Emphasis on local presents limited view

Every once in a while I think Seattle may be becoming a truly cosmopolitan city — fully aware of and attuned to a world beyond our local interests and views. But then along comes The Seattle Times to remind me again that we can be as parochial as anyone.

Today’s front page is ample proof. Barack Obama is inaugurated for a second term and delivers an unusually challenging address [“We must act,” page one, Jan. 22]. But that story is dwarfed by an oversized picture of a Sonics jersey and not one, but two stories on the impact of the franchise shift on Sacramento and the bars on Lower Queen Anne and Pioneer Square [“Back in the game,” page one, Jan. 22].

The pictures of the president in the first section are dwarfed by the pictures of Kris Brannon — whoever he is — in the sports section.

Come on, Seattle Times; there is a world beyond the ferry docks and the Lake Washington bridges.

--David W. Madsen, Seattle

Obama’s inauguration deserved more space

I have to admit that I was dismayed when I opened the Jan. 22 edition of the paper, and on the front page was greeted by a huge sports jersey. I understand the excitement that the return of an NBA team brings to Seattle. But really, three-fourths of the front page devoted to a sports team that you described in that story as having “a few significant hurdles” remaining?

Our president was inaugurated yesterday, and you bestowed only a meager fourth of the front page to that story. It almost seems an afterthought.

Surely the NBA story could have shared the front page space equally with the president’s inauguration.

--Kathe Hartley Vago, Bellingham