The Straight Dope

Tim Perry
St. Louis

Live lesson:I could not have agreed with you more. It was a stupid mistake that unfortunately was made on live radio. It didn't truly hurt anyone and was apologized for with sincerity several times. However, the reaction by Tony La Russa was uncalled for and could have had some serious consequences.

Just because his team sucks and needed a rallying call does not give Tony the right to essentially put out a hit on Beau Duran.

I wish Beau had not been fired, but he was. I hope his career in radio is not ruined because of this one mistake that I'm sure he has learned a lesson from. Now I think that Tony La Russa should lose his job for the way he handled himself and the media around the incident.

Steve Hunt
Via e-mail

Bully pulpit: You've got to be kidding. Portraying Tony La Russa as a bully? He didn't start it, but he, along with others, damn well finished it.

Any red-blooded American man with a conscience would do the same thing. He'd be just as angry if it happened to the widow of a D-Back while here in St. Louis.

Gary Carr
Florissant, Missouri

Radio sensitive:Duran had a choice to say the words that he said or hang up the phone. We know what he said. He made a classless choice. La Russa reacted instinctively. Why are you defending people like this? I'll bet that if a tragedy had befallen the D-Backs and the shoe was on the other foot, you wouldn't be out to get Brenly.

Dave Schwartz
St. Louis