Don’t Hate Lakers, Embrace Them

To David Wilczynski of Redondo Beach and all other Laker-haters: Why would it “be so sweet and ironic if the Lakers lost”? Teams must perform in the arena, not on paper. If the Lakers deserve to win, they will. If they don’t, they won’t.

As for the Lakers not being able to take pride in a championship if they win with Payton and Malone, get over it. Should the Yankees give back the four World Series they won with that carpetbagger, Babe Ruth? Should the Celtics renounce their championship won with Bill Walton? The examples of teams bringing in veteran help abound. It doesn’t always work. Pro sports is about getting the best players you can afford, and creating the chemistry to win. You can’t win simply by buying players. Just ask the Portland Trail Blazers.

Mo Sanchez

Coto de Caza

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Ever since the opener, the Lakers have gone downhill. And it is inversely proportional to Kobe’s involvement in the game.

Solution: Kobe needs to come off the bench. Let the team players establish the flow in the first quarter. Then, just as the old men are puffing and need to rest, Kobe comes off the bench to do what he does best: Control the ball and score.

Phil Jackson will have to figure out what’s best in the fourth quarter, but that’s what he’s paid for anyway.

Kobe may not like it, but this year is a lot of problems for him anyway, so let it just work itself out at the end of the season when he opts for free agency.

Andy Kratter

Garden Grove

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To all the Kobe Bryant haters who boo and write self-righteous letters:

Kobe broke one of the Ten Commandments (adultery). He’s innocent until proven guilty of any crime. Anyone who has never broken one of the other nine, feel free to judge.

Fredia Dailey

Chatsworth

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The Lakers lose a couple of games and Shaq complains that “certain” players aren’t moving the ball and finding the open man, Payton is whining he didn’t play enough minutes, and Kobe informs us you don’t know if the ball will go in unless you shoot it. Oh boy, is this going to be a long season.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster