At Least Utah Fans Were at the Game

Oh, dear.

Mr. Plaschke, this is one Utahan who is mightily sorry that you had to come face to face with the dark side of the Utah soul [April 25]. I just thank God you didn’t see the two guys who left beer cups under their seats or hear that one guy in a light plaid shirt and brown Dockers pants shout, “Come on, refs.”

Not only that, but I was told a woman in a white shirt, a shimmering black skirt and flesh-tone No. 3 stretch hose said the word “dammit.” If you heard that and were kind enough not to report it, I’m sorry.

I reject the arguments that you wrote the whole column in the whining tone of a petulant eighth-grade Clipper fan who learned basketball from Nike commercials. First of all, you are obviously familiar with Reebok’s work, and secondly you don’t have to be a sports reporter for a major paper to know how easy it is to put together 11 or 12 whiny intramural brats and win 64 NBA games.

KEN LOVELAND

Provo, Utah

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Bill Plaschke’s column on the first game of Clippers-Jazz series was no more than sour grapes on his part. Come on, Bill! Making fun of cheerleaders, fans and the 2002 Olympics? Don’t you have anything else to say other than this snobbish drivel?

I saw [the game] at the Delta Center. Face it--the Clips were outshot, outboarded, outblocked and out-assisted. They lost by 20 points to a great team.

That’s it, Bill. The Clippers lost. That’s it. Go drink your sour grape wine elsewhere. Nobody likes listening to winos ramble on.

CHRIS DEGN

Salt Lake City

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The capacity of Sports Arena is listed as 16,000. On Monday, the Clippers played with a lot of empty seats for their first playoff game in four years. Yes, I know the Clippers did not play a very good game, but I also know that there are more than 16,000 Clipper fans out there. For those who chose to just watch TV, shame on you.

JANG-WOOK KIM

Montrose

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Top 10 reasons the Clipper playoff game was not a sellout:

10. Game was too near the end of the month, so everyone’s check was still in the mail.

9. Everyone saw the outside of the arena’s exterior chipping away and thought there was new damage from weekend tremors.

8. The game was on TV: Why spend the money?

7. Police had announced traffic diversions due to ongoing shooting investigation three blocks away.

6. Ticket prices for games that had to be paid in advance by season-ticket holders were the same as during regular season, so this couldn’t be a playoff game, could it?

5. NBA announced there would be the same unbiased refereeing from the regular season.

4. Stanley Roberts was still injured, so we wouldn’t get to see his magnificent plays.

3. Kevin Duckworth had announced he wouldn’t be wearing a new outfit, just something from regular season.

2. Fox Sports West promised to give every fan a towel they could personally throw in.

1. The Pond was unavailable because they had to schedule games there for a team that was winning.

CHRIS AGRELLA

Wrightwood