Letters: Not hard to determine the winner and loser at the Masters

That the right man won the Masters is evidenced not only in Phil Mickelson’s humanity or his triumph in the face of his wife’s and mother’s battles against breast cancer, but also Tiger Woods’ failure to learn the lessons needed from his sex scandal. Asked to sum up his week, he responded “I came in fourth.” He should have expressed gratitude for the patrons’ showing him any common measure of respect or the importance of being reunited with his fellow golfers. Apparently even hiring Ari Fleischer can’t buy “I’m truly sorry.”

Scott Bentley

Malibu

It could not possibly be said better then it was by Grantland Rice — “For when the One Great Scorer comes, to write your name, he marks, not that you won or lost, but how you played the game.” Tiger Woods’ comments about “not getting it done” at the Masters sadly shows how far removed he is from being a true sportsman. The emperor has no clothes. The king is dead, long live the king, all hail Phil.

Maury Mills

Ventura

Where is Tiger’s PR guy when he needs him? His exit interview with CBS was terse, pompous and all too much sounding like someone who still feels entitled to a win whenever he walks on the course. He even visibly bristled and barely bit his tongue when asked about the cursing he volunteered to rein in.

Here’s the sound bite he should have provided: “Didn’t play as well as I would have liked and didn’t get the win, but I competed hard. I’ll get better, but I want to thank the fans for their support and congratulate Phil and wish the best for him and his wife.”

That would have been class and won back some more allegiance. But, like the victory on Sunday, class is something that eluded him as he lumbered down the fairways, completing his transformation to the anti-hero.

William Seaton

Sherman Oaks

When I heard the Nike/Tiger commercial, what came to mind was Joseph Welch’s response to Sen. McCarthy during the hearings of the 1950s: “Have you no sense of decency, sir?”

Tim Gaul

Laguna Beach

Ouch

I find it funny that I keep hearing from announcers, writers, basketball “experts” and fans that Kobe Bryant is in a shooting slump. They say he’s having an off year, he’s in a funk, he’s not himself and he’s just not Kobe. Actually, this is exactly who he is. He shot .456 from the field this year and his lifetime percentage is .455.

Kobe may be one of the greatest shooters of all time. But he also has probably one of the worst shot selections of all time. You don’t get style points in the NBA. A two-point shot is a two-point shot.

Reggie Boyle

Thousand Oaks

So Kobe Bryant needs to rest his finger that he broke in December. When I broke my index finger playing football years ago, I splinted it up and healed within two weeks. And I am a lot older than Kobe. My guess is that something else is going on here.

Arturo Adame

Redondo Beach

It’s actually a blessing that the Lakers won’t go far in the playoffs this year. With the City of Los Angeles basically bankrupt, there’s certainly no money to be wasted on another parade like last year.

Keith Olson

Pacific Palisades

Worn out already

As suspect as the Dodgers’ starting pitching already was in the preseason, Joe Torre may have them all worn out by the All-Star break if he keeps following Billy Martin footsteps by throwing the pitch count out the window.

Jon Umeda

Monterey Park

I found Ned Colletti’s statements regarding the Dodgers pitchers continually falling behind in the count interesting.

Here’s a thought: Fire Rick Honeycutt immediately!

I’ve been watching this guy sit on his hands in the dugout, while the pitchers, specifically the younger ones, struggle during a game. I know there are two visits an inning, but he seems to let them go far too long before the first visit. And based on the fact they are getting worse instead of better, it’s time for a change. It seems his words have fallen on deaf ears.

Steve Owen

San Diego

After the Dodgers dropped four of six games on their season-opening trip to Pittsburgh and Florida, Joe Torre was quoted as saying “We have to find out where we go and what’s going to give us the best chance to win a ballgame.”

Joe, Joe, Joe — ever so diplomatic. You’ve mastered the art of Dodgers doublespeak! It’s no wonder why Frank McCourt and Ned Colletti love you so much. We all know that you know the answer to the conundrum that is shaping up as the Dodgers pitching in 2010: What is going to give the Dodgers the best chance to win a ballgame is if the other team declines to hit.

Tony Crale

Whittier

So the Dodgers rested five starters on the second game of the season. How did the five manage to get all the way (or most of the way) through the whole first game?

When, as a boy, I kept the scores the Cleveland Indians’ games while listening to the radio broadcast, I would have been flummoxed by such wooziness. Players played daily unless they were hurt, and pitchers were expected to go nine innings unless they were getting clobbered.

Those were the days when players were, well, men rather than millionaires.

David Eggenschwiler

Los Angeles

Vin Scully: 82 or 28?

Ed Trivers

Lake Arrowhead

On Target

At Target Field, the new Minnesota Twins ballpark, they named the entrance gates after five of their greatest players: Harmon Killebrew, Kirby Puckett, Tony Oliva, Kent Hrbek, and Rod Carew.

The Carew Gate is for singles only.

Hank Rosenfeld

Santa Monica

Worth it

So be it if major league owners collude to reduce free-agency costs. If it results in more poor families being able to attend a game once in a while at affordable prices, so be it indeed.

William P. Mouzis

Lake Balboa

Finally

When the Kings last made the playoffs in 2002, season-ticket holders were told that it was the first step in a long line of playoff appearances that would culminate in the Stanley Cup. But then 2003 came and went with no playoffs, as did 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2008. Finally in 2009-10 we have been rewarded for our loyalty. Shame on me for doubting AEG’s sincerity.

Robert Stephenson

Beverly Hills

Dear Donald

Interim coach Kim Hughes, who tried to bring some order and stability to the mess known as the Los Angeles Clippers, has been fired for his efforts. That’s par for the course for an organization that continually ranks at the bottom of the list for professional sports franchises. The concept of someone doing his or her job the right way has always been beyond owner Donald Sterling’s mental grasp, so Hughes’ firing comes as no surprise.

In the meantime, team “leader” Baron Davis can continue his endless search for the club’s identity while he collects his huge paycheck. Davis is one of those unique players who can only display his talent when the mood hits him — and that hasn’t happened much lately. As for the rest of us, we can only pity the unfortunate person who becomes the next head coach for this pathetic organization.

Charles Reilly

Manhattan Beach

All right, we have a problem here. Craig Smith doesn’t want to leave the Clippers. That means, of course, the Clippers can’t keep him — he’s abnormal.

David Rutter

Fallbrook

:

The Los Angeles Times welcomes expressions of all views. Letters should be brief and become the property of The Times. They may be edited and republished in any format. Each must include a valid mailing address and telephone number. Pseudonyms will not be used.

By mail: Sports Viewpoint

Los Angeles Times

202 W. 1st St.

Los Angeles, CA 90012

By fax: (213) 237-4322

E-mail: [email protected]