Jackson Can Stay, but Chick Needs to Go

I fail to understand the ongoing debate about Phil Jackson’s coaching abilities when it’s obvious that Red Auerbach is absolutely right in his criticism. Without the current Laker roster, Jackson would be nothing.

But why stop with Jackson when history is replete with examples of men whose success was due to other people’s efforts? Sir Laurence Olivier did fairly well at that soliloquy thing, but if he hadn’t had a supporting cast to play the other roles he’d have been booed off the stage. Abe Lincoln just got lucky in having Grant, Sherman and the rest of the Union Army behind him or little Bobby Lee would have kicked his butt all the way back to Springfield. Charles Lindbergh was called “the Lone Eagle,” but he didn’t change his own oil, and Babe Ruth never would have even come to bat if he’d been forced to play all nine defensive positions.

Now that all those frauds have been exposed, I have only one question. What was Red Auerbach’s free-throw percentage when the Celtics were winning their NBA championships?

Allen E. Kahn

Playa del Rey

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It is hard to say this, but after watching the Lakers’ victory parade, Chick Hearn needs to retire. He has done a great job throughout the years, but during the celebration he acted and came across as someone who can’t do the job. Missing players and talking angrily as if the mike wasn’t on when receiving instructions are signs that retirement should happen.

I hope that in my profession as a pastor, someone would tell me if I made such obvious mistakes that took away from all the good work I had accomplished. Sorry Chick, but, for your own legacy, retire while we can enjoy all the good you’ve done!

Ron Gravel

Lompoc