Baseball Is Not a Level Playing Field

“Clearly they’re the most successful union in post-World War II America,” said history professor Chuck Korr. Times staff writers Karen Kaplan and Lance Pugmire stated that the union is “capable of bringing the 126-year-old national pastime to a halt” [“In Baseball, Union Retains Its Clout,” Sept. 2].

The experts can claim what they may, but the Major League Baseball Players Assn. does not possess any clout; the court system in America does. There is one word that explains the success the union has had: collusion.

The union can gather its team representatives to discuss strategies and show up as a unified front to bring the owners to their knees, and it is perfectly legal.

If the owners, however, unite to try to instill some sanity back into the game, the union can scour the country for some sympathetic judge and have the owners found guilty of conspiring against it. Collusion in the first degree, case closed.

Bruce Roland

Ojai

*

At Microsoft, a Bonus

for an Inadequate Job

The article about Rick Belluzzo is something else [“Loan Forgiven for Ex-Exec of Microsoft,” Sept. 7].

After three years, he quit after doing a less than adequate job at Microsoft for another cushy job at Quantum.

I would like to know the secret of his success to be able to borrow $15 million, then have the debt and interest forgiven.

Microsoft is strong, but is it strong enough to write off such a loan?

In any event, the write-off will lessen its bottom line at tax time, therefore lessen its taxes.

Philip Sacks

Laguna Woods

*

GE’s Jack Welch

Deserves Every Dime

“Retired GE Chief Lives Lavishly on Firm’s Dime” [Sept. 7] made it clear that former Chief Executive Jack Welch and his ex-wife are, and have been for many years, wealthy. I submit that several thousand General Electric employees and stockholders enjoy a similar economic status as a direct result of Welch’s skills and dedication in leading GE’s outstanding business and financial success.

This country’s engine of economic growth is based, in large part, on the incentives to enjoy the rewards of outstanding individual contributions and achievement. I know of no better modern example of the success of our free-enterprise system than the unique contributions Welsh has made to the stakeholders of General Electric and to our nation.

Even if Welsh doesn’t need his post-retirement perks, he richly deserves them. I urge you to get off the CEO-bashing bandwagon!

Dick Johnson

El Segundo

Architect’s Playa Vista

Decision Is Right Move

When I lived in Los Angeles, I was proud to join the ongoing fight for the preservation of the Ballona Wetlands from the Playa Vista juggernaut and L.A.’s endless mania for development. In such fights, one takes one’s victories as one finds them.

As regards Frank Gehry’s decision to not put his firm in Playa Vista [“Gehry Says Wetlands Issue Not Behind Relocation Shift,” Sept. 4], I would like to thank Gehry for doing the right thing for the wrong reason.

Andrew Christie

Norfolk, Va.

*

Arrogance Is Hurting

California Wine Industry

Cheers to Rich Cartiere, who hit it on the “barrel” head with his observation, “There is an enormous worldwide supply of wine, and the [California] wine industry has just not adjusted” [“California’s Wine Glass Overfilled,” Sept. 1].

It truly is a new wine world where the closed-minded “Napa or nothing” thinking has withered on the vine. Wine consumption in this country continues to slide because of errors, not to mention “airs.” We have made wine out to be a much more complicated subject than need be.

A majority of high-profile producers continue to ignore the warning signs, keeping their case prices--and noses--high.

Sour grapes? No. Today, wine enthusiasts are discovering unique and delicious offerings from lesser-known wineries along with imports--from France’s Bordeaux region, Italy, Australia, Chile, etc.--available at affordable prices. The ultimate winners in this grape glut are the wine consumers.

Gino L. Filippi

Vice President

Joseph Filippi

Winery & Vineyards

Rancho Cucamonga

*

Hate Junk Faxes?

Call Them on It

I had to share with you how I dealt with one obnoxious company that sent me a junk fax at 3 a.m. [“Activists’ Lawsuits Target Junk Faxes,” Aug. 23]. Mine is not at a business but in a home.

There is always a message that asks you to call if you want to be deleted from their mailing list. I’m sure that many frustrated people have not been able to get through on the 800 numbers to have a fax number deleted.

What did I do? I called their sales order number--and again, no person, but “leave a message” for them to get back to you. The message I left was that I would call daily or more often on their 800 number if they did not remove me from their fax junk mail.

How about if everyone called the sales numbers and left this sort of message? It worked for me.

Sylvia Graham

Brentwood

*

Write to: Letters to the Business Editor, Los Angeles Times, 202 W. 1st St., Los Angeles, CA 90012. Submit e-mail letters to bizletters@ latimes.com. Letters must contain your address and phone number.