The Travails of Tonya: Feelings Well Mixed Right Down the Line

One of Randy Harvey’s laughable qualities is his uncanny ability to answer unasked questions. Humorist he is. Judge he is not.

His litany on the “crime” of Tonya Harding (Jan. 28) is supported by a quote from an obscure U.S. Olympic Committee member and a ho-hum recitation of the USOC code of conduct.

Has he observed any miscreants in the athletic world guilty of equally heinous “crimes” other than this 23-year-old, 113-pound “criminal” from Portland? His pious dictum on Tonya’s failed responsibilities as a citizen and Olympian has fallen on at least one pair of deaf ears.

DEAN ENGLERT

Norwalk

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Congratulations on your Jan. 28 lead story on Tonya Harding. Randy Harvey spoke for many of us: “It isn’t whether you win or lose, it’s how you played the game.”

KATY COLLEEN O’HARRA

Playa Del Rey

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Randy Harvey’s harsh criticisms of Tonya Harding in his front-page commentary are unfair and unfounded. Mr. Harvey expects a standard of behavior from Harding beyond anything required of any human being, even a prospective Olympic athlete.

Simply put, Mr. Harvey completely fails to comprehend the enormous complexity inherent in Harding’s situation. What would Harvey do if he discovered that his wife, relative, or even a close friend had committed a serious crime--say disabled a rival journalist? Would he immediately and unconditionally notify the authorities, even when he didn’t know all the facts, and even when he knew that such a confession would likely ruin what he had strived for the better part of his life to achieve?

JEREMY ROETHLER

Irvine

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Tonya Harding’s emotional plea to remain on the Olympic team because she wants to represent her country is complete bunk. Money and fame are her prime motivators. As a two-time Olympian and a Vietnam veteran, I say that 100% of the athletes who ever qualified for the U.S. Olympic team did it for themselves.

If she wants to represent her country, she should politely withdraw her position on the Olympic figure skating team before she is further embarrassed and seek out her local Army recruiter.

BRUCE BRADLEY

Long Beach

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Mike Downey (Feb. 2) is more predictable than the Raiders’ fourth-quarter offense. Only a fool could have expected such a righteous, self-styled, working-class hero like Mike to come out against Tonya Harding. Rich vs. poor, the old boss vs. the new boss, male vs. female, you can always rely on Mike to be politically correct.

Forget that Tonya shows every sign of being a Hall of Fame liar. Forget that this iron-willed dynamo, with her tough-talking mom, looks about as easy to manipulate as Bruce Smith’s shoe. No, our gallant defender of “tiny Tonya” can’t help but sympathize with his plucky little victim, while letting loose an ad hominem blast on the rest of the Gillooly Gang.

CHARLES CHICCOA

Reseda

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Call me an old-fashioned kind of guy, but I remember when the only suspense in the weeks leading up to the Olympics concerned who was going to make the team. Years from now, the 1994 Winter Games will be remembered as when the Olympics met “America’s Most Wanted.”

JOHN McELLIGOT

Fullerton