Chick’s Fans Show How to Play Strong Defense

To Rick Cipes of L.A., who says it’s time for Chickie to hang it up [Viewpoint, Jan. 26], I say this: Chick Hearn on his worst day is still so far better and more entertaining than anyone else at their best that it isn’t even worth discussing. The fridge is closed!

Steve Smith

San Gabriel

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I know that Chick makes his mistakes and even I get miffed, but even on his worst day Chick is at the top of his class. I am an adept golfer, but I am no Tiger Woods and Paul Sunderland is no Chick Hearn.

Chick is like a vintage car coming out of a restoration shop after heart surgery, he should be roaring to go and good for many more years. Love ya, Chickie.

Mike Marikian

Monrovia

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I am amazed at Chick Hearn’s skill at 85 years old. To call a basketball game the way he does with the rapid pace of the game is beyond peers. Has he made some mistakes? Who hasn’t?

I have heard many younger announcers make errors, and most of them are calling slower games like football and baseball. I still can listen to Chick call a game on radio, close my eyes and see Kobe dribbling from right to left, a bounce pass to Fox or a slammm dunk. I am not ready to lose that just yet, so in my opinion, Rick, you are alone!

Chris Fisher

Pasadena

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Bravo to the author of the letter suggesting that Chick Hearn should retire.

Whatever skills he once had at accurately and entertainingly calling a basketball game have now been replaced with a consistent comedy of errors, like calling Kobe “Byron.” It is not that we don’t like Chick. He just doesn’t have “it” anymore.

Compare the quality of Chick’s work to that of Vin Scully, still among the best of the best in any sport. Vin doesn’t rely on silly colloquialisms such as “butter getting hard” or “Jell-O jiggling.”

Vin just calls the game. Chick should just call it quits.

Daniel Guss

Los Angeles

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How dare Rick Cipes suggest that Chick hang it up? If every Laker were as prepared as Chick is for every game, the Lakers would have several more championship banners hanging from the rafters.

Stu Lantz said it best recently when the camera caught a fan holding up a banner that read “We miss you Chick.” Stu said, “That’s the understatement of the century.”

Stu was right. Come back soon, Chick.

Maurice Sanchez

Coto de Caza

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If Rick Cipes is not alone in his position regarding Chick Hearn’s retirement, I believe that those among him of the same opinion are very few in number.

Chick’s play-by-play is brilliant, and his enthusiasm for the game is boundless. Even his pronunciation of Slava Medvedenko’s surname is tolerable, and like Shaq’s free throwing, I’m sure Chick will eventually get it right.

Richard Leon

Van Nuys

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Thank you, Rick Cipes, for your eloquently written letter concerning the passing of the torch via Chick Hearn. A lot of us share your sentiments but do not dare disparage a living icon. I believe that it is time for a new and unbiased perspective toward Laker game reporting. Like a previous reader reported, listening to a Laker game is more like being privy to a love affair.

As for this Laker game viewer, the Jell-O is getting moldy, the eggs are rotting and the refrigerator needs recycling.

Charles Jones

Calabasas

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Just love the Lakers and the coverage.

Not a single mention in The Times after the San Antonio game where Kobe Bryant blatantly shoved his defender out of the way for an important, late-game, non-call, field goal.

Then, when Shaq was called for a questionable foul against Allen Iverson, there wasn’t enough room for all of Phil Jackson and the Lakers to complain. It seems The Times continues to be a Laker co-conspirator in the “Us Against the World” sob story.

Calls go both ways. But when it’s not reported, the fans feel it’s all about unfairness put upon their beloved Lakers.

Grow up, Phil. Grow up, Lakers. Grow up, Times.

Steve Young

Chatsworth