VIEWPOINT / LETTERS : De La Hoya Gets This Advice Free

I follow sports closely and for the most part admire the athletes. Twice now I have been badly disillusioned by prominent athletes and their response to private problems.

The first was Willie Shoemaker’s ridiculous lawsuits against the state and the auto company for his inability to negotiate a simple on-ramp.

Now a boy fighter whom I have admired so much is making a fool out of himself. Some advice to Oscar De La Hoya: You may have differences with your contractual management, but you don’t reconcile them by quitting, regardless of the reason you invent, if you want to maintain the respect of your fans. It will be very difficult for me to ever think highly of you again, and I hope someone soon defeats you soundly. You deserve it.

HUGH MARTIN

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