FanSpeak 3/6/05

Doing the best he can

RUN-AND-gun basketball is exciting to watch but is basically a loser's game. If you follow college ball at all, you'll see that teams that play that style will have some regular-season success but rarely do well in tournaments. Southeast coach Gary Garner is simply doing the best he can with the players he has. He has neither the athleticism nor the deep bench it takes to play that style. The problems at Southeast still come down to the miserly recruiting budget.

Southeast's operational expenses for basketball, which includes recruiting, climbed from $67,451 in the 2002-03 school year to $80,168 in 2003-04. The program rose from No. 11 in the Ohio Valley Conference to No. 10, ahead of Tennessee-Martin ($66,481) and just behind Austin Peay ($80,621). According to the university's audit, $18,453 was spent on recruiting in 2003-04, an increase on the $15,221 spent the previous year.

In OVC games this year, Southeast was third in scoring at 73.1 points per game.

Lovers or hypocrites?

I KEEP hearing people talk how much they love basketball, but when the girls are playing, there are very few spectators in their seats. So, evidently, they don't love basketball, they love boys or men's basketball. I think that is terrible. If they love basketball, they ought to love it regardless of who's playing. So they're hypocrites.

Misbehavin'

I AM appalled at the way that people behave at children's basketball games. I was at a game on Feb. 26 and could not believe the way people were acting.

Congrats to Advance

I WANT to congratulate the Advance basketball team on a wonderful season. You were a pleasure to watch, and I wish you all the best in the future.

Out of hand

CHILDREN'S SPORTS have gotten out of hand. My daughter played at a game on Feb. 26, and due to the opposing team's attitude, it turned into a street ball tournament. Not only were the kids on the other team throwing their elbows and slapping our kids, the parents were shouting obscenities and making fun of the kids when they made mistakes. Then when our kids started playing like them to protect themselves, and one of their kids got hurt, it was the end of the world. We need to keep in mind that these were fourth-graders, and it's not the WNBA.

Where was 'The Jungle'?

IF "THE Jungle" is such a highly touted cheering section, why is it they don't come out in force to support the Central girls basketball team? Even on occasions when the girls play just prior to the boys, members of "The Jungle" wait until the girls game has gone final before making an entrance. A cheering section should never be the star of the show.

Intolerable

THE RACIST epithets hurled at Charleston players and fans by some Central students never would have been tolerated while Randy Fidler was principal. Never. He would have taken action right then, right there, and the consequences would have been severe.

Congrats to ND

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Notre Dame Bulldogs on their district championship. I have attended your games and followed your progress all year. Great job. In addition to Bryce Willen's and Frankie Ellis' outstanding performances in the championship game, I would also point out the great defensive play by Alex Ressel and Mark Unterreiner. You boys played great as a team.

Don't throw stones

IT'S AMAZING that of all teams that will call in and criticize the conduct of "The Jungle," it would be Charleston. If Charleston wants to talk about poor sportsmanship and sling rocks, they might want to look at their own glass house first.

Mario who?

AFTER READING the Feb. 27 column, I'd like to tell Marty Mishow it's time to get off the Mario Whitney bandwagon. We're tired of reading updates.

Still an Indian

KUDOS TO the young man at the Murray State-Southeast Missouri State basketball game who gave us an old-fashioned run through the crowd, "Viva Indians." The majority of people in our area still support the teams as Indians. The Redhawks were crammed down our throats, and it was a joy to see this young man taking it upon himself in his own protest. He was cheered and nothing was ever stated about it, nothing was ever said. We are proud of this young man that he has the right to fulfill his wishes and be a Southeast Missouri Indian as many before us have been.

Capaha Field changes

I WOULD like to know who's making the decisions at Capaha baseball field these days. The decisions aren't being made in favor of the fans. I can't believe the placement of the new press box. This has got to be a joke. It looks like an outhouse, but most importantly it takes up the best seats in the house for the home team, be it Capahas, Legion, Redhawks, etc. Please move the press box back to the roof, where it was for years.

The press box location -- hovering above stands on the third base side behind home plate -- is temporary with plans to construct a new one on the roof.

Congrats to Delta

CONGRATULATIONS TO the Delta Bobcats. To the ladies who won the district: Good luck on the road to Columbia. To the boys team, especially the seniors: Thanks for an exciting season. We appreciate the dedication you have given to the school for the past four years. We have also enjoyed watching you play. You all will be greatly missed. Good luck to you.