Some Laker Games Should Be Preempted

It’s Sunday afternoon and instead of watching the Lakers, I’m looking at cars parked. No, I’m not on the 405 freeway, I’m tuned to NBC. So bitter NBC must be about losing the television rights to the NBA, that instead of cutting away, or even going to a split screen from the parking lot called the Daytona 500, NBC forces us to watch cars stacked bumper to bumper going nowhere instead of delivering the Laker game to us. Note to NBC: When Southern Californians want to see cars going nowhere, they get on the nearest freeway.

To add to the insult they stay at Daytona after the race for “interviews,” which by the fourth driver dipping his head to show off a sponsor’s logo on his cap, it becomes apparent these are not “interviews,” just shameless corporate promotion.

Brilliant effort, NBC. Thank God you’re losing the NBA to go along with the NFL.

Mark Kummrow

Santa Monica

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Listen, Kobe is good. Kobe is entertaining. But we all know that if anyone ever mouthed off about being a “Jordan Stopper,” His Airness would proceed to light the mouth up for 40, and plug up the so-called stopper’s scoring. Just ask Gary Payton and a host of others. Arrogance has its price. Kobe is no 23.

Hale Antico

Pasadena

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I challenge all you sportswriters to have the guts to stand up and speak the truth about someone you have deified.

It’s easy to see the Lakers are bored and not interested in playing quality hoops in January and February. But have you once included their coach in that equation?

This guy is arguably the best coach in NBA history, but now he seems satisfied to sit by and watch this travesty called Laker basketball. I know $6 million a year is not much, but could you at least pretend to show some interest?

If you writers won’t call Phil out, at least publish this letter, and let me do it. Steve Lavin, who isn’t a blip on the radar compared to Phil, at least admits, “It’s always your fault when you’re in charge.”

Bruce Alan

Granada Hills

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Lucky for the Lakers last-place teams don’t (yet) make the playoffs.

Steve Morsa

Thousand Oaks