FanSpeak 4/28/02

Curious draft choices

I SURE hope the Rams coaching staff has a plan and knows what they're going to do with these guys they just drafted, because I sure don't.

Season looks doubtful

More and more, IT IS LOOKING LIKE SEMO'S MENS' BASKETBALL TEAM WILL BE LESS THAN MEDIOCRE ONCE AGAIN. DOESN'T EVERYONE SEE THAT GARY GARNER'S PROGRAM HAS BEEN A DISASTER WITHOUT HIS FORMER ASSISTANT'S HELP IN RECRUITING? GARNER MAY BE ABLE TO COACH PRETTY WELL ON THE COURT, BUT SOMETHING IS WRONG WHEN SO MANY OF HIS PLAYERS LEAVE OR GET ARRESTED AND WHEN SO MANY SCHOLARSHIPS ARE LEFT UNUSED. THIS IS NO LONGER BAD LUCK. THIS IS A PATTERN. AT LEAST THE WOMEN'S TEAM SEEMS TO BE COMING TOGETHER WELL.

THE NCAA PLACES A RESTRICTION ON HOW MANY SCHOLARSHIPS DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL PROGRAMS ARE ALLOWED TO AWARD PER YEAR. SOUTHEAST HAS NOT ACTUALLY LEFT SCHOLARSHIPS UNUSED, BUT IN CERTAIN CASES WHEN PLAYERS COMPLETE THEIR ELIGIBILITY AND OTHERS LEAVE, ALL OF THOSE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE NOT ALLOWED TO BE FILLED.

HILLBILLIES?NOT US

I RESENT the fact that a previous caller assumed that racing fans were beer-guzzling hillbillies who wouldn't even attend the races if alcohol wasn't served. As a professional who enjoys racing, I can tell you that I don't go to racing events to drink beer. I go to watch the competition, which is the basis for the sport. Maybe you should put down your own beer and your bag of Cheetos and get off your couch and go check out a live racing event sometime.

A black eye for NHL

KYLE MCLAREN deserved to be banned from hockey for the rest of the year after what he did in the playoffs. Hitting an opponent like that is exactly what's wrong with hockey today -- it's disgusting. Sometimes these goons like McClaren forget this is still a game.

Fan of team, not of idea

I'm totally IN FAVOR OF A NEW STADIUM FOR THE ST. LOUIS CARDINALS. I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF PUBLIC FINANCING OF PROFESSIONAL SPORTS STADIUMS UNDER MOST CIRCUMSTANCES. I'M PARTICULARLY NOT IN FAVOR OF FINANCING A NEW STADIUM THAT IS TO BE BUILT WITHIN SPITTING DISTANCE OF THE OLD ONE. I HEAR A LOT OF TALK ABOUT ECONOMIC GAINS THAT THIS STADIUM WILL BRING. I HAVE A HARD TIME BUYING ANY OF IT, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE ONLY NUMBERS BEING USED THAT SHOW ECONOMIC GAINS ARE COMING FROM THE CARDINALS ORGANIZATION. FIRST, ON THE ISSUE OF JOBS, I'D LIKE TO HEAR HOW THE NEW STADIUM WILL BRING ABOUT THESE JOBS, AND WHAT KIND OF JOBS ARE THEY? ASIDE FROM THE JOBS, I'M ALSO NOT CONVINCED THAT THE NEW BALLPARK WILL BE AN ECONOMIC GAIN AT ALL. PROFESSIONAL STUDIES HAVE EXAMINED THE ECONOMIC IMPACT THAT STADIUMS HAVE ON CITIES AND STATES. EVERY STUDY THAT I HAVE FOUND, OTHER THAN THOSE FUNDED BY TEAM OWNERS, HAS FOUND LITTLE, ZERO OR EVEN A NEGATIVE IMPACT. MOST PROPONENTS ALSO FAIL TO MENTION ANY OPPORTUNITY COSTS. FOR EXAMPLE, IF PUBLIC MONEY IS USED TO HELP CONSTRUCT A NEW STADIUM, BUT LITTLE ACTUAL ECONOMIC GROWTH IS GENERATED TO PAY FOR IT, THEN WHAT GETS CUT? EDUCATION? HIGHWAYS? PUBLIC HEALTH? LAW ENFORCEMENT? WITH THE STATE BUDGET IN A MESS, AND WITH EDUCATION (PARTICULARLY HIGHER EDUCATION) TAKING A BIG HIT, AMONG MANY OTHER THINGS, I DON'T SEE HOW PUBLIC MONEY CAN BE USED FOR WHAT I THINK IS CORPORATE WELFARE.

THE USE OF FORCE

THANKS, SOUTHEAST Missourian, for putting the piece in there about John Force winning his hundredth race. Thanks for the drag racing news. I wish you would put more of it in, but this is a step in the right direction.

Welcome to Missouri,Eric

I CAN'T wait to see how Eric Crouch does in St. Louis. As a Nebraska fan, I would rather have seen the Rams pick him as a quarterback, but it'll still be nice to see him playing close by. Go Huskers!

Marking the dates

WHEN ARE the high school sports playoffs?

District playoffs begin May 11 for track and field, girls' soccer and boys' tennis, and May 13 for golf and baseball. Softball playoffs are in the fall, although several local schools also have spring teams.

Heisman winner?Hah

THE RAMS are serious about making Eric Crouch a receiver? This is more proof that the whole Heisman Trophy concept is bull. If a guy wins the Heisman as a quarterback in college, then gets drafted as a wide receiver in the NFL, I think that says volumes about the Heisman process.