Be a good sport or don’t talk smack like that
Manhattan: Always great to study Leonard Greene’s columns, and I’m in agreement most of the time. But today (“LeBad James on court,” March 16), we shall agree to disagree. LeBron is a calculated athlete. At times, I do find him passive-aggressive and dramatic, but Screaming A. Spits, aka Stephen A. Smith, is just as calculated and dramatic for his daily ratings ploy on “First Fake,” aka “First Take.” Common talk among pro athletes and some Black people is that SAS is more aggressive toward his own in said discussions. LeBron could have done this behind closed doors, just as SAS could have had the fatherhood talk behind doors. Both calculated. I guess it’s not as fun when the athlete had the proverbial stage gun.
Sports talk shows abound with criticism of Bronny James being taken by the Lakers, his play, etc. Where they differed was sports debates, not “as a father,” as SAS did with his dramatic whispers and gaze into the camera, which could be taken as questioning LeBron’s fatherhood. It’s the manner of his attacks. For example, no one has asked him why he hasn’t married the mother of his two daughters. Notice how that can be taken as too far or as an insult to fathers who didn’t marry the mother? See how that’s not fair in not knowing his situation?
SAS didn’t attack Michael Jordan over his son’s DUIs, drug use, etc. with the same fury, which I call cowardice and bias. Screaming A wouldn’t dare, and if he did, it would be preceded by a soliloquy about how MJ is his dear friend and they’ve had dinner recently, blah, blah. Lastly, always great work, even in disagreement, Mr. Greene. Edward Scott
Cautious optimism
Staten Island: I have been a fan of the Jets for a long time. When they decided to acquire Aaron Rodgers, I stated that they made a Brobdingnagian mistake. Well, now that Rodgers is gone, it is time to rebuild the team. The hiring of a new general manager and also a new coach is going in the right direction. Let’s forget Justin Fields, who will take control at quarterback and put wins on the board. Now, if things don’t go as planned, I will be the first to say fire the responsible individuals. I want to see the Jets get to the playoffs next season. I can’t believe that each year we go nowhere. As for owner Woody Johnson: sell the team. I am going to look forward to a good season. If we have another bad one, I will say Woody, sell the team. Jeffrey Van Pelt
All legal
Newton, N.J.: To Voicer Robert Weissbard: Nice to see that you read my letter. Too bad you missed the point. There is no proof that Mahmoud Khalil was involved in any violence. Nor is there proof that he is a supporter of Hamas or Hezbollah. As for “breaking laws,” sometimes free speech involves civil disobedience — although Khalil wasn’t charged with any crimes there, either. And neither has he called for the “death of Israel and anyone supporting Zionism.” All he did was organize demonstrations. But a Trumptard like yourself will swallow any lie you’re fed, right? Michael Schnackenberg
Surprise support
Brooklyn: I am 76, a woman and a Flatbush neighbor and constituent of Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn (“Former ally of Adams Bichotte Hermelyn joins Cuomo’s mayoral run,” March 17). I am shocked that she would endorse an unrehabilitated, perverted and “battle-tested” (her word) loser for what appears to everyone I know to be her own party ambitions. Any Andrew Cuomo endorsement further drags down Dems and bodes ill for a future political career. Money isn’t everything — or is it? Mary Lutz
Corporate welfare king
Kew Gardens: How about the government cuts off the contracts to Elon Musk for his SpaceX venture? Again the other day, a launch exploded. This is the eighth. Musk has received around $38 billion in government contracts. I don’t see him cutting any funding that affects his companies. I guess it’s so easy to cut funding that doesn’t pertain to you, especially when you are the richest man in the world. The American people have to wake up and not stand for this totally illegal power grab. Leslie Duzant
Ruinous reign
Paramus, N.J.: So, the dictator wannabe Orange Felon is now ignoring the courts (“Banished to El Salvador,” March 17)? The Tesla Nazi is threatening to “rip out Social Security by the roots?” Not to mention Medicaid and Medicare. The Orange Felon wants to ignore President Joe Biden’s pardons? The DOGE scam is a cover to give billionaires another tax cut. A mentally disturbed quack (called a predator by a family member) wants to eliminate vaccines. The Orange Felon is dismantling efforts to find a cure for cancer and other diseases. Who voted for this? Tom Greff
Shrank under pressure
Jamaica: Well, it looks like Sen. Chuck Schumer kissed the ring (“Chuck plays it safe on stopgap vote & is blasted by Dems,” March 15). He did not think about his constituents when he voted yes with 9 other Democratic senators. He stated that it was a bad bill, so why vote yes? Truly sad! We need a new Democratic Senate leader who cares about their constituents. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries and his group, except for one, did the right thing by voting no. I must say thank you to Jeffries and the others who voted no. Charlene Black
Right-wing ruse
Brooklyn: Don’t Democrats who wanted the Senate to shut down the federal government realize that the Tea Party Republicans would want nothing more? They blame federal programs over the last 90 years for socialism and progressively weakening the nation’s moral fiber and rugged individualism. They would blame the Democrats for the shutdown and hold out until the Democrats would have to yield, then use the damage to cut even more. For a transitory thrill of briefly defying Donald Trump, they’d be cutting off their nose to spite their face. Martin Selbst
Spending freeze cons
Brooklyn: To Voicer Omar Branch: Yes, Voicer Glenn Hayes is correct to encourage Americans to be mindful of and conservative in their spending. Regardless of the economic climate, fiscal prudence is, well, prudent. But right now, regardless of how well any individual or household manages money, that money simply won’t stretch as far as it should due to basic cost-of-living increases triggered by Trump’s vindictive tariffs. Sure, I can cut back on all expenses but the essentials — but when I work hard all week, why should I have to? It’s hardly profligate spending if I go out to a local restaurant every week or two and pump some of my hard-earned money back into the economy via patronizing a small business. In fact, it’s a death spiral for the economy if average Americans can’t afford that humble level of discretionary spending. Katherine Raymond
His fate is sealed
Morristown, N.J.: I believe it can happen to the worst of us. In the end, Trump will be old, bitter and discontent. He will not be among his enablers anymore, but living underground, somewhat like Hitler or Saddam Hussein. He will still be rich, but I believe he’ll be remembered as petty, a bully and braggart, consummate liar, sexual molester and most importantly, a traitor to his country. He will be soulless and without honor or integrity. His lying sycophants and the cowards in Congress will soon enough disavow him and flip-flop (to remain viable in politics) to the next would-be bullying dictator. Trump will once again be bankrupt, but this time, bankrupt in all the ways that really matter. Peter Ess
Cosmic order
Fort Lauderdale, Fla.: The sun, moon and wind teach spiritual lessons. The moon has no light of its own. Rather, it reflects the light of the sun, as the wind blows all over the Earth. God’s children are called to reflect the light of the Son in a dark and lost world (John 8:12). When that happens, the Holy Spirit moves like the wind, landing on those who God has chosen (John 3:8). People everywhere are lost in their sins, and only Jesus can set them free: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have eternal life” (John 3:16). Jim Black