FanSpeak

What about standings?

I HAVEN'T seen any of the wild card standings printed in the paper yet. Can you please print these?

Those standings are provided by The Associated Press, and they became available to us for the first time Saturday. They will continue to appear as often as they are provided to us.

A job well done

WILL YOU please pass this on to Phil Helfrich: His column was excellent. I too enjoy thinking of connections and what an incredibly complex world they reveal. I thank him for his good effort.

Players deserved more

MY DAUGHTER has played against some of the members of the Heartland Pride Select team for the past few years in basketball and softball. They have always been a great group of kids and take their ball playing seriously. Most of them also make good grades. I certainly don't understand why anybody would deny them such a great opportunity as to play in an ASA National Tournament. That is just pathetic.

Pros aren't worth it

SINCE ANY level of athletes are so prone to injury every day, it baffles me that teams reward multimillion-dollar contracts to people. Jason Sehorn is an example. A broken toe is going to keep out of the Rams lineup for several weeks. Matt Morris hurt his ankle because he tripped on the stairs at his hotel. And they make millions of dollars?

That's more room for us

CONSIDERING HOW good the SEMO football team is predicted to be this year, I hope all those who object to the slow and responsible phasing out of the school's nickname will follow through on their threat to stay away. This will leave more seats for us loyal SEMO supporters. Go SEMO!

They're the best ... for now

I'M SADDENED to read that Springfield was chosen by Sports Illustrated as Missouri's best sports town. I hope our city, university and civic leaders paid attention to this. There's a lot of money to be made by bidding on and hosting big sports events in our community, not to mention gaining the reputation of being a bustling sports community. How about it, Cape?Are we going to let this opportunity pass us by?

A fair decision

REGARDING COMMENTS about the rain-shortened game resulting in Cape American Legion's 8-4 zone victory Aug. 2: Opponents' fans can make all the claims they want about field conditions and umpires' decisions. We continued filming video during play, during the downpour and after the storm delay. It definitively proves that the umpires acted correctly. Come review the tape. You lost fairly.

The rules should change

I WONDER if the ASA softball organization is going to improve its rules and regulations so that a winning team that deserved to advance to a national tournament won't be held hostage again by a manager or any stupid reason? All softball coaches, managers, and commissioners take heed and get something changed. I hope the commissioners don't get paid for the job they are doing or not doing.