NBA Finals

Laughing through pain

Thank you Steve Kelley, for allowing me to laugh through the pain of watching Clay Bennett accept a trophy on center court. Your imagination of Howard Schultz's evening ("Thinking along with Schultz," Wednesday) watching the first game of the NBA Finals was brilliant, fun and sad as well. I watched while Schultz squirmed on the "CBS Morning Show" and couldn't find a way to respond to Charlie Rose and make himself look even somewhat human about the matter.

Who could believe he really cares about jobs when he put so many people out of work to satisfy his bruised ego. You'll find no comfort in Seattle this week, Mr. Schultz.

— Gus Oien, Seattle

Forgive if you can't forget

I spent 40 years in Cleveland before moving to Seattle in the early 1990s. So I hate rooting for Miami for what LeBron James did to Cleveland and hate Oklahoma City for having our Sonics. And don't get me started on finally seeing the Seahawks getting to the Super Bowl that has eluded the Browns and having the refs steal the victory for the hated Steelers.

So I have learned to deal with the bitterness similar to dealing with the emotions of the divorce from my first wife. You simply must reach a point of forgiveness and getting on with your life. My glory days were the baseball playoffs in 1995. No matter who won between the Mariners and the Indians, I would have been OK.

So I am a calm, happy guy after all the issues. Except don't get me started on if the Mariners can get to a World Series before I die!

— Jim Stanek, Renton

Mariners

Don't blame Felix for this

I have to respond to the reader who had the gall to blame Felix Hernandez's slow start for his loss of love of the game of baseball ("Killing fan's love of the game," June 10). Really? Seriously?

As a Mariners season-ticket holder, I understand frustration, but to indicate that you would give up on not only the M's but on baseball tells me you were never a real fan. Felix is about heart, performance, dedication, and is everything that is good about the game and the M's, so back off and find another sport, please. A true fan doesn't just "give up" and blame one of the best in the game.

— Zygi Goldenberg, Seattle

Why aren't opponents cursed?

It seems like all I have read in the past week or so is how the Mariners can't hit at Safeco. For us poor, ignorant, unwashed souls, how about someone explaining to us how this supposed Safeco curse doesn't seem to bother the visiting teams, no matter who they might be?

— Meryl Gordon, Coupeville

Fix this problem

With the Mariners in another year of disappointment on the field, some have suggested that the ballpark is the problem. Not management, not the team itself, but the place where they play. The reality is, regardless of the dimensions of the ballpark, the team that plays the best usually wins.

Pitching and defense are the keys to consistent winning in baseball. With an erratic pitching staff and the inconsistent defense the Mariners have this year, there is no chance they can get beyond third place in the American League West.

It is entirely up to management to solve the problem on the field, and there is little likelihood they are prepared to do that.

— Ed Anderson, Kirkland

Give Beavan an apology

Shame on you for the June 11 poll question, "Should the Mariners keep Blake Beavan in the starting rotation" and the responses of 2,113 unqualified people.

This 22-year-old athlete is part of the Mariners' starting pitching rotation and is giving his all to stay in the major leagues. That is, in itself, continuous pressure to perform, without an inane poll that denigrates him specifically.

Every one of you owe this man an apology. In the future, please have the decency to leave these personnel decisions to the experts, namely Jack Zduriencik and Eric Wedge.

— Jake Rebar, West Seattle

Sideline Chatter

Cliché headline hit wrong note

I was very disappointed in the use of a particular cliché ("Not to beat a dead horse," Wednesday) in Sideline Chatter. Not because it's a cliché, but because of the association of horses and beating. I don't know the origin of the saying, but then again I don't think I want to know.

The headline seemed even less appropriate given The Times' admirable effort to focus on what's positive and interesting about Thoroughbred horse racing in your series on Elusive Noise.

There's already too much darkness in this racing sport — horse slaughter, neglect, abuse, overbreeding etc. — for me to want to read such headlines in the newspaper I've subscribed to for many years.

— Sharon Peck, West Seattle

UW crew

Thanks for Husky coverage

Belated thanks for your great coverage of the Husky sweep at the IRA Championships in New Jersey ("UW rows into history," June 5). Thanks also for that fabulous picture on Page C4. That is our granddaughter Lisa Caldwell (cox of the freshman eight) holding that huge trophy. This is the first time any Caldwell has had a picture in any Sports section, and it certainly warmed the cockles of this old man's heart.

— Jack Caldwell, Redmond