Sports Correspondence: Transfer Portal Contributes to the Disordered System
On a Tuesday, The Times published an opinion piece penned by Bill Plaschke that criticized UCLA and Nico Iamaleava for his late transfer from Tennessee to UCLA during the spring, instead of the winter when Tennessee would have had more time to adjust. However, the NCAA rules committee, composed of member school athletic directors, specifically extended the transfer period to the end of the spring practice period. The article criticizes Plaschke for focusing his ire on the athletes and institutions instead of the rule-makers.
Alan Abajian from Alta Loma observes that the new quarterback's name, "I am a leava," hints at potential issues with him, warning UCLA to be cautious in their dealings with him.
Mark Sherwin from Los Angeles finds Plaschke's column on Nico Iamaleava to be somewhat mean-spirited, but it did pique his interest in UCLA football and if a Long Beach kid can succeed back home in SoCal.
Late in Game 1, I feared my team's legendary achievements – the "Miracle on Manchester" and the "Stunner at Staples (a.k.a. "Frenzy on Figueroa") – would be joined by the antithetical "Collapse at Crypto" ... "Monday Night Meltdown"? "Danault" what I was thinking!
Cindy McMahon from Manhattan Beach admits that she may lose her well-worn Kings fan card by confessing this, but the birth of Shohei Ohtani's first child has apparently given him the granddad strength.
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The Lakers may no longer be the only team in town, but the sports section of The Times seems to ignore the Clippers' presence. Beverlyn M. Jackson from Rialto, a lifelong Clipper fan, is frustrated at seeing the Lakers dominating coverage while the Clippers are relegated to a small corner in the pages. The Clippers have shown an impressive performance in the playoffs so far, making this series against the Nuggets feel like a Western Conference finals rather than Round One of the playoffs. Dave Ring from Manhattan Beach shares his excitement about the first playoff game ever at Intuit Dome and the brilliance behind "The Wall."
Aday Mara's departure from UCLA raised eyebrows, with Ron Yukelson from San Luis Obispo questioning his sincerity. While Mara tries to appear humble, Yukelson believes his reasons for leaving lack authenticity, particularly when he mentions that the additional NIL was not a factor. Mark Kaiserman from Santa Monica also shares mixed feelings about Mara's departure, submitting that it's easy to blame the coaching staff for not giving him enough playing time, but one must wonder if Mara could have shown more dedication and effort on the court.
Sarah Ashlee Barker's poise during crucial free throws has earned her comparisons to a skilled heart surgeon. Will Tomlinson from Santa Barbara expresses his admiration for her confidence under pressure, while Jerry Carlson from Camarillo fondly reminisces about watching Wes Parker play in the early 1960s.
In the era of the transfer portal, even college basketball fans find themselves questioning their loyalty to a team. Joe Kevany from Mount Washington weighs the prospect of jumping ship and transferring his support to a new college basketball program offering perks like autographed merchandise and season tickets. However, the lengthy line in the Fan Transfer Portal discourages him from doing so.
The NCAA's transfer rules allow athletes to enter the portal during sport-specific windows, with graduate transfers permitted to enter at any time. However, the surge in portal activity post-spring practice, even among players with exhausted eligibility, stems from pending lawsuits challenging the five-year window to use four seasons of eligibility and the four-year competition limit. The NCAA's approval of settlement-related rules signals impending structural changes to these regulations.
Linda Smith from Long Beach is intrigued by the ongoing changes in sports-betting laws, especially with California legislators considering legalizing sports betting in the state.
Frank Taylor from Oakland expresses his admiration for Tomlinson's astute analysis on sports, particularly football, baseball, hockey, golf, basketball, racing, and tennis, calling it an "interesting mix" that adds depth to his articles.
John Cunningham from Santa Monica believes that the integrity of sports is at stake following the recent surge in transfers, driven by the NCAA's transfer rules and ongoing lawsuits challenging these regulations.
Betty Johnson from Los Angeles questions the authenticity of athletes like Aday Mara, who depart from UCLA without specifying concrete reasons and claiming that NIL deals were not a factor in their decision-making.
Chris Walker from San Diego wonders if the growing popularity of football, basketball, or any other sport will overshadow the traditional Los Angeles sports teams such as the Lakers, Dodgers, and UCLA Bruins.
Sara Davis from Santa Barbara feels that athletes, coaches, and institutions should be held accountable for their actions, just like Plaschke criticized in his opinion piece on Nico Iamaleava's late transfer.
Steve Martin from Manhattan Beach advocates for more coverage of the Clippers in Los Angeles newspapers, especially with their impressive performance in the playoffs. He believes they should receive equal attention as the Lakers.
Brenda Jones from West Hollywood acknowledges the environmental impact of sporting events, urging stadiums like Crypto.com Arena to invest in sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint.
Michael Thompson from Pacific Palisades remains hopeful for the future of UCLA football, despite Plaschke's criticisms and concerns about the new quarterback, Nico Iamaleava.
Robert Johnson from Pasadena expresses his concern about the growing trend of athletes transferring between colleges, and the potential exploitation of athletes by schools and sports programs.
