Just the Fox, Ma’am: What Happened to Dodgers?

Congratulations to Mike Penner for his pinpoint essay [“Dodgers Have Struck Out as Champions of Tradition,” April 1]. Every aspect of the feared nightmare in the wake of Peter O’Malley’s announcement to sell has come true. The demise of the Dodger spirit is total.

Thousands of us, fans for up to four decades, are repulsed that the team of Sandy Koufax, Steve Garvey, Al Campanis and organ music has been replaced by Carlos Perez, Gary Sheffield, Kevin Malone, and horrible rock music during player introductions.

For me, I crossed the line the day after Penner’s article. The thought that Sheffield hit a home run to win the game to the delight of Dodger Boy was sickening. I wonder how many others shared my preferred opening day wish that it would’ve been more comforting if our once-beloved Dodgers had lost.

RICK WALLACE

Malibu

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I have been a Dodger fan since the early ‘60s. This is without a doubt the best damn article I have read in regard to this team and the Fox ownership. A once-proud organization is now the laughingstock of baseball.

I live on the East Coast, which makes this issue easier to handle. By the end of April, I am generally done with the Dodgers and baseball in general. Since Fox and Malone have shown up, it’s even hard to get to the end of April. How do you people out there handle this situation?

JEFF ROSBOROUGH

Cumberland, Md.

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Mike Penner, I find it amusing that, after you completely rip apart the present-day Dodgers, you refer to the alternative of Edison Field. The Angels, there’s a rich tradition in the making!

The current Dodger trouble that you refer to is only one chapter of another book of another volume of the great story that is the remarkable tradition of Dodger baseball. Fox ownership has come and it will eventually go away.

TONY CORSARO

Palmdale

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Ross Newhan really hit a home run with his article (“Why Baseball Endures: A Devotee Steps to the Plate,” April 1).

Through all the naysayers and half-empty pundits (Mike Penner), the game survives as the great equalizer, communicator and dream maker, bringing socioeconomic classes, generations and genders together to enjoy one heck of a time, whether playing, watching or discussing your favorite team or player.

JULIE T. BYERS

Temple City

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What one admires in Ross Newhan’s baseball coverage are not only his graceful sentences and obvious knowledge of the game, but his devotion to informing the reader--his insistence on showing respect for the reader by educating him, rather than simply trying to gross out or amuse him.

In this age of McNews, sound bites and shock journalism, Newhan’s elegance reminds us of how civilized and genteel sportswriting used to be (No disrespect intended, but Messrs. Heisler and Simers, take note).

DAVID MACARAY

Rowland Heights