Take a Nike Ride on Tale of Comets

Wednesday’s article on the Nike corporation’s connections with Southland high school basketball teams is wrong-headed. The piece suggests that it is because of Nike’s gifts to such schools as Crenshaw, Fairfax and Westchester that they are successful.

In fact, coaches Willie West, Harvey Kitani and Ed Azzam, excellent coaches and teachers all, had highly successful programs long before Nike looked their way. They attracted Nike’s attention precisely because they were successful. The article has it backward.

Howard Safier

Los Angeles

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After reading the attack on Westchester High’s basketball program, because of their sponsorship by Nike, I was amazed at the pettiness of some of the arguments. Most large school districts do not provide uniforms necessary to play. Parents end up paying for these equipment costs. The best coaches find ways to curb these expenses.

Nike did not build the program at Westchester. It was built by a coach who has dedicated his life to a sport and a public school. It was built by children who have worked day after day to be the best they can be, and move on to college.

If a program is strong, it stands to reason that it will attract attention and sponsors. If a school is strong, it will attract the best students and teachers. People who find fault in the teacher-coaches and players who compete and win by the rules year after year have the same opportunities, and should question their own abilities to create a wonderful program.

Thomas Bangert

Santa Monica

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What’s next? Will Westchester High School be known as Nike Westchester High?

Robert H. Williams

Monterey Park