A Hollywood Foul Ball

What a shame Hollywood had to alter Daniel Coyle’s memoir “Hardball” to emphasize the struggle of one (fictional) selfish individual rather than the tenacity of a neighborhood of (real-life) kids on the brink of destruction (“Young Team Pulls Together to Win Lively Game of ‘Hardball,”’ by Kevin Thomas, Sept. 13).

Coyle’s book is not about himself or about trying to play ball with kids in Cabrini-Green. It’s a study of the Problem of Evil, and it offers us at least three critical lessons to learn quickly as we are left reeling by the events of Sept. 11.

First, open your mind, resist stereotypes and try to understand why people do what they do. Second, know that doing the right thing is never, ever easy, and then do it anyway. Third, accept that the children, no matter what packages they come in, deserve to be nurtured and protected.

JANELLE SMITH OZERAN

Redondo Beach