Colorful writing

What sport or action will Kurt Streeter [“It’s not a wonderful world of color in tennis,” Aug. 31] analyze next week? Could it be the pro golf world? Hockey? How about joining in the analysis of the admittance procedures at the University of California? Maybe the writer cannot recall or is too young to remember Arthur Ashe and his well-earned triumphs.

The Times is a good liberal paper with typical liberal solutions to every problem. The paper will have to set up an affirmative action program for the sports it selects as under-diversified. May I suggest that if Mr. Streeter chairs the committee he should visit other countries in the world and report on their racial complexities and solutions to the eager readers? When he returns from the fact-finding trip, he can pursue lawmaking to define the nature and solutions for the problem sports. He will also have to look for a venue in which to write such trivia.

Richard Jennings

Bakersfield

Kurt Streeter is guilty of what he himself criticizes, which is racism. Don’t be fooled by what he thinks we are being fooled about. He says, “Why must all British players look like descendants of the Crown?” Racism by any of the L.A. Times writing staff should not be tolerated.

He also exhibits his own ageism (referring to McCain as “the old dude”) and sexism (referring to McCain’s new running mate as “the beauty queen”).

Bruce Rockwell

Pasadena

Kurt Streeter’s article regarding color in tennis brings out some interesting points, but he states that one of the reasons for the lack of color in tennis is because “Tennis costs a mint; there aren’t many scholarships to country clubs.”

While the country club part might be true, tennis is a very inexpensive game to play. Mostly it’s free. Almost all high schools, many parks and many middle schools have courts that can be used for free. All you need is a racket and some balls. You want instruction? Most local clubs offer group lessons at very reasonable fees.

Expense is not a reason for the U.S. not having a lot of top 10 players right now, nor is it an excuse for a lack of minorities. I don’t claim to know the answers, but “Tennis costs a mint” isn’t one of them.

Bob Brobst

San Diego