FanSpeak 4/17/05

Silence is golden

TO ALL sporting spectators: Please remember that you are not the only person in the crowd. When you yell negative remarks to a player on the field, not only are you adding to that players' stress level for making an error, but you are also creating tension between yourself and that child's loved ones. I agree that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but please keep it to yourself or say it softly so that parents sitting within feet of you can't hear the negativity. If the coach feels the player needs to be on the bench, he will put him there. You do not have any right to pass judgments on that child. The last thing the player needs to hear is some person screaming at them, especially when you didn't do anything but sit on your rear and watch TV all day.

Heat on Hogan

SINCE SOUTHEAST Missouri State fans are on Gary Garner's back about producing more wins, then the same can be said about Southeast baseball coach Mark Hogan. We've heard all winter from various media outlets how this team should compete for an OVC championship. Even with a less brutal schedule than years past, this team can't seem to get it together. Like any other fan, we're not interested in what happened in the past. It's 2005, and this year's Southeast baseball squad is underachieving. First it was the football team that couldn't win, then it was the men's basketball team, and the volleyball team followed suit. Now, the baseball team is failing to produce a winner. Maybe it's just the entire state of Southeast athletics.

Boo for beer nights

I'M CALLING about the Southeast baseball game that offered free beer. Southeast now has become a party school with the administrative marketing director leading the way. Alcohol abuse on college campuses is bad enough without offering free beer in a city park. As an alumnus, don't call me anymore for a donation to support the school. By the way, you'll get 1,000 idiots to attend a Little League ballgame with free beer. Down with the Redhawks.

We stand corrected

HEATHER BOLEN of Jackson was supposed to be Hana Bolen in the track results published in the April 10 edition for the girls long jump.

(The Southeast Missourian regrets the error.)

Mind your Wheaties

I WAS reading the April 8 edition about Albert Pujols on the Wheaties box. It said the last person that was on there was Ozzie Smith. That's kind of funny. I'm sitting here looking on my shelf with two Wheaties boxes that have Mark McGwire, and there was nothing listed about him.

(Smith was the most recent Cardinals player to appear on a box. He was on the covers in 2002 after being elected to the Hall of Fame. Mark McGwire was on the boxes in 1998 following his 70-home run season.)

Track fan

I NOTICED that all of the teams at Southeast Missouri State get recognition for their work despite minimal wins and numerous losses. All but one team -- the track team. The girls have won the last three conference championships but no one blinked. What other team has been doing that? And the men have been ruling the top OVC marks all season. The men's 1,600 meter relay team now ranks No. 11 in the nation. All I ask is that you all do a little better to show love to these track teams. It's the only program that trains from September to May.

Congrats to Bard

IT WAS great to see in your little blurb about Sean Bard, a Central graduate who's leading Mineral Area College in batting, hitting almost .400. He also was a great hitter last year for Cape American Legion baseball team.

Scheduling query

I SEE that Saxony Lutheran has scheduled a couple of baseball games with the new program from Eagle Ridge Christian School. How can a member of the Missouri State High School Activities Association participate against a non-MSHAA school in a sporting event? I thought MSHAA banned that.

Saxony Lutheran athletic director Larry Cleair said on Saturday that those games have been canceled because of the MSHSAA rule prohibiting schools from playing nonmember schools in any sport.