Letters: USC finish leaves a foul taste

Losing a basketball game on an inbounds layup is like losing a football game on a Hail Mary pass. Neither should ever happen to a well-coached team. In addition to their inexcusable defensive lapse, the Trojans’ failure to convert free throws sealed their demise.

Dunk City is fun to watch, but Fundamental City wins championships.

Mark S. Roth

Los Angeles

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A friend of mine told me that the Trojans won Thursday. I thought, great! Maybe USC can get to the Sweet 16. Then I found out it was the Arkansas Little Rock Trojans who had won.

Vaughn Hardenberg

Westwood

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I think it’s time the name of the radio network carrying the NCAA tournament be changed from Westwood Won .

George Sands

Torrance

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While I’m a UCLA fan, I thought the Pac-12 was overrated, I just didn’t know it was this much.

Cecil Worthington

Los Angeles

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The fans calling for Steve Alford’s head were a bit premature. Alford has been “saved by the Ball.” That’s because Chino Hills’ Ball brothers (Lonzo, LiAngelo and LaMelo) have all committed to UCLA. Alford can now thank his lucky stars that this phenomenally talented trio just gave him the greatest form of job security. Anyone who has seen the Ball brothers in action knows that much better days are ahead for UCLA’s basketball program — and Alford is certain to be the beneficiary.

Charles Reilly

Manhattan Beach

On the pro side

Austin Rivers seems like a nice young man and I bear him no personal malice, but it is clear to everyone but his doting father that he doesn’t belong on a championship-contending NBA team, much less being one of the first subs off the bench. Once in a while he scores some points, but his shooting, ballhandling, passing and judgment are D League quality, at best.

Doc’s arrogant signing of his son has hurt the Clippers in many ways, not the least of which is the team’s failure to acquire a legitimate substitute point guard. Moreover, his $3-million contract has impeded the team’s ability to acquire other players because of salary cap restrictions. This is nepotism at its worst.

Alvin S. Michaelson

Los Angeles

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What a juxtaposition in your Sunday sports section. The headline on page 5 reads “Natural reorder of things,” and Broderick Turner ranks D’Angelo Russell No. 6 from the 2015 draft class, instead of No. 2, where he was drafted. Conversely, the headline on page 6 for the Lakers Report says “Russell is justifying draft decision.”

This reminds me about the old adage as to economists: “Ask two economists about something and you will get three opinions.”

Ken Feldman

Los Angeles

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In this worst season in Lakers history I continue to watch. I don’t know why. I’m not a glutton for punishment. I don’t gawk at roadside accidents. I don’t care for horror movies. But still I watch the Lakers. And I think I’ve found a diamond among the muck.

It’s 32-year-old Marcelo Huertas.

I realize his shooting accuracy is an exercise in futility, but at least he plays with passionate hustle. He plays defense. He provides assists. He alone among all the Lakers tries to play a team game.

However meager it is, I finally found a reason to keep watching.

Goleta, Calif.

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Byron Scott says it may take three to five years before the young Lakers players fulfill expectations. Wonder where he’ll be when that happens?

Gary H. Miller

Encino

Hold the ice

Imagine for a moment that SoCal had two professional teams playing at the top of their game and racing toward the playoffs. Bill Plaschke’s head would explode. Lakers/Clippers? Dodgers/Angels? Any combination of Rams/Chargers/Raiders? Nope, nope and nope.

Instead of a front-page story about the draft lottery, how about some Kings and Ducks? Three championships in the last nine years combined. Helene, Lisa and Lance deserve better.

John Vande Wege

Duarte

Award worthy

Kudos to longtime high school sports maven Eric Sondheimer for the honor of having an award named after him — while still living.

For decades, Sondheimer has provided readers much more than who won, who lost and why. He has painted pictures of so many athletes and coaches in various sports that go far beyond their athletic and teaching prowess, which is a mark of an excellent journalist. To be blunt: There is no other columnist in the nation focusing on high school sports who has his bona fides and cred.

And he is also quite knowledgeable about the four-legged equine athletes who excel in left-hand turns on both dirt and grass.

Howard P. Cohen

North Hills

Pitching in

Being one of the 35% of Dodgers fans who can receive the broadcasts of the preseason games, I was looking forward to this new season. Unfortunately, Charley Steiner almost immediately began calling balls and strikes. It’s as if we at home can’t see them. About half of the time the calls are wrong. He says outside when the pitch is inside, low when they are high. I’m sure others have observed this. Can someone please tell him!

Jack Walker

Santa Monica

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C.J. Wilson — car dealership tycoon/sometimes pitcher with a 1-6 postseason record — doesn’t “really care how long it takes” before he’s back on the mound for the Angels.

Jered Weaver — fighting through a bulging disk and 79-mph fastball — has a simple philosophy: “If [Manager Mike Scioscia] gives me the ball, I’ll pitch.”

One of these men sounds like a competitor, the other a soon-to-be retiree waiting out his gold watch.

Michael Meilan

New York

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If 79 mph is your fastest pitch, I would suggest two things: Watch the movie “Knuckleball” and call Tim Wakefield.

Craig Schwarz

Camarillo

He said it

For quote of the year, Gregg Popovich goes straight to the lead with, “In general, shoot-arounds could be kaputskied.”

Checking on verb tense now.

Jim B. Parsons

Canyon Lake

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