FanSpeak 5/4/03

What's the story?

ON WEDNESDAY, Kelly's baseball team had a big win over rival East Prairie, and nothing was in the paper, not even a score. But when they lose to a bigger school like Central or Jackson, it gets front-page headlines. Where's the fairness?

Scores and results reported to us are published, but not all of our area teams report results to us.

Ihave a correction for U

IF YOU live north of Mt. Vernon, Ill., the initials IU mean Indiana University, not the University of Illinois. U of I is the proper abbreviation for the University of Illinois.

Down on Jackson

WHY IS it that Jackson gets very little press? In the track meet that was just held in Cape, you point out what records are broken for Cape, but you give no mention that the school record for girls pole vault was broken by a Jackson girl. Now why is that? My thoughts are that this paper is very biased against Jackson. This happens all of the time toward Jackson and the sports programs.

We strive for balanced coverage of sports in Jackson and Cape Girardeau. If you know of an omission, or if you have a story idea or accomplishment that involves athletes in either city, contact the sports editor at 335-6611.

Missing the point

THE PROBLEM with the WNBA is not what was stated in the column by Steve Wilstein in Tuesday's paper, but the problem lies in the column itself. It wasn't even about the WNBA. It was about the NBA commissioner's thoughts on the WNBA. Wilstein says he is cheering for the WNBA to pull through, yet even he is giving it no credit. Why doesn't he talk to their commissioner or players instead of talking to those NBA multimillionaires who could care less what happens to their female counterparts as long as their checks keep rolling in on flatbeds?

Illinois insight

I LIKE Bruce Weber, andI think he's a fine coach, but I just don't see him being a good fit for the University of Illinois. Ithink five years from now he's going to wish he had stayed a Saluki.

Sports offers a lesson

ANYONE WHO wants to cut the sports programs obviously doesn't know the first thing about socialization and fitness. Why do you think our society is suffers from obesity? It's because people like you take away fitness opportunities. I would be willing to bet most of the people in this world have met their friends and loved ones through leisure activities. Taking these activities from our kids will take away their chance to gain valuable knowledge. Playing sports is more than throwing a ball.

Looking for T-ball help

I WAS hoping somebody could help me find out who to call to enroll my son in T-ball. He'll be 5 years old, and we live in Jackson. If anyone can help, I'd appreciate it.

Caught in the Cyclone

IF I'M a 40-something guy making $1 million a year for being a basketball coach, I'm going to do everything Ican to ensure that Ikeep drawing a paycheck. What Iwill not do -- ever --is show up at a college party and get hammered until 5 a.m. TheIowa State coach, and any other coach who has it good and then does something completely stupid to blow it, provides a lesson to every coach at every level. You're still a role model, like it or not. Young people look to you for guidance. When you let them down, it's time for you to pay the price by losing your job.

Program does need change

IN RESPONSE to "Chaffee needs a change," I couldn't agree more. I am an alumni and was a member of the 1983 championship football team. The coaches taught the fundamentals and proper techniques required to play the game. Just as important, the coaches demanded and received respect from their players. This is what's lacking at Chaffee now. This is, in most part, a coaching issue that should be addressed immediately. Wake up, school board, and give these athletes a chance to become part of a winning tradition before the program gets eliminated. I oppose the notion that Chaffee can't compete because they play larger schools. The way the playoff system is set up now, that excuse doesn't hold water.