To earn like the pros, entertain the fans

Bloomington, Ind.: The WNBA seems to have mastered the fine art of shooting itself in the foot. Almost no one could have predicted it. A league that struggled for decades to attract mainstream attention suddenly found itself with soaring television ratings, higher salaries, charter flights and unprecedented public interest. Instead of embracing the moment, too many players have projected petty jealousy, a grievance mentality and, at times, what many fans perceive as racial resentment. The league seems determined to cling to its underdog identity just as it finally has a chance to outgrow it.

The WNBA has never been a profitable enterprise. For nearly three decades, it has survived with financial support from the NBA while losing money year after year. That reality seems to have fostered a sense of entitlement rather than gratitude. What if the league suddenly had to generate enough revenue to pay its own salaries and cover its own expenses? My guess is the players might work a little harder to entertain the fans instead of turning what should have been a showcase event into the embarrassment that was this year’s All-Star Weekend.

Professional sports exist to entertain paying customers. If the WNBA wants to be treated like a major league, it needs to start acting like one.

Scott T. Thompson

On all sides

Belmont, Mass.: It’s not just states in the U.S. eastern and southern flanks that get whacked by stronger hurricanes fueled by global warming. This year, our far west flank is getting whacked as well (“Lala sends drenching rain, high winds across Hawaii,” Aug 17). Also getting whacked is our far north flank, upper Alaska. The Arctic is heating up three times faster than the rest of the world. We, the U.S., the world’s largest producer of fossil fuels, have contributed to dramatically changing the Earth’s climate for the worse, and in the process have surrounded ourselves with intensified hurricanes and fast-melting ice while inflicting heat domes, droughts, dried riverbeds, wildfires, asphyxiating smoke and crippling floods on ourselves to boot. Isn’t it long past time to whack down our dependence on fossil fuels?

Chris Nunes

Sea stumble

Manhattan: It is somewhat ironic that in your article critical of Darline Graham’s lack of knowledge about the strategic importance of Taiwan (“Lindsey Graham’s sister stumbles badly in South Carolina Senate debate,” Aug. 19), you incorrectly stated that Taiwan is in the South China Sea. The East China Sea borders northern Taiwan, the Taiwan Strait the western and southern sides, and the Pacific Ocean the east coast. Hainan is the Chinese island “in the South China Sea.”

Rob Watson

Fooled once

Scarsdale, N.Y.: Voicer Gregory J. Topliff has it right. I’m reminded of Rep. James Clyburn, who duped Black voters by convincing them that Joe Biden was a good choice for them. There’s an old saying that Topliff will remember: “Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.” We’re meant to learn from our mistakes and not get fooled a second time. Clyburn has done his damage to the Democratic Party. Stand at ease, Marine! We’ve got this.

Peter McCarthy

Irresponsibly armed

Manhattan: ICE has proven that its agents can’t be trusted with the weapons they already have. They’ve pepper sprayed bystanders exercising their right to film agents in a public place, assaulted and injured reporters who are doing their job, and shot and killed peaceful protesters. Now ICE wants this masked and unaccountable paramilitary force to be equipped with electric shock gloves that can emit a powerful, painful current to anyone they think is causing them problems. What’s next, whips and cattle prods? At least in New York, these things are outright illegal, and Gov. Hochul and Attorney General Letitia James are promising that lawsuits will follow their use. We need Sen. Chuck Schumer to lead the way right now to roll back the funding that’s letting ICE go wild. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand aren’t up for election this year, but they should see which way the wind is blowing.

Chris Jones

Territorial rights?

East Meadow, L.I.: President Trump is claiming that the Strait of Hormuz is now part of the United States. Does that mean that a baby born on a boat in the Strait today is a natural-born American who can be president in 35 years?

Richard Skibins

Show him up

Westbrook, Maine: A major aspect of the current campaign is being overlooked, and this is a Dem leader who can be compared to Trump on a person-to-person basis. Trump is the Republican symbol, and degrading it now will affect many voters’ views. And yes, this candidate should be a white male, unfortunately. A major portion of the electorate (20-40%) is not yet thinking about issues. But they would pay attention to someone opposing Trump as a person. Sen. Mark Kelly would be ideal: an astronaut, combat pilot, etc., who can refer to Trump’s heel spur, as well as other personal shortcomings — ignorance, crimes, $2 billion in gifts, etc. The Democratic establishment simply does not recognize this. And Kelly, Andy Beshear and Gavin Newsom are following the usual advice to candidates to keep a low profile. This time, they are all wrong.

Raymond Tillman

Betrayed values

Staten Island: Chief Justice John Roberts is allowing the Trump administration to continue to work on the White House ballroom. I’m puzzled about why Trump can’t be stopped. This isn’t about the ballroom alone. He’s causing problems with the voting process and he now wants to rename a carrier and have his name on it. The carrier was named for a sailor who fought the Japanese at Pearl Harbor. It’s a disgrace to allow Trump to have his moniker on the carrier. The sailor’s family must feel so degraded. My query is how can Trump be stopped? Or will he ever be stopped? The Supreme Court needs to be overhauled. Let the lower courts have more power to decide cases, and disband the Supreme Court.

Jeffrey Van Pelt

Proper throne

Bronx: Since Trump likes to put his name on everything that doesn’t move, I’ll put his name (to honor him) on my toilet.

Robert Adams

Pay the difference

Smithtown, L.I.: Since our socialist mayor is always looking for ways to get the “rich” to pay more so that he can help the “working class,” I have an idea. Why not hit wealthy rent-stabilized tenants with a separate fee? You can base it on their net worth or household income to see if they’d qualify. Then take the difference between what they pay and what the market rent would be for that same apartment and call it a surcharge. This way, renters can also feel that they’re doing their part to help, not just owners.

Andrew Ross