THE PUBLIC MIND: READER SAYS RUGBY GAMES OUT OF CONTROL

Dear area residents:

This is an invitation to the wildest fun in town.

The Hawthorn Road/Arena Park area of town normally a quiet and subdued suburb of Cape Girardeau has been turned into the greatest of party places once ~a week or so with the construction of a big beautiful rugby field, placed squarely in the midst of several peaceful apartment buildings and residences. It is peaceful no more. Thanks to the rowdy and disgraceful behavior of the invading rugby teams and their fans, this field has become a genuine hot spot for those who love to check their morals at the door.

Several games this year have already featured grown men screaming obscenities and X-rated chants during and after the games; men and women alike relieving themselves in the nearest tall weeds (no bathrooms provided by Cape Park Service); and torturously long beer busts that wind up lasting several hours after the contests: come one, come all. The Cape Girardeau police department showed up at the last postgame party, and were greeted with howls of "Rodney King!" greetings and profanity-filled toasts. It was Cape's finest that split quietly, not the revelers. Hours later, the adult fun was still in full swing, with latecomers blithely driving up in the newly-sewn outfield grass of a nearby delicate softball diamond.

If your idea of a good time is trashing Cape's quietude with no interference from authority, I invite you to check out the next contest, mostly provided by the vociferous fellows in the SEMO rugby team, now split into independent teams for the summertime. The elderly, innocent children and law abiding homeowners of the immediate vicinity can't wait for your arrival. Our only alternative now is to ask for help from the National Guard to put an end to it.

Blake Smith

Cape Girardeau