Kerkorian and O’Neal Are American Successes

In keeping with the current Olympic spirit, “May the best athlete win the gold,” that same philosophy should hold true for business (“Kirk Kerkorian: Friend or Foe?” July 17).

If PolyGram and News Corp., both giants, could simply write a check for the full price--a billion-plus--then why did Kerkorian and company end up with the lion’s share [of MGM]?

Kerkorian isn’t, as many in Hollywood see him, a thriving predator or cold-blooded businessman, but rather a capitalist thriving in a capitalistic society. Further, there has been reference made to Kerkorian as the son of a fruit farmer. So what? I can’t recall any reference to Louis B. Mayer as a Newfoundland junk dealer, or Samuel Goldwyn as a glove salesman from Minsk.

Shaquille O’Neal, newly acquired by the Los Angeles Lakers for $120 million, is another perfect example of our ingenious free-enterprise system. It could only happen in America--for both men. More power to both of them.

LISA FINELLI

Los Angeles