L.A. Times readers celebrate UCLA womens

Four years in the past, at the McDonald’s All-American sport, future Bruins Kiki Rice and Gabriela Jaquez stood facet by facet at the end of the competition, having been named co-MVPs. It was the first time the 2 MVPs of the annual event have been headed to the same school program.

Now, as the only remaining members of UCLA’s 2022 No. 1 recruiting class, they’ve reached their final purpose: an NCAA championship. Their work ethic, their high character, their loyalty, and the delight they take in sporting the 4 letters on their jerseys will long be remembered and appreciated. With fellow senior and graduate-student teammates — Lauren Betts, Angela Dugalic, Charlisse Leger-Walker and Gianna Kneepkens, all transfers from former Pac-12 groups — they’ve put themselves into the Bruin report books.

To this superior group of younger girls: Thanks for the recollections and the enjoyment you may have introduced to Westwood. You will probably be missed.

Sandy Siegel
Sherman Oaks

After witnessing their first-round victory in individual, the UCLA girls seemed prepared to make a run in the NCAA event. What we noticed was a means to compete in any type of play. There was a little bit of every part. But clearly they have been the best crew. Congratulations on your first title. I can’t wait to see the banner hanging in the rafters. Being a lifelong fan of UCLA sports activities, it just appears proper when you see it in lights. UCLA BRUINS, NATIONAL CHAMPIONS!

David DeLong
Thousand Oaks

As a Trojan alum, it was awkward, but nonetheless, I used to be elated to see UCLA knock off USC. Party on!

David Marshall
Santa Monica

The UCLA girls’s basketball crew’s first NCAA national championship was particularly candy because they’d to defeat USC in the title sport!

Nick Rose
Newport Coast

Long live the Pac-12 Avengers!

Mark Ryan
Fullerton

What a great article on Gabriela [Jaquez] by Mirjam [Swanson.] I just so cherished rooting for this UCLA girls’s crew because they’re such great people as properly as gamers. Having said that, Gabriela would have been my selection for MVP, but I’m nice with Lauren [Betts.]

Michael Reuben
Anaheim Hills

It was refreshing to watch the postgame after UCLA soundly defeated the University of South Carolina on Sunday. Everyone was crying — gamers, coaches, losers because they misplaced, winners because they gained. This was so a lot nicer than the indignant confrontation between coaches at the end of the South Carolina-UConn sport on Friday, after which [Geno] Auriemma petulantly stalked off. As in politics, girls appear to do it better without males.

Henry A. Hespenheide
Hermosa Beach

Remembering Lopes

Growing up in L.A. during the Nineteen Seventies, the photograph of Davey Lopes sliding into second against Dave Concepcion introduced back recollections of the Dodgers’ rivalry with the Big Red Machine during that decade. Being a large fan of those Dodger groups, a large shade photograph of the Dodger infield of [Steve] Garvey, Lopes, [Bill] Russell and [Ron] Cey adorned my DTLA workplace for many years.

Davey Lopes was the most thrilling of that great infield and the inspirational chief of the ‘74, ‘77, ‘78 and ‘81 World Series teams. Not only was he superior at stealing bases — he stole 47 at the age of 40 — but also hit for power, as exemplified by his team-leading three homers and seven RBIs in the ‘78 World Series. RIP, Davey.

Ken Feldman
Tarzana

Garvey, Cey, Russell and Lopes. What an infield! I grew up with that group, and they cemented my love for the Dodgers at a young age. Every spring you could count on those four as starters in the infield. Davey Lopes was just superb. A terrific base stealer who had over 500 steals in his career. Always reliable at second base and at the plate. He was an All-Star his last four years with the Dodgers, culminating with the World Series win in 1981 over the hated Yankees. Davey, we will miss you for sure.

Dave Ring
Manhattan Beach

Davey Lopes was the heartbeat of those great Dodgers teams — grit, intelligence, and pure excitement every time he reached base. For fans who grew up watching that legendary infield, his passing feels deeply personal, but his legacy will endure.

Steven Ross
Carmel

Championing fans

I had the privilege of attending Major League Baseball ownership meetings for a decade. Arte Moreno and his then team president, John Carpino, were the absolute leaders in advocating that MLB needed to be as financially fan friendly as possible. In my opinion, the Angels fully back their desire to have a sustainable and comfortable fan experience by offering a wonderful game-day fan experience.

When I am able to attend an Angels game, I do not hear gripes about parking costs, concession prices or ticket prices. The stadium staff at every level are simply wonderful and always so welcoming. And while I have no stats, the number of families and children in attendance appear significant.

Should the team ever come under different ownership, I hear that one of the under tapped values of owning the Angels is the ability to increase ticket and related revenues. The proven focus on having a sustainable fan game experience is the sole dictate of the owner.

Lew Wolff
Los Angeles

Sticker shock

After taking the time to sign up for LA28 with the hopes of getting an opportunity to purchase tickets for the Olympics, including tickets to the opening ceremony, I was gravely disappointed after receiving a time slot for purchases to learn that opening ceremony tickets were “currently unavailable.“ In further checking for other opportunities to purchase reasonably priced tickets, I also was disappointed to see that the cheapest tickets available for some of the high-interest sporting events were in the hundreds of dollars. It doesn’t appear like the plan to have locals buy tickets and fill the seats for the venues goes to work out the way in which LA28 thought it might. Shame on them.

Ruthanne Rozenek
Los Angeles

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