Letters: A most painful season for Lakers

L.A. Times Archives

Dec. 20, 2013 12 AM PT

Hey, Kobe, When I said, “Break a leg,” it was just a figure of speech.

Jeff Black

Beverly Hills

So when Kobe comes back from this latest injury, is Jim Buss going to sign him to another two-year extension?

Matthew Klipper

Studio City

Kobe Bryant’s return from injury was short-lived. The Lakers now have to seriously start preparing for “life after Kobe” as it is obvious that the wear and tear and years of playing have begun to break him down. Kobe’s insatiable desire to excel and compete are just not enough to combat medical reality and the laws of nature. He has been one of the greatest players of all time. Unfortunately, he will never reach that level of excellence again. At least we had the privilege of watching him during a spectacular 17-year run. It’s a sad day for Lakers fans, but an inevitable one.

Charles Reilly

Manhattan Beach

Here is the perfect Lakers two-year plan:

Cut Nash. Trade Pau and any other player with significant salary immediately. When Kobe returns, surround him with the four cheapest stiffs that will feed him assists like an automatic ball machine while he attempts to break Wilt Chamberlain’s scoring record every night in D’Antoni’s system on steroids.

The Lakers will lose every game in an entertaining fashion (Showtime Light: You’re welcome, Jim Buss) while positioning themselves favorably for the deepest draft in a decade.

Once Kobe retires with Kareem’s career scoring record, Mitch can team Kevin Love and Russell Westbrook with Jabari Parker (see lottery above) for a 2016 title run!

William David Stone

Beverly Hills

Pau Gasol’s skill set doesn’t fit, Chris Kaman sits at the end of the bench, Jordan Hill’s playing time goes up and down like a yo-yo and Dwight Howard caught the first train to Houston.

What do they all have in common? Mike D’Antoni!

D’Antoni simply does not seem to understand how to use big men. All are under-utilized in a simplistic system where “run and gun” outside shooting is prized. It is a system that has never won an NBA championship, and its only success comes on the rare occasion when a collection of outside shooters all get hot at once. Good coaches have a system they always employ. Great coaches create teams that blend the unique talents of the their players.

For a franchise with a storied history of the some of the NBA’s greatest big men, it’s sad that the Lakers are standing by a coach who treats frontcourt players as if they are just in the way of another 30 footer.

Warren M. Lent

Los Angeles

Before being injured again, Kobe Bryant said he wants to play basketball in June. Good for him. In June, my Playboy Playmate wife and I want to be freely elected president of North Korea. Between the two of us, I like my chances a whole lot better than his.

Erik Schuman

Fountain Valley

Jumping on Sark

Steve Sarkisian hasn’t led one practice, and the NCAA, USC and others are now investigating alleged improprieties under his watch at Washington. Pat Haden’s “gut feeling” about Sarkisian is now a throbbing pain.

Barry P. Resnick

Orange

Noticeably absent from this article is the person who hired Sarkisian: Athletic Director Pat Haden.

Are we alums expecting to hear Pat invoke the memorable line by Sgt. Schultz?

“I know nothing!”

Howard Cohen

North Hills

Coach Sark already being investigated by the NCAA? It’s great to keep up school traditions, but this is over the top.

Alan Miller

Santiago, Chile

The Pete Carroll era is back, baby!

Glenn M. Langdon

Garden Grove

Let’s see if I have this straight. The Trojans are being coached for their appearance in the Las Vegas Bowl by a group of coaches who won’t be around next year, and are obviously thinking about where their next job will be, rather than beating Fresno State. And the coaches who will be at USC are out recruiting.

Interim Coach Clay Helton observed that the outgoing staff is preparing like “it’s the Super Bowl.” Yeah, right.

Ralph S. Brax

Lancaster

Bruin advice

Brett Hundley, stick around another year. You’ll be better prepared for the pros with a more experienced offensive line, you’ll be a front-runner for the Heisman and most important, you and UCLA are positioned to do some very special things: beat USC three consecutive years, win the Pac-12 and maybe get to the promised land: one of those four coveted spots in the first BCS playoff.

Cy Bolton

Rancho Cucamonga

Too soon?

Ho ho ho. The Dodgers being listed as the favorite to win next year’s World Series by Las Vegas is the closest they will come to winning.

Jorge Ribeiro

Alhambra

Heisman watch

Someone please tell Jameis Winston that “not enough evidence to obtain a conviction” is not the same as being vindicated.

Sam Pinterpe

Huntington Beach

Martin-mania

Can you imagine Kings goalie Martin Jones being a rookie MLB pitcher and getting off to this kind of start? Or an NFL rookie QB? It would be a media frenzy.

The Ducks and Kings are among the top five teams in the NHL, and the Kings are in the midst of their best first half ever. This might be a good time for the radio and TV folks to start pulling out the few NHL terms they know … just to get ready for the playoffs in the spring.

John Fraser

Camarillo

Prep talk

Does anyone else find it disturbing that in the midst of a nationwide debate on football concussions, the children who play for St. John Bosco High will play two more games than Florida State?

Maury D. Benemie

Corona

Program note:

We will not be bringing you the highly anticipated matchup between two of the most powerful prep football teams in history, St. John Bosco and Concord De La Salle, meeting for the first time ever for the state championship at StubHub Center on Saturday night.

Instead, please enjoy the equivalent of 2 1/2 hours of old, stinky, washed-up fish flopping around hopelessly on a pier dock.

And happy holidays to all from Time Warner Cable.

Dan Johnson

Burbank

Duly warned

How do you know when you’re watching a lousy NFL game? The game is preceded by the announcement, “Due to contractual obligations....”

Mario Valvo

Rancho Mirage

Hay, hay, goodbye

So long, Hollywood Park — no racetrack ever named more glamorously. Say hello for us to Bay Meadows and Tanforan.

Pat Sullivan

Nipomo, Calif.

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So long, Hollywood Park — no racetrack ever named more glamorously. Say hello for us to Bay Meadows and Tanforan.

Pat Sullivan

Nipomo, Calif.

Mail: Sports Viewpoint

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