“Rest in Peace, Bill Walton. He was a legend in the sports world and in his beloved hometown of San Diego” (May 27): America’s Greatest City is in mourning. Last week, our city lost an icon: Bill Walton. San Diego residents, and indeed the whole world, benefited from every encounter with the bright, warm and intelligent Bill.
— Jim O’Fallon, Ocean Beach
The passing of Bill Walton is a sad day for San Diego and the country. He always spoke his mind, wore his heart on his shirt sleeve and always had a smile on his face.
As for Bill’s thoughts on the Pac-12 and California, “Bill Walton was a champion of his beloved conference all his life” (May 27th), he was spot on. The dissolution of the Pac-12 would be a negative for West Coast and California sports. The league represented a proud part of the country, with its own network of managers and home-grown players. The league has a western ethos, and while it may not be as money-strapped as its eastern brethren, there is less red tape, elitism and stiffness. In the West, people don’t care as much about affiliation, and the talent is “top tier, top tier.”
More conferences and leagues means more diversity and less super league consolidation. League independence is very important and follows the national idea of ​​sectionalism.
— Chet Chebezia, San Marcos
