Laker Fans: You Jump Off the Bandwagon at Own Risk

I have kids, I should have known about Dennis Rodman’s attitude:

Tell ‘em they can’t and they will fool you every time.

BOB GINN, Arcadia

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Rodman’s experience and play seem to have inspired this young Laker team and electrified this short basketball season. He has brought excitement to basketball, much as McGwire and Sosa did for baseball and Flutie for football.

Rambis, keep bringing Rodman off the bench. The anticipation of his coming in is enough to thrill the fans and chill the opponents. I am not that interested in pro basketball, but I will watch the Lakers now.

JACK RAMPIAS, Chatsworth

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Come on, Kurt Rambis; it’s 1999, not 1985! You need to understand that in order to progress, you must learn to step forward, not backward!

Rambis is reportedly seeking the advice of yesteryear’s star, Magic Johnson. However, Johnson proved in his brief stints as a comeback player and interim coach that his productive basketball days are behind him. Johnson was unable to communicate or motivate today’s young players.

Further, his presence and attitude seemed to be a disruptive influence to the team. In his wisdom, I believe that’s why Del Harris never “encouraged” Johnson’s participation. Add to that, Johnson’s anger is apparent, as evidenced by his critical remarks upon Harris’ departure.

MIKE VARI, Mission Viejo

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In the Feb. 27 Viewpoint, John Griffith writes, “If Dennis Rodman becomes a Laker, I become an ex-fan. To do otherwise would be to contradict all I’m trying to teach my two children.”

I’m not sure what Mr. Griffith is trying to teach his children, but apparently it is not about the importance of self-sacrifice for the benefit of the team, as Rodman has demonstrated repeatedly thus far. Or about keeping yourself in good physical condition, or refusing to give up when your opponents are ahead.

Too bad for Mr. Griffith’s kids that he doesn’t want them to grow up to play as well, as hard, or as intelligently as Dennis Rodman. Hopefully his kids will pick up these values on their own, despite Dad’s efforts.

JOHN FISH, Los Angeles

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I found your letters section, full of complainers about Dennis Rodman playing for the Lakers, to be absurd in the extreme. Whatever eccentricities Rodman has exhibited in his career, he has always helped teams win championships with the unglamorous part of the game, tough defense and great rebounding. The only way to achieve that is through hustle and hard work, something the Lakers have been short on this season and could learn about from Rodman.

As for firing Del Harris, any company today not achieving its reasonable goals and potential will start firing management pronto, or be answerable to stockholders. So it is in sports. The whiners of today will cheer at the end of the season and forget their current anger if the team wins a championship, which they were not headed for with Harris and without Rodman.

DOUG WEISKOPF, Cincinnati

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An open letter to all bandwagoneers: Try not to let the door hit you in the butt on the way out. True Laker fans (you know, the ones you are trying to convince people that you were) will love the Lakers even in the wild times. When you’re a real fan, you support your team for what they’re supposed to do, win games.

The contradictions you express about Rodman are pathetic. You want a killer on the floor, grabbing rebounds and setting hard picks, but you want Betty Crocker pulling a litter of helpless kittens out of a burning building on his days off. Get over it. If your kids need role models that badly, be a better parent. The only reason you look up to these people is because they are all millionaires. The personality part is free.

Rodman is a perfect player for the Lakers right now, a great rebounder with the ability to make the outlook pass for that fast break that is so desperately needed. He sets the pick, and he’s an injection of energy when the rest of the squad becomes lethargic. I wouldn’t do any of the things that he does off the court, either, but he isn’t getting busted for possession, just having fun the way he likes to.

So thank you bandwagoneers for making a quick exit, and please don’t come back after the shuffleboard season ends.

BILL BILLINGTON, Los Angeles

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If the self-righteous, so-called Laker fans are jumping off the bandwagon now that Rodman has arrived, why are they still around years after James Worthy was caught soliciting prostitutes? Last time I checked, body painting and body piercing were not illegal. Hell, not even immoral.

Dennis, keep on painting, piercing and rebounding, and keep it legal.

WILLIS BARTON, Los Angeles

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Attention all you ex-Laker fans feeling betrayed by the signing of Rodman. The Clippers are looking for a few good fans. Trust me, you will not be missed.

RUBEN AVILA, East Los Angeles

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The Lakers should not trade Eddie Jones for Glen Rice. Championships are won by defense, not jump shots. Going back a decade, Chicago, Houston and Detroit all had strong defenses. Jones ranks among the elite defensively. Rice’s energy goes into offense. Pat Riley was willing to trade him away, and L.A. fans will never love him as they do Jones.

JOHN IRBY, Westminster

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In response to a question about a pending deal to trade Eddie Jones, Tim Kawakami quotes Jerry West as saying, “Listen, until we do something, I refuse to talk about it or not talk about it, OK?”

Is West auditioning for the next production of “Alice in Wonderland”?

ROSS MORRIS SMITH JR., Riverside