Letters: What was Bill Plaschke thinking?

It is now official: Bill Plaschke has lost his mind. I’m not a religious person, but comparing Augusta National to a church [March 17] is ludicrous and in the worst possible taste. It’s only a golf course, for heaven’s sake.

As for Tiger’s reception from the fans, I have but two words: Manny Ramirez. There is no need to discuss why the Masters is the perfect place for Tiger to begin his comeback, thanks to David Wharton’s thoughtful, front-page analysis the same day as Plaschke’s rant. But Wild Bill should be made to say several Hail Marys and count his beads and whatever else the punishment for such sacrilege should be.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles

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When Tiger Woods announced he was going to play in the Masters this year I was truly disgusted.

Not so much because Woods was coming back to the game of golf so soon, but rather because so many of the media folks seemed to think it was the best news since sliced bread.

What kind of message does this send to the youth of our country?

Doesn’t character (or the lack of it) mean anything in our society anymore?

It really seems to me that every time we turn around someone like Woods, Michael Vick, John Edwards or Mark Sanford is being let off the hook for their appalling, self-centered behavior regardless of how it affects others.

Jim Curtis

Maple Valley, Wash.

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“The purest treasure mortal times afford is spotless reputation. That away, men are but gilded loam or painted clay.”

William Shakespeare

So said the Bard many years ago and so say I today. You blew it, Tiger, big time.

Doug Oatman

Mission Viejo

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Because patrons at the Masters will not be allowed to heckle Tiger, those who disapprove of his extra-marital affairs and his admitted infidelities should welcome him with a total deafening silence. That would speak louder than any heckler could.

Jane Hilgendorf

Corona del Mar

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When Tiger’s in 23rd place, will CBS show every hook, slice and yip at the expense of the leading golfers?

I’ll bet my Stimpmeter.

Jeff Prescott

La Jolla

Distribute this memo to Lakers

After two weeks of watching the Lakers play some very bad basketball, I am offering my services to Dr. Buss as special consultant. I will work for $1 and will just need the job for one day, as it will only take that long for me to transform us to our former greatness. Here are the memos I will be issuing.

To Pau: Shut up!

To Andrew: Step up!

To Kobe: Hit the gym for some extra free-throw practice.

To Phil: Go home, relax and meditate about whether Derek is more detriment than benefit on the court right now and whether he should be replaced, at least temporarily, as starting point guard.

Oh yeah, I almost forgot. To Lamar: Stop bringing the ball up the court. You are a power forward, not a guard, and that high dribble is making the fans nervous.

Thomas Bailey

Long Beach

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The Lakers are ailing in two crucial areas. First, they don’t have a consistent spot-up shooter. When Farmar and/or Brown are hot, the Lakers are unbeatable, but they can’t always be counted on. Second, Andrew Bynum is overpaid and overrated. He doesn’t run the floor well, rarely plays with any intensity, sulks when he doesn’t get the ball, has bad hands, and when muscled, he loses the only skill he really has, his touch around the basket. Other than that, he’s pretty good.

Allan Kandel

Los Angeles

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Mark Heisler’s column about Kobe Bryant being hard to embrace [March 14] was spot on. I am a lifelong Lakers fan, but I just can’t bring myself to root for the joyless, self-dubbed Black Mamba. Even his nickname is contrived.

Did Earvin “Magic” Johnson or Jerry “Mr. Clutch”, “The Logo”, “Zeke From Cabin Creek” West have to give themselves a nickname?

I will continue to keep the Lakers at arm’s length until the day Bryant finally leaves or retires.

Patrick Mallon

San Luis Obispo

An up-and-down finish for UCLA

The UCLA men’s basketball team closed out their season with a prototypical pair of performances in the Pac-10 tournament: A stirring, where-has-that-been-all-year win over Arizona followed by an oh-so-typical loss against Cal. All year long the Bruins have gone 1-1 on weekends, usually winning the first. Go figure.

At least the final Cal loss was not due to lack of effort, just ability. Oh, where have you gone Arron Afflalo and Matt Barnes?

Jeff Drobman

Malibu

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Ben Howland gets my vote for college basketball’s coach of the year. Winning nine games in the Pac-10 with the woeful players on the UCLA team is nothing short of a miracle. Despite the Pac-10 being probably the weakest major conference in the nation, winning that many games with that kind of talent is like turning water into wine.

Jeff Meyer

Poway

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Would it be possible to post an article of comparable magnitude to that of your original story about how all charges against the UCLA basketball player Nikola Dragovic have been dropped… since you guys splashed it all over the place when the story first broke?

John Wogec

Sacramento

Hockey’s mojo is blindsided

Coming out of the Olympics, interest in hockey was sky high and the NHL was primed to take advantage. Instead, weeks later the focus is on players being injured by cowardly hits from behind and needless contact to the head.

Who enjoys watching this disgrace, waiting until someone dies or is paralyzed? The athletes need more respect toward their fellow competitors, the referees need the guts to assess penalties when emotions cross the line and league executives need a backbone to suspend the guys who endanger careers by reckless play.

Andrea Freeman

Los Angeles

David who?

I’m sorry David Beckham was injured. I won’t miss him. Was he really ever here?

Chuck Hill

Ventura

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