Readers sound off on LeBron’s journey, Paul Ryan and the Waterfront Commission

Opelika, Ala.: Sports Illustrated placarded LeBron James, a 16-year-old high school junior, on its cover in 2002, anointing him “The Chosen One.” James is the most cheered and most jeered, the most idolized and most criticized, athlete in history due to the internet and social media’s pervasiveness. He is the preeminent can’t-miss prospect. He exceeded the outlandish expectations.

The Akron, Ohio, native was drafted first by the wretched Cleveland Cavaliers. James secured a 2007 finals trip for the underwhelming Cavs by scoring 25 straight points in a playoff victory against the Detroit Pistons. When he took his talents to South Beach, a supervillain was born. Cavs CEO Dan Gilbert flayed James as disloyal and as a betrayer. Fans who felt jilted piled up their LeBron gear and created huge bonfires in northeast Ohio. They roared as he inexplicably wilted in the 2011 finals loss against the underdog Dallas Mavericks. He scored a playoff-low 17.8 points per game.

Steeled by the pain, James bounced back and won two titles with the Heat, one with the Cavs and one with the Lakers. James plays with power, speed, adroitness and savvy, a mix unprecedented in NBA history. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar set the NBA scoring record in 1,560 games. James, aided by 2,237 three-pointers, broke it in 1,410 games.

He continues to tinker with his game, draining mid-range jumpers as easily as thirsty fans guzzle beer. As a passer, he’s more inventive and accurate than Patrick Mahomes. In his 20th season, James is averaging 30 points per game, 8.5 rebounds and 7 assists a game — an unprecedented feat for a player in his 20th season. Need I say more? Marc D. Greenwood

Bronx: Thank you, Voicer Michael J. Vassallo, for reminding The News and, more importantly, us of the wonderful comic strips from the past. I can’t tell you the happy memories you awakened when I perused that list. My father made a special treat of reading the Sunday comics with me, our favorite being “The Teenie Weenies.” Looking back, I know it was his subtle way of encouraging me to read, and I continue to be a voracious reader in my 60s. How I loved reading all of them, and even wanted to be “Brenda Starr, Reporter”! Your rekindling of good memories was much appreciated. Nancy Reilly

Brooklyn: In light of Women’s History Month, let’s have a national discussion about how American police arrested and jailed American women for the crime of wearing pants! Helen Hulick Beebe was just one innocent American jailed by dirty judges and police under the guise of law that we the people never agreed to! If police and judges want to save their institutions, they need to stop being the official enemies of freedom and liberty, ‘cause we serfs are not going back and we’re mad as hell. Mildred Manham

North Bergen, N.J.: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s giving Tucker Carlson exclusive access to Capitol security footage of the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection makes me wonder why the Democrats seem to think there is nothing they could do except denounce the act. One of the rules McCarthy agreed to when he became speaker was that it would take only a single House member to initiate a recall. McCarthy must be reminded that while he became speaker without a single Democratic vote, he became speaker of the entire House. To remind him of this fact, will someone please step forward and initiate a recall? It would serve to remind the Republicans in the House and the speaker of their responsibilities. Irving A. Gelb

Copake, N.Y.: Once again, Florida governor and presidential hopeful Ron DeSantis shows the world that he is a lightweight. The incident involved an interview he gave to the GOP-friendly, Rupert Murdoch-owned Times of London. The subject of U.S. policy in Ukraine was raised by Times U.S. editor David Charter. DeSantis only replied that President Biden is “weak on the world stage.” When Charter pressed for how the war in Ukraine would be handled by a President DeSantis, Charter reported that the Florida governor showed “a flash of temper” and fumbled a bit, saying only, “Perhaps you should cover some other ground. I think I’ve said enough.” I agree, DeSantis has said more than enough. Once real reporters, not just Fox News partisans, begin questioning him, everyone will see him for what he is — Sarah Palin in an (empty) business suit. Joseph Cannisi

Pleasantville, N.Y.: Re S.E. Cupp’s piece “Can Paul Ryan save what’s left of conservatism?” (column, March 3). Is that a joke? The article fails to mention that Ryan has been on the Fox News board of directors payroll for four long years, quietly pocketing $334,986 per year. The article would have been more truthfully entitled “Paul Ryan, former speaker of the House, who is devoid of any ideology, including conservatism, now serves Mammon, above all.” Howard Zane

North Massapequa, L.I.: Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries are phony baloneys. They want a sorry from Rupert Murdoch? How about also from the mainstream news media (ABC, NBC, MSNBC, CNN, etc.) concerning Russian interference helping Donald Trump get elected? That was a baloney job for four years. How about the Hunter Biden laptop that the FBI has had for two years with no answers on what is happening? Steven Malichek

Brooklyn: The MTA has come out with a plan to reroute several bus lines in southern Brooklyn and to eliminate stops. This proposal severely hurts the residents of south Brooklyn in several ways. There is a heavy concentration of senior citizens in the affected areas who rely on the buses to go to medical appointments as well as shopping. Eliminating bus stops will impose a tremendous burden on them and other residents who have problems walking. There is also the practical aspect of what happens when there is precipitation or extreme hot or cold weather. You are creating health problems for these individuals. It is imperative that there not be any changes in the routes or reduction in the number of bus stops. Alan Podhaizer

Manhattan: The Daily News editorial “Justices drown the Waterfront” (March 2) was not only dated by decades, but poorly researched in that it didn’t know the Waterfront Commission has not only outlived its usefulness but has primarily become an obsessive vehicle to prevent Italian-Americans from working on the docks if they know somebody who is “connected” — whatever that means — to someone believed to be involved in organized crime. That is not an exaggeration! Lives have been ruined over this discrimination and it is time to turn these matters over to the New Jersey State Police, who are professional and not an appointed political entity. Let the cops deal with criminals and stop the discrimination! Expose this! Don’t support it! Mathew J. Mari

Yonkers: Kudos to the NYPD for not attending the (anti- police/pro-criminal) City Council hearing on Wednesday. The Council and the Legislature have allowed New York City to become a crime-infested toilet. If subpoenas are issued, all police personnel must attend, but “I don’t recall” should be the reply to any and all questions asked by the esteemed Council members. The NYPD should do absolutely nothing until the lunacy stops. Hopefully, karma prevails and Council members and Albany liberals experience their own undoings in the worst way possible. Maybe then these idiots will understand what New Yorkers go through daily. Ralph A. Manente

Staten Island: Alex Murdaugh has been sentenced to life in prison for the murder of his wife and son. Recently, a Pennsylvania man was arrested for trying to bring explosives onto a plane. This individual faces 15 years in prison. If he was able to blow apart the plane, he would be dead along with all on board. Why would he only be facing such paltry prison time? He should be tried as a terrorist. Many years ago, a man defecated on top of a food service cart while the plane was en route to its destination. He faced 20 years. What is wrong with this country’s justice system? Jeffrey Van Pelt