Unfortunately, Lakers Have Fight Left in Them

Phil’s Lakers are ugly. Keeping marginal talents such as Fox, Fisher and George just to instigate fights with the skilled players on the Kings isn’t coaching, it’s thuggery. Add 400-pound crybaby Shaq, and a bulked-up, trash-talking Kobe and yecch. Thank God for DirecTV and the Kings.

Colby Carr

Manhattan Beach

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My Laker season ended 2:07 into the final preseason game against Sacramento when Rick Fox added his name to the list of NBA playground thugs. I turned the game off and plan not to turn the Lakers back on until there is some indication that they care about the classy legacy left to them by Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Kareem and Magic. If they continue to resort to this unsportsmanlike style of play and behavior, a fourth championship would stand for little.

Vlade Divac rightly called Fox and Doug Christie “idiots.” Shaquille O’Neal, with typical lack of class, jokes about it, saying his surgically repaired toe “feels pretty good. I had Doug Christie’s wife massage it for me.” If O’Neal had a wife, he might view such a comment quite differently.

I don’t think Phil Jackson’s books have made a dent in the heads of these Lakers.

Bill Mead

Oak View

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Isn’t there enough violence on this planet? Now we’re promoting it for Christmas Day? Peace on Earth (and at Staples Center).

Pat Gilchrist

Los Alamitos

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Without Shaq and Fox, the Lakers will start with a lousy record, will lose home-court advantage, and will be knocked out of the playoffs early on.

Oh, wait. The Angels lost 14 of their first 20 games, and still won the World Series. Maybe all isn’t lost after all.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

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So Jerry West says, “I would like to see two players out here that we had in Los Angeles.”

I hope the NBA police force recognizes those comments for what they are, tampering, and fines him accordingly.

We still love you, Jerry, but you’re the enemy now.

Gregory Michael

Venice