Fan Speak March19

More to the story

THOSE BACKING former Southeast basketball coach Gary Garner because of budget issues and injuries should consider this: The women's basketball budget was fifth in the Ohio Valley Conference for 2004-05. Last I checked, the were dancing. It might have had something to do with coaching. Coach Mark Hogan's baseball budget is second in the OVC because of his fundraising efforts, something Garner didn't know how to do. Hogan produces a competitive team every year. Garner has a long history of recruitment problems with players leaving the university or not working out.

Congratulations, Hornets

THE ADVANCE boys basketball team is making our little town proud. Congratulations, boys.

Another nominee

STEVE TAPPMEYER'S record as head coach at Northwest Missouri State shows his ability to guide winning teams. He is a Southeast graduate. I think Tapp would be an excellent choice for the next men's basketball coach at Southeast Missouri State.

Sikeston snubbed

I WOULD like to express my disappointment in the lack of coverage of Sikeston's second-place finish in the State Tournament. I understand that they have their own newspaper, but the Southeast Misourian still should have coverage of their accomplishments. Bell City and Scott County Central are just minutes away and receive plenty of coverage. I think that there should be an equal amount of publicity on Sikeston's postseason success. Also, when will your editor stop referring to the Porters as Scott County Central transfers? I don't remember this much reference to Scott Chestnutt's transfer to Central, Darnell Wilkes' transfer to Central or Xavier Delph's transfer to Notre Dame, just to name a few. The story of them transferring to Sikeston isn't nearly as important as their accomplishments on the court.

(Bell City and Scott County Central are schools in the Missourian coverage area; the Sikeston Standard Democrat, published by the same company, covers Sikeston athletics. The transfer of four Scott County Central players, who certainly played a big role in Sikeston's success, made the story more relevant for readers of the Southeast Missourian.)

Sikeston snubbed II

I HAVE scoured the March 12 sports page for any information about Sikeston in the state championship game Saturday in Columbia. Not one word, not one mention of it. Is there a bias against Sikeston? There are two pictures of Delta on the front page. We have Verona and Bell City. We have Advance. But nothing on Sikeston. We have teams winning in quarterfinals, but when Sikeston plays for the state championship, it is not mentioned. There is a mention that the Albany Great Danes made the NCAA tournament. Well, who cares? Who's ever heard of them? There are Cape Girardeau boys playing for Sikeston this year, and we don't want to have any information in the paper about it? Aren't they a local team? Could it be that they might have their own newspaper down there? Do I have to subscribe to that paper so I can get information on whether or not Sikeston won in the state championship?

(Usually, the sports editor's comments here talk about circulation area and the Sikeston newspaper (see above). But the fact there was no mention of the game was an error by the editor. The score appeared in Monday's edition.)

Arena softball league

FOOTBALL FANS have the Arena Football League to keep them satisfied during the offseason. I wish Major League Baseball would start a winter indoor softball league so baseball fans would have something entertaining to watch during the offseason.

Keep B.J.

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Southeast women's basketball team on a great season. Coach B.J. Smith and assistant coach Lisa Pace do a wonderful job. I hope the university steps up and keeps them here. The bracket-watching party was unbelievable. I was disappointed there wasn't more pictures of the crowd in the newspaper. It was great. Way to go, ladies! Can't wait to hang that championship banner.

B.J. is our man

B.J. SMITH is our coach. He has done a tremendous job. No matter what job you have, there are sure to be some oversights and mistakes. It sure seems like to me this was planned from the beginning. Most people that have anything to do with the program, read the paper or read the sportsblog know what the deal is. Now that the NCAA has looked, sure they will find something. But what program that is doing well doesn't have someone looking to tear them down. Will they find enough to not rehire B.J.? Not a chance. B.J. is our coach.

Bracket size matters

I DON'T understand why the Southeast Missourian printed the women's NCAA basketball bracket so much smaller than the men's. It was hardly readable. The Southeast women are involved in the tournament. We are interested and will be following the tournament action. It would have been nice to have a legible bracket.

(This decision was made with some discussion and testing of the type. One factor was the size of the section and the fact we were producing more local sports stories for Tuesday's edition due to Southeast's selection. Another factor was that fewer people conduct office pools around the women's bracket than the men's tournament.)

Track record: Not good

ROD BARNES, the former Ole Miss coach, should not be the next Southeast Missouri State men's basketball coach. First of all, he was just fired by his alma mater. Second, it's the fourth straight year Ole Miss has not won more than five conference wins.