Equal entities

I was dismayed to read Gabriel Campanario’s article in the June 30 paper, titled “Father, son share hoops and hopes.” [NWSaturday].

What kind of a message is this father giving his son when he gives him the impression that Seattle Storm basketball is lesser basketball and Seattle is bereft until it gets an NBA team back? When we had both the Sonics and the Storm, the latter was still by far the most exciting and positive basketball experience in town. The WNBA plays the game in its more pure, original form and the players truly appreciate the fans rather than having the massive egos you see in the NBA. Tickets are priced for families, and instead of scantily clad cheerleaders, there are children dancing their hearts out on the floor.

Our sons as well as daughters benefit when we give them the message that the WNBA is of equal worth to the NBA. I feel lucky to have the Storm in Seattle and want my young grandson to love them as much as I do.

— Richard Cooper, Seattle

Rethinking the proposed arena

As a former Seattle Sonics fan and South Seattle resident, I initially supported the idea of the new basketball arena in Sodo and was thrilled [“Arena dispute spills over to rails-trails project,” NWMonday, July 2].

However, I am now having serious second thoughts due to the lengthy commute I have coming home from work from the Eastside on Interstate 90 almost every day. It’s worse on Sounders or Mariners game days, and the 520 toll makes it even more crowded than before.

When I consider driving home on a basketball game day in the winter, rain and darkness, it will be horrible — much worse than when fans took could take 520. Has no one considered this? There are many more sports fans on the Eastside — that’s where the arena belongs!

— Alberta Conrad, Seattle