Shoemaker Not Totally Blameless

Mike Downey’s piece on Bill Shoemaker [June 13] was masterfully written, showing how the human spirit can overcome everything, even the crippling aftermath of a near-fatal accident.

But why didn’t Downey remind us that the accident was the result of intoxication? We can never forget the tragedy caused in our society by drunk drivers. It’s possible that a comment from Downey or Shoemaker might keep a drunk driver off the streets.

JERRY SMITH

Alhambra

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As for fighting spirit, let me remind Mike Downey of Bill Shoemaker’s fight. He wanted to fight Ford Motor Co. for the Bronco they built, CalTrans for the road they built, even the emergency folks who rescued him, in court for the results of the fight he lost--the fight to not drink to excess and to not drive after he had. And in the scheme of things, shouldn’t that have been the easiest fight to win?

LARRY BUTTREY

Long Beach