Our Man in Los Angeles

Readers loved Gendy Alimurung's profile of Nick Ut, who as a young man shot the definitive photo of the Vietnam War — and who continues to work for the Associated Press as a photojournalist in L.A. today (“The Shot of a Lifetime,” July 18). Writes markrogers222777, “I've met Nick a couple of times in LA., and he's a great guy. Funny and fully alive.”

Mike Mains, however, suggests one part of Alimurung's story goes too far. “The belief that Nick Ut's photo ended the Vietnam War makes for a romanticized version of reality, but it is simply not true. It was Richard Nixon, his administration, and the men and women of our military who won the Vietnam War in 1973 with the signing of the Paris Peace Accord. South Vietnam and the city of Saigon did not fall until the North Vietnamese Communists broke that treaty and the Democrats in Congress voted to pull the funding for our military. It was that decision that then led to the wholesale slaughter of millions of innocent Vietnamese and Cambodian civilians by the Communists.”

Sterling vs. Sterling

Hillel Aron's report from the courthouse, where Donald Sterling is making a last-gasp attempt to retain control of the Clippers, also had readers buzzing (“Quagmire of the Vanities,” July 18).

Pastorburt writes, “Donald Sterling continuing to own the Clippers is as likely as pigs flying. The judge is meticulously guiding the proceedings to preclude his judgment from being overturned by Donald Sterling in the appeals court.

“The testimony by Shelly Sterling and Donald Sterling, although dramatic, heart-rending and many times outrageous, resolves itself to a 'he-said she-said.' Here at this level, a judge must decide based upon the credibility of the witnesses. Shelly Sterling was compelling, sympathetic and believable. Donald Sterling alternatively was out of control, not answering questions, threatening, arguing with everyone in the court, even his own attorneys, and essentially given to continuous rants. His behavior supported his wife's claims that he suffers now mental impairment.“

Writes scruffy.longfellow, “This is NBA hypocrisy at its best. The league calls Sterling a racist, yet they allow players to yell the n-word on the courts and showcase tattoos that are gang-related. Furthermore, since when was the NBA's constitution held in higher regard than the U.S. Constitution?”

Desiwill3 responds. “Is he a racist? Yes, he is, and everyone knows that. However, the NBA's action against Donald was never really about what he said but rather what his comments caused. Damage to the parent brand will always cost you your franchise, and Donald damaged the brand.”

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