Clipper Country Extends to New York

Elton Brand has, indeed, been a source of pleasure and pride for his hometown of Peekskill, N.Y., where I grew up [“With Brand, It’s Nice and Warm,” April 22]. Like Elton, I’m a graduate of Peekskill High and, for several years, was a neighbor of his coach, Lou Panzanaro. I’ve been in L.A. for more than 20 years, and it’s nice to have our small city, with its admittedly odd Dutch name, introduced to a region where Van Nuys is the nearest thing to an outpost of the Netherlands.

That introduction is a decidedly mixed blessing, however, due to the article’s rather one-dimensional characterization of Peekskill. It does have crime, but it’s also racially and ethnically diverse. It overlooks one of the most spectacular stretches of the Hudson River Valley, has become a mecca for artists in the area, and sits in the shadow of one of the oldest (and leakiest) nuclear power plants in the U.S.

It obviously turns out a disproportionate number of talented basketball players, but Elton Brand is by no means unusual for our area as regards the quality of his character.

AVIE HERN

Los Angeles

If no one’s going to mention it in the press or during the TNT broadcasts, I’m going to say it: Corey Maggette is getting snubbed.

The guy has been a Clipper the longest of anybody on the current roster, including Coach Mike Dunleavy. I’m glad Elton Brand’s praises are being sung daily now, but the amount of slobbering done over Sam Cassell at the expense of Maggette is unfair. Sam’s great and a solid vet, but I don’t want his flattery to steal the limelight from Corey Maggette.

REMY TRAHANT

Los Angeles