FanSpeak 8/18/02

If the shoe fits ...

I APPRECIATE your recent coverage of the horseshoe league. Jeremy Joffray did an excellent job. Thank you, Jeremy.

Stop doing that

THE SPORTS page used to be so much easier to read.

It just takes hustle

I WAS reading in the paper about a Central High School coach complaining that they would start football practice an hour later than in years past because they have to travel back to the old practice field. He failed to mention that Central High School's going to be dismissing at 2:20 rather than 2:40 and they very rarely started football practice by 3:15. It really shouldn't make too much difference if they'll just hustle and get to the practice fields.

Count me out

IF BASEBALL strikes, I will never go back to another game. And no, I didn't say this last time they went on strike, so if they do it this time, I'm walking, too.

Use the schedule

THIS IS a challenge to principal Mike Cowan at Central High School. We high school parents would really appreciate it if you could get your coaching staff of every sport to adhere to the schedule that they give the parents. Now that you may not let sophomores drive, some of us have to take our kids and pick them up from each and every practice instead of letting them drive themselves. And even if that wasn't the case we're given a schedule of practice times. Our kids never get out on time. Sometimes it's up to an hour late. This is inconsiderate.

What, no soccer results?

THE SOUTHEAST soccer team is playing a number of games in Canada, but I can only find one result on the Web site. Do you have any?

The games technically are exhibition events. No results have been made available.

They're big babies

BASEBALL PLAYERS are spoiled rotten. You can't even call baseball a pastime or a game now, because it's not. It's a big nasty business.

Good portrayal of Keiki

THANKS FOR the really great article on Keiki. Not only is he hard working, he is a humble person with a lot of personality. He loves it at Southeast, and hope you folks will enjoy having him as part of the community.

Can he pass the test?

I SAW where Barry Bonds hit his 600th home run. I'd to see the man step up and take a steroid test. None of the ones who played ball anymore -- whether it be football, basketball, baseball -- have the same stamina and beliefs that the older heroes did in any of those sports. None of those people took steroids and they got the record that way.

Watch 'em crash

I'M READY for somebody to open up a race track locally where the fans don't have to sit for an hour to see the sprint class finish a lap of their race. I could be spending that money on a movie instead of going and sitting through an hour of wrecks.

It makes no sense

WHEN MARK McGwire broke Roger Maris' record in 1998, why wasn't he MVP as Barry Bonds was when he broke McGwire's record last year? Weren't their records similar? Didn't their teams do just about as well in the standings? If someone could offer a logical explanation I would appreciate it.

Stop saying "super"

IT'S TIME for the Missourian sports writers to drop the "Super Mario" nonsense. At Missouri Mario is just another football player and the opponents would love to whip that on him every time they can. It was so juvenile anyway.

Super, super, super

I DON'T agree with the following statement: "Whitney will never be the plow horse that Brock Olivo was for the Tigers. He may never carry the wallop that Devin West did. Perhaps the early attention is too much." Nobody knows what Whitney can nor will do. He may be better that Brock Olivo or Devin West in the end. They may have been big but Whitney may be even bigger. It is way too early for so many predictions to be made. All of the negative comments really need to stop.

Crying and whining

I'D RATHER go watch a college game any day of the week than to sit and watch rich men playing a baseball game, then whining about it after they're done. At least in college football they're accused of paying their athletes, but you don't have to listen to the players themselves cry and whine while it's happening.