Letters: Magic & McCourt not a pretty picture

Magic Johnson sitting with Frank McCourt at a Dodgers game? That could never happen, right? Somebody Photoshopped the two together. Magic would never do something so idiotic. I equate Magic sitting with Frank McCourt in the same vein as if he were sitting on the Celtics bench while the Lakers were playing the Celtics. Get a clue, Mr. Might Be the Owner.

Geno Apicella

Placentia

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Magic Johnson may own less than 3% of the Dodgers, but his presence is nearly 100% of Dodgers public relations. Thus, sitting next to Frank McCourt and his cronies on opening day is a “mustard’s off the hot dog” play. Wake up, Magic!

Wayne Muramatsu

Cerritos

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Seeing He Who Must Not Be Named sitting next to Magic on opening day spoiled what would have otherwise been an enjoyable viewing experience. Vinny. The Dodgers winning. Should have been fun stuff.

I just can’t believe He Who Must Not be Named is completely out, and until I’m proved wrong my personal boycott of the ballpark is still in effect.

Mike Kvammen

South Pasadena

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As ever, T.J. Simers is the only one astutely noting that new emperor may be wearing the same clothes as the old one. Mr. McCourt’s business plan had banked on the fact that many fans will blindly root for their team — raise prices, reduce payroll — and it was working up until the divorce. Now the new money men will get their chance to prove their new partner (McCourt) right, while positioning Magic Johnson as “the new owner” to distract fans from the fact that the 2012 and 2013 teams will be Kemp, Kershaw and kiss the playoffs goodbye.

Ron Antonette

Long Beach

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I’m not privy to the details of the Dodgers sale and Frank McCourt keeping half the parking lots, but could someone please provide us with a map of which of the lots McCourt still owns? I’m going to park in the other ones.

Mel Powell

Sherman Oaks

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Thank you, T.J. Magic is more PR than anything else here. The fact that Frank McCourt is still in the picture is unsettling, but it won’t be on my mind when I’m at Angel Stadium watching this year’s World Series champion Angels.

Edward Madrid

Arleta

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Seldom has so much been written about something by so many who know absolutely nothing. Perhaps we should let the new owners do what they do best — make lots of money — and hopefully they will put a good, winning product on the diamond at the same time.

Rod Hersberger

Santa Barbara

About time

The Dodgers’ new ownership should, by the time Vin Scully Bobblehead Day rolls around, rename the Stadium Vin Scully Field at Dodger Stadium (or something of that nature) before it becomes El Pollo Loco Park.

I’m sure Vin would never want it, which is exactly why it ought to be done.

The Times’ sports editors, writers, and columnists should champion this idea. I bet the ownership group is reading the paper these days.

Chris Slay

Long Beach

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I think Magic and his group got a great deal at $2 billion. Vin Scully alone is worth $3 billion.

Bart Miller

Marina del Rey

Mr. A

So Philip Anschutz is “really serious” about pro football returning to Los Angeles. In fact, Tim “The Carnival Barker” Leiweke was told by good ol’ Mr. Anschutz to “get past your obstacles” so he (Anschutz) can seal the deal. The only obstacle that needs to be cleared is Anschutz using the Eli Broad method of negotiations: “Not With My Money.”

Brent Montgomery

Long Beach

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When Phil Anschutz sneezes within his Denver hide-out, does Tim Leiweke catch a cold in L.A.?

Hans Warren

Sherman Oaks

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I’ve known monks who have taken vows of silence to be more outspoken than Phil Anschutz.

Arthur Freedman

Los Angeles

Done with it

Congratulations to Kentucky and to John Calipari’s honest but nonetheless cynical use of “one and done” to earn the 2012 NCAA basketball championship. College should be about providing a thoughtful and thorough education to serious students, not about warehousing 18-year-olds who actually have the talent to play professionally and whose career aspirations extend no further than the NBA.

An 18-year-old who is sufficiently good to play pro basketball should be allowed to play in the NBA and the NBA should be ashamed of itself for not allowing them to play. The universities and their presidents should be even more ashamed for allowing themselves to be turned into whorehouses and madams, respectively.

Lewis Redding

Arcadia

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There was something missing from your coverage of the NCAA championship game. What’s the under/over for the number of months until Kentucky’s win is vacated thanks to Coach Cal?

