R-E-S-P-E-C-T--Find Out What It Means to Gary

Ohhhh. So that’s why fans boo Gary Sheffield in Milwaukee, San Diego and Florida.

STEVEN SMULLEN

Redondo Beach

*

How great an irony that on the same day the paper carried the news that America had lost an icon, Dale Earnhardt, an adjacent story reported the Dodgers may lose a punk, Gary Sheffield.

Dale Earnhardt was a good son, brother, husband, father, neighbor, spokesman, businessman, philanthropist, and, arguably, the best race car driver who ever lived. He will be greatly missed.

Gary Sheffield is a good batter. Let us hope he lives a long, miserable life.

DEREK RASER

Venice

*

Count me among the fools who were duped into thinking that Gary Sheffield had matured into a team leader.

In athlete-speak, “respect” is defined as “Rip up the contract that I willingly signed and give me more.” How sad it is that so many of today’s athletes are never happy, no matter how much they make or how much adulation is heaped upon them.

How about some respect for the fans? Stop laughing, Gary.

CHRIS DEMOS

Los Angeles

*

I wonder how much respect Gary Sheffield would show if he agreed to pay a plumber $1,000 to fix his leaky pipes and then, midway through the job, the guy told Sheffield that he couldn’t guarantee his work unless he got a thousand more since that’s what some plumber down the street was getting for doing the exact same job.

FRANK WALSH

Santa Monica

*

Scenes We Would Like to See: Dodger management refusing to budge on Gary Sheffield’s trade or extension ultimatum--but instructing everyone in the organization to address Sheffield as ‘sir” or “Mr. Sheffield.”

STEVEN J. CANNATA

San Marino

*

I’m fairly certain your readers will anoint Sheffield as the new poster boy for greedy athletes, and deservedly so. However, the real blame lies with Dodger management. It’s not as if they didn’t know what he was about before they acquired him for the greatest player in Dodger history.

I remember when Sheffield, as a budding young shortstop for the Brewers, wanted out of that organization too, so he told the press he would make more errors that season because he was upset. His record was spotty with San Diego. Then, he held the Dodgers ransom for $5 million to waive his no-trade clause.

Gary’s value system was well established before his acquisition. To point the finger at him now is unfair of management, which has simply had yet another terrible personnel decision come back as a disgraced chicken to their messy roost.

PAUL ERKEL

Victorville

*

If the Dodgers had any guts, they would tell Gary Sheffield that he is under contract for three more years and will not be traded anywhere. After sitting out a while and missing paychecks of nearly $1 million per month he would come crawling back to them begging for mercy. Then they should fine him $50,000 for every game he missed.

MIKE LORRAINE

Simi Valley

*

I’m tired of guys like Gary Dangerfield, er, Sheffield crying about making only $10 million a year and not getting any respect. You signed a contract, pal. If you want respect, honor your contract.

HECTOR REYES

Arleta

*

I’m not sure that it’s a real surprise that Gary would be upset with the Dodgers. Darren Driefort makes more money than Sheffield. The Dodgers are obviously willing to put up the bucks for players who don’t contribute half of what Sheffield does.

SANDIE THOMPSON

Foothill Ranch

*

A contract player with three years left at $30 million decides he is not getting the full respect he deserves from this first-class enterprise. A “brain trust” operation that nodded and let Johnny Damon and Charles Johnson slide on by. What is Sheffield thinking?

BILL BENDAT

Westlake Village

*

Desperately trying to salvage the Mike Piazza fiasco, the Dodgers were forced to take on the considerable baggage of Gary Sheffield. Then, in hoping to placate their newly acquired time bomb, the Dodgers eagerly rewarded him with a $5-million bonus. Gary Sheffield is 100% correct when he claims that a “lack of respect” is why he wants to leave. After all, how could he possibly respect such an organization?

JERRY SONDLER

Warwick, R.I.

*

Seeing as how the moronic ministrations of Kevin Malone and Bob Daly have put the Dodgers on course to finish third (or maybe even fourth) in the NL West this year, I don’t really blame Gary Sheffield for wanting out. It’s just too bad that the serious baseball fans among us can’t request to be traded with him.

DAN EPSTEIN

Los Angeles

*

If Sheffield’s stated gripe with the Dodgers is not a matter of money, but merely about not receiving enough respect, there is a simple solution. Return the obscene amount of money you receive and you will get all the respect you ever wanted.

BILL MOUZIS

Lake Balboa

*

Gary Sheffield says he can’t get any respect. He wants an extension of his six-year contract, worth $61 million. But he says it’s not about the money, it’s about being wanted. And guess how the Dodgers can show their respect? Pay Gary more money. Quick, where are the smelling salts?

RALPH S. BRAX

Lancaster

*

Gary Sheffield must be receiving career planning advice from Christina (Mrs. Glen) Rice.

WILLIAM WINKLER

Sunland

*

Since Devon White is so unhappy playing (or, more correctly, not playing) for the Dodgers, I’m sure he would agree to void the final year of his contract. The Dodgers would make him a free agent, and Devon would waive his $5.9-million salary. He can then sign with any team he chooses. Works for me, works for the Dodgers, Devon gets what he wants. No?

MATTHEW KLIPPER

Hollywood

*

And we all thought that the Lakers had problems.

DARREN POLLOCK

Los Angeles