jazz, or Payton from the SuperSonics, wouldn’t their teams be just as bad? His justification is as poor as is his decision not to make Shaq the first unanimous MVP in league history. Hickman’s credentials should be revoked, immediately, without question.

SEAN M. COLLINS

Los Angeles

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Shaq falling one vote short of unanimous for MVP reminds me of that old military saying--”There’s always some son of a *!*## that doesn’t get the word.”

DAVID ANDO

Rancho Palos Verdes

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Is there any truth to the rumor that Fred Hickman voted for Kevin Malone as general manager of the year?

HOWARD MATIONG

Gardena