To the editor:

I don’t want to come across as a “bah humbug” kind of guy, because I’m not. Or one who doesn’t support the kindness by sponsors of KU basketball Santa’s helpers; I do. But shopping at Wal-Mart by the local ballplayers seems a little odd to me. After all, the money is provided by the local Roundball Club and anonymous donors, not the Bentonville, Ark., offices of Wal-Mart.

I’m sure Wal-Mart could get behind this effort (and despite them possibly being the “anonymous donors”) it seems to me that shopping at the locally owned toy shops in Lawrence would seem more appropriate. After all, the owners just may be season ticketholders watching these basketball shoppers.

Hal Ettinger,

Lawrence