Letters: How now, Clippers?

I for one could picture Donald Sterling, after finally dumping Mike Dunleavy for good, going to his safe and removing a sealed envelope from beneath the piles and piles of cash not spent on building a more competitive team. On the outside of the envelope is written the words “To be opened in the event of Mike Dunleavy’s departure from the Clippers.” After carefully opening the envelope and removing a neatly folded piece of paper, Sterling reads the message: “I told you so. Elgin Baylor.”

Tony Crale

Whittier

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Donald, my man, what took you so long? When the Clippers hired Mike Dunleavy, The Times printed my outrage in the Viewpoint section. When he won one playoff game, the victory-starved Donald Sterling developed a “man crush” on Dunleavy and fired his loyal “lap dog,” Elgin Baylor. When Sterling renewed Dunleavy’s contract it was obvious that “The Donald” had taken the Kool-Aid. Finally, “Rip Van Sterling” has woken up from his slumber and evicted the snake oil salesman.

Willis Barton

Los Angeles

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Most likely, Donald Sterling discovered he was going over budget on his St. Paddy’s Day “invitation only” party, so Mike bit the dust.

Joe Cohen

Mar Vista

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Mike Dunleavy was “stunned” that he was fired? That statement is, uh, stunning to me. Next, Dunleavy will be stunned to learn that the Easter Bunny is fake.

Craig P. Fagan

San Diego

What’s wrong?

Buried in Bill Plaschke’s column about the Lakers ( “Nervous Time”) is a kernel of truth that explains everything about the team’s sudden problems. In addressing the Lakers’ lack of urgency to repeat as champs, Plaschke asked the question, “What exactly is Ron Artest doing these days, anyway?” and then noted that Artest “has yet to fit into the offensive flow or consistently change games like [ Trevor] Ariza.”

And this, sadly, is the whole story. Ever since the Lakers swapped Ariza for Artest, the team has been slightly less than epic and is now showing a vulnerability that may be fatal. While Artest may look a little better on paper, the reality is that he is a true Laker about as much as Karl Malone or Gary Payton were – breezing into town with the hopes of snagging an easy ring.

Dave Finley

Tustin

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The circle is now complete. Bill Plaschke has weighed in on the Lakers, and only now do I fully understand. Thursday’s column was another Bill classic filled with both words and sentences. It seems that after great analysis Plaschke has come to the conclusion that the Lakers are not playing very well these days, which I am relieved to hear being that I thought it was only I who saw this.

But this column was much more. It was the rebirth of a true love story. A story of dedication and loyalty seldom witnessed in today’s superficial world. Bill’s true love for Shaq was once again displayed for all to marvel at. Plaschke points out that if Shaq were still around this all wouldn’t happen. Shaq would simply summon his superhuman WORK ETHIC and use his endless ENERGY and DEDICATION and carry this squad over all obstacles. This is the kind of observation that only Plaschke would make ! He simply sees things the rest of us do not, it’s a kind of gift.

Kudos, BP, you’ve proved once again that you are still truly ... employed.

Wayne Hampton

Manhattan Beach

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After watching the Lakers get embarrassed by the Bobcats last week I cannot help but yearn for the good old days. No, not Magic and those great ‘80s teams. Just back to when Kobe sat with the ankle injury. What happened to that team? Where have all of those players gone?

Larry Weiner

Culver City

Frank’s view

Frank McCourt says he “thought the team looks better on paper than it did a year ago at this stage.”

Of course the paper he’s referring to is the one that means the most to him.

His balance sheet.

Rich Ruiz

Long Beach

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Concerning the continuing waltz between Mr. and Mrs. McCourt:

For the first time ever, I’m rooting for the lawyers.

Ted Belak

Sierra Madre

Stop fighting

Some of the letter writers last week were wondering if the viewers who took in the Olympic hockey games in record numbers will become fans of the NHL. I doubt it, because the fighting that slows down the game and is outlawed in the Olympics is not only permitted but tacitly encouraged in the NHL. Why is hockey the only major pro sport to slap fighters on the wrist with a five-minute penalty instead of immediate ejection? If I wanted to watch fighting, I would become a boxing or MMA fan.

The NHL needs new leadership that is unafraid to make a change to the rules and appeal to more fans.

Warren Lacker

Los Angeles

Merlin and Willie

I don’t typically mourn public figures publicly, but I am so saddened by Merlin Olsen’s passing. Growing up as a sports kid in L.A., you knew Merlin was a big deal and for all the right reasons.

While playing ball in my teens, I had his poster in my room (along with Dick Butkus, Bob Lilly, the Doors and a day-glo Captain America). I used to wear his No. 74 in Pop Warner and high school out of admiration and respect.

He seemed like such a nice guy and the quintessential gentle giant — ferocious on the field while kind and placid off it.

Olsen was the kind of role model that sports and kids sorely miss: a tremendous athlete — physically gifted, studious and smart — obviously intelligent, fully prepared for life after football with never a hint of impropriety.

He also struck me as a man men would strive to be: as brutishly tough and determined as they come, yet scholarly, kind, considerate and dignified; a class act all the way.

The world would be a better place if more people were like Merlin Olsen; it’s less of one without him.

Cy Bolton

Rancho Cucamonga

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In reading about the passing of Willie Davis, I was stunned to read that he still holds the all-time L.A. Dodgers records for the hits, extra-base hits, total bases, plate appearances, triples, and for the longest hitting streak, at 31 games.

I’m also saddened while learning this to now recognize that a man who was sometimes accused of not playing up to his potential in reality was clearly one of the greatest Dodgers ever.

Jim Gillespie

Temecula

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I can still hear Dick Enberg describing another Merlin Olsen sack, “And the applause is for the defense!” I can still see Willie Davis galloping around the bases for another triple. A big part of my youth just walked into the shadows of the Coliseum tunnel. A piece of my childhood just rounded third and headed on home.

John Thompson

Chino

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