Bad start

I have been waiting for someone to tell me it is all a joke, but nobody has said a thing. At 3 a.m. on Tuesday, Major League Baseball’s 2008 season officially began on the other side of the world -- and no one made a peep.

We are expected to take out loans to pay for outrageous ticket, parking and hot dog prices every day for six months; we have to endure spoiled athletes’ complaints about not getting paid what they’re worth; we have to sit through congressional hearings where supposed heroes are exposed as drug-abusing frauds -- but we don’t get to attend or watch opening day of the Major League Baseball season.

Nobody asked us if we’re OK with it.

Michael Isaac Shokrian

West Hollywood

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Frankly, I was somewhat surprised that no team picked up Barry Bonds as a DH for this coming season. But upon reflection, I realized that a 44-year-old, one-legged, steroid-swollen cheater awaiting trial on perjury charges would most likely be a distraction in any clubhouse. Kudos to the owners for turning away from Bonds. It might even mark the beginning of the end of the steroid era.

Joel Rapp

Los Angeles