Isn’t There Some Way to Turn Down the Heat?

While some may say it is not productive to place blame surrounding the tragic death of Korey Stringer, I must disagree. As a die-hard Vikings’ fan, I have disagreed with Coach Dennis Green on many fronts, yet remained silent. Now I must speak out. Having the team continue their workout in full pads while the heat index rose to 110 degrees is inexcusable. The blame should lay solely on Coach Green and his staff.

Martin G. Marcus

Beverly Hills

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When I was a teenage punk serving in the military, and in far better physical condition than I’ll ever be again, I passed out during a heat wave in San Antonio. Contrary to popular belief, the grizzled veterans who had been cursing me a few minutes earlier didn’t leave me lying there to recover as best I could, but rushed me to the hospital where they treated my heat prostration and turned me loose to cause problems for society.

At its most basic level, the military exists to train people to die if necessary. At its most basic level, the NFL exists to train people to play around with an inflated bladder once a week, be grossly overpaid and cause problems for society. There was nothing in his contract that obliged Korey Stringer to die for his country, or even for the fine people of Minnesota. If they’re not prosecuted, the team doctors, trainers and coaches of the Vikings should be forced to put on pads and go through two-a-days in humid 90-degree heat. If Stringer’s death didn’t teach them anything, that damn sure would.

Allen E. Kahn

Playa del Rey

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I would think that Jim Murray is throwing stones down upon the person/persons responsible for printing the picture of Korey Stringer on the cover of the Aug. 2 sports section. The L.A. Times has come to mean a lot of different things for me in the past, but now it stands for the paper I used to subscribe to. I cannot believe anyone with half a heart could do such a horrific thing. I hope you are proud of yourselves. What? No color pictures of Auschwitz? Idiots!

Sam Rizzardo

Harbor City