Rich Rudy

San Diego

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Coach Howland, did you see what shape the Kentucky players were in? It is seconds after the tournament: Do you know where Josh Smith is?

Michael Davidson

Altadena

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The Times could do us a big favor when reporting the starting time of games by suggesting, for example, that, “Although the NCAA championship game is due to start at 6 p.m., don’t bother tuning in to Channel 2 until 6:33, by which time, most assuredly, all the pregame junk and introductions will have ended, probably, we hope.”

Gene Miller

Huntington Beach

More, please

With not much else to cheer about, Ducks fans were chanting “one more year” to Teemu Selanne at their final home game this week. I think the notion is absurd. One more year is not enough.

The man appears to be ageless. May I address him? Teemu, if you ever fail to score at least 20 goals in a full season, by all means, hang up your skates. Until then, please play one more year indefinitely.

Ron Reeve

Glendora

Bynum, now and Zen

It appears Andrew Bynum is now sufficiently seasoned to channel (or parody) Allen Iverson: “We talkin’ about huddles. I know I’m supposed to be in there but … we talkin’ about huddles!”

Charles L. Zetterberg

Claremont

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Though today’s professional may be athletically superior to those of eras past, it is evident that many could have learned much about grace and class from those that came before them. Though not true across the board, there are far too many examples of conduct born out of simple lack of respect — for the game, for one’s employer, for one’s team and for one’s self. Case in point: Andrew Bynum.

Bud Chapman

Northridge

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Lakers fans know a Zen Master when they see one, and believe me, Andrew, you’re no Zen Master. You’re not even a Grasshopper. What you are is an injury-prone boy-in-a-man’s body with an overinflated ego and immaturity to match, which has to have the Lakers rethinking a deal for Dwight Howard. And has anyone noticed that when Bynum is out how Gasol takes advantage of unclogged lanes to bring back his inside game, sorely lacking in Coach Brown’s offensive system, which has turned him into a mid-range shooting small forward?

Allan Kandel

Los Angeles

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Andrew Bynum needs to be gone quickly after the season. His maturity problems have been well-chronicled. As for Mike Brown, the coach, well, wasn’t it just last week that Vinny Del Negro was nearly in the unemployment line? The Lakers don’t need a new coach, they need a few guys that play physically, like the rest of the league, and have some scoring punch. They need to play rough, rugged defense, and the coach will be fine, as he is.

Chet Chebegia

Long Beach

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After watching the Lakers-Clipper game, I say, “Let the big dog eat!” Kobe was acting like Magic by calling plays to feed Bynum. Also, throw the big dog a “three-point” bone once in a while if it helps him wag his tail.

David Waldowski

Alta Loma

Truths or dares

Five NBA truths

(1) The Clippers are still the Clippers. They will breeze into the playoffs, and be eliminated early.

(2) Andrew Bynum will not wake up and smell the coffee until he is 40 years old.

(3) Experience or speed is what wins titles, which is why San Antonio and Oklahoma City will be there at the end, and why the Lakers, who have a little of both, but not enough of either, will not.

(4) Lin-sanity will give way to Lin-adequate. Jeremy Lin will be remembered as the Asian Bobby Hurley.

(5) Phil Jackson will coach again, but without a Michael, Kobe or Shaq to carry the load, will disappoint all of us.

Dave Macaray

Rowland Heights

Let them in

Let’s not let moral and ethical issues get in the way of a nice, shiny new green jacket. Let’s all watch as a gaggle of multimillionaires ignore the fact that they have wives, mothers, sisters, aunts and probably a lot of lady friends who are not allowed to join the Augusta National Golf Club because they committed the unthinkable sin of being born female. You know, those awful creatures that have given birth to every one of us?

Wake up, everyone! It’s 2012. I have a 15-year old son and he’s already told me that if he made $100 million in the next 10 years he’d never join a club that would exclude his beloved female friends. He already enjoys a far greater moral compass than Bootie and Timmy and Skippy and the rest of the moldy cheeseheads who run the Masters.

Mike Walker

Los Angeles

Home schooled

It’s such a relief seeing that USC will be given nearly complete control over running the Coliseum. I mean it did such a great job handling the Reggie Bush situation.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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