The death of John Wooden; the pulse of the Arab Street; deficits and what to do about them

Wooden and his legacy

Re “John Wooden, 1910 - 2010,” Obituary, June 6

I read with great sadness of the death of John Wooden.

Wooden impressed me greatly for many years. When I was a student at UCLA, I was introduced to him in the hallway of the men’s gym. I did not play basketball; I ran track and played soccer. But that didn’t seem to matter to Wooden. He learned my name and, whenever we crossed paths on campus, he greeted me by name.

I went into the Army, and when I returned to L.A. in the early ‘70s, 10 years after I graduated, I never expected to see Wooden again. However, one day in about 1975 I was at Balboa Park and Wooden and his wife, Nell, were taking their morning constitutional in the park. I greeted him and, surprise of all surprises, he greeted me — by name!

To me, Wooden was not just a great basketball coach but a great and caring person. My heart goes out to his family and the greater UCLA family.

Jerry Feldner

Tempe, Ariz.

I first met Wooden when I was editor of the UCLA Daily Bruin in the 1960s. Forget all that Wizard of Westwood stuff — he was, and all he wanted to be was “Coach.”

Hundreds of sports journalists will tell us what a great man coach was. He was better than a great man; he was a truly good man.

The first thing I will rescue from my house in a fire will be the basketball Wooden autographed to me.

Martin M. Cooper

Encino

What a loss for us in Southern California, if not for mankind. All that this extraordinary man accomplished is nothing compared to his greatest contribution to every person, which was his positive insight to living a good, decent and honest life through hard work and kindness toward all. He’ll be sorely missed.

Albert Martinez

Lakewood

Wooden was not only a great coach and mentor to his players; he also lived up to his high standards and expected more from his players than just being good athletes.

He built high character and taught values to whatever team he coached at UCLA. He expected the highest standards from his team, on and off the court. He was one of a kind.

Charles Jones

Woodland Hills

As a youngster, I was fortunate to attend many UCLA basketball games in the ‘60s and ‘70s.

One day I was walking door to door in Santa Monica selling candy for a fundraiser when I knocked on the door of a modest apartment on 14th Street, just below Montana. The door opened and there stood Wooden. He invited me into his home and introduced me to Nell, who proceeded to provide milk and cookies.

I spent about 20 minutes in Wooden’s home. He spent this time asking about me and what was going on in my young life. It was an absolutely amazing experience that, 42 years later, I remember as if it were yesterday.

Needless to say, he bought some candy.

Dave Jones

Ojai

We need to prime the pump

Re “Deficit anxieties begin to weigh on Democrats,” June 7

Democrats who are concerned about reducing deficits rather than reigniting the economy are doing the country a disservice.

In the long run, when the economy is running well, the federal budget should run a surplus. However, when unemployment is high and the economy underproduces — and interest rates are near zero because people want to save — sales, income and Social Security tax revenues will all be down and deficits will be high. The solution in these times is to prime the economy.

The stimulus bill reversed the downward spiral but wasn’t enough. If we want to reduce long-term deficits, we will need to spend money that will put people back to work. Failing to put people to work will just prolong the recession and keep deficits higher than they should be.

Jack Needleman

Los Angeles

Advice for the Arab street

Re “Cairo letdown,” Opinion, June 7

Former Egyptian Ambassador Nabil Fahmy’s essay depresses me. The Muslim world has slapped the hand President Obama extended.

That world always demands concessions, yet never offers any in return. Perhaps the Arab street would be more reasonable if it were not bombarded incessantly with vicious anti-Semitic screeds in state-controlled media. And perhaps the Arab street would be more tolerant if it were not itself the victim of the medieval tyrannies that are the nations of the Arab world.

The Palestinians are merely a pawn in the cynical game that keeps despots in power. I long for

the day when the long-

suffering Palestinians rise up against their brutal leadership and join the modern world.

And on that happy day, when Israel compensates Palestinian refugees for their removal from Israel in 1948, Arab countries will respond in kind by compensating Jews they expelled as punishment for Israel’s birth.

Bill Blum

Studio City

A church’s helping hands

Re “Helping others is the religion,” Column One, June 7

Last year we attended Rock Church in Point Loma near San Diego with my granddaughter, who attends UCSD.

Outside the church, there were 50 or more kiosk-tents touting a broad selection of “get involved” clubs that attendees could join in support of a number of common interests. In his sermon, Pastor Miles MacPherson stressed the idea of getting seriously involved and not remaining unmoved. This is a very important element of putting faith into action. We were really impressed with the community of this large church.

The Times’ use of such words as “fundamentalist” to describe Rock Church may turn off many from visiting it. I think most of my friends would have been comfortable in the service I attended.

Arvel Witte

Rolling Hills

What a jump-start to read of Rock Church’s approach to religion as service to those hurting — more than 600,000 hours worth a year.

Then I came to the part regarding its actions against homosexuals. My enthusiasm fizzled. All that good for what?

Mega-churches probably tipped the Proposition 8 vote against full rights and dignity for gays and lesbians. How many hours of pain and humiliation has that caused this minority group everywhere — millions? Hundreds of millions?

When you follow the math, doing a number on others equals zero.

Douglas J. Miller

Santa Barbara

The writer is a Baptist minister.

Bashing Bass

Re “Bass cashes in on Capitol absences,” June 5

Karen Bass is claiming her per diem even when not in Sacramento.

I wish that were her biggest fault.

She gave parting raises to 20 staff members. She showed an utter lack of leadership in the budgeting process, and departed the Assembly speaker’s position leaving California’s finances in ruins. And she still is running virtually unopposed.

California is headed for receivership, and we can thank her and state Senate leader Darrell Steinberg for fiddling while California burns. She’ll fit right in in Washington.

To her constituents, who seem pleased with her performance, I would ask: Are you really better off because of her? I doubt it.

M. Knudsen

Trabuco Canyon

Olvera’s a special place

Re “Olvera’s anchor,” Opinion, June 5

Thank you, Vivien Bonzo, for continuing to take care of our precious, unique and historic Olvera Street.

My parents too met at La Golondrina restaurant, and married in 1939. My mother worked as a dancer at La Golondrina for Vivien’s grandmother, Consuelo Castillo de Bonzo, and she spoke often and fondly of her.

Olvera Street always has been and always will be close to my heart and an essential part of my family history. I am sure that there are legions who feel as I do. I would love to know what I can do to help preserve Olvera Street.

Suzanne Dudley Arnold

Rancho Palos Verdes

Without Olvera Street, years of tradition will be forgotten. Olvera Street makes us feel like we have a part of Mexico closer to home. It reminds us of grandma’s cooking and grandpa’s music.

I’m an 18-year-old senior at El Rancho High School, and I see that our traditions are being forgotten. When I go down to Olvera Street, it brings a smile to my face to see how one little street makes traditions come back.

Andres Aguirre

Pico Rivera