Meanwhile, Back in Our Little Department ...

It’s so easy for readers to sit at kitchen tables, hide behind their computers and complain about someone who puts himself out there every week.

I may not always agree with what Bill Plaschke says, but I have great admiration for the courage it takes him to speak his mind, openly, in a huge public forum, where he is subject to constant criticism. I “tripped” over Plaschke several years ago while accidentally opening the sports page, and I stayed. Long after the scores have been forgotten and the titles blurred, his stories, which touch hearts, make people feel, make them think, remain.

I can reel off 10 such stories that have stuck with me, without stopping for a breath. That’s my idea of good journalism.

DEBBIE ZIMMERMAN

Huntington Beach

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I was saddened to read that Bill Dwyre will no longer be the editor of The Times’ sports section. I have great respect for Bill as an editor and a person -- over the years I wrote him many notes and queries, and I always received a personal and caring reply, which I much appreciated.

I hope that the new sports editor will maintain the extraordinary high quality we’ve become used to under Bill’s watch. We can but wait and see.

JOEL RAPP

Los Angeles

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In the story on Randy Harvey replacing Bill Dwyre, the latter refers to Harvey as an “inspired hire.” We’ll judge as to just how inspired it was by how long Plaschke and Simers are still around.

PAUL ASCENZI

Pomona