Byron Scott Offers No Apologies for Missing Family on Christmas

I was very upset to see The Times headline in the Dec. 28 Viewpoint section with a note from a Mr. Art Krawitz about comments made by Shaquille O’Neal and me regarding missing our children on Christmas Day, especially the personal attack made about me not as a basketball player but as a father. I think it deserves a response.

As any normal human being, I am allowed to miss my three kids and my wife. Any person working on Christmas morning has the exact same right. I am very sorry that Mr. Krawitz seems to feel that because I am a professional athlete, my rights as a husband and daddy should be taken from me. My children have been taught that God, country, family and work are the foundation of our lives, in that order, which seems not to be the case with Mr. Krawitz.

I wish everyone could be home for Christmas morning--telephone operators, store clerks, utility repairmen working in the snow. They miss their families too and are missed by their families.

Yes, even pro athletes would like to be home for the holidays. It is a shame when people seem to place money (quoted so often in Mr. Krawitz’s letter) ahead of love for their children.

I will not apologize for missing the sight of my 5-year-old son running down our hallway on Christmas morning and then attending church services as a family.

BYRON SCOTT

San Juan Capistrano