FanSpeak Feb29

A wonderful article

THANK YOU for the great article on Curtis Williams, an outstanding person and athlete. It was about black history month and it was on the sports page but it should have been run on the front page of the Southeast Missourian. Curtis is an outstanding person and I thank you for the wonderful article. We could learn a lot from what Curtis has had to say.

Check the facts

I WOULD like to know who does the research for your sports writers. In the Sunday, Feb. 15, article about the Jackson girls team, when he mentioned the seniors from last year, he left out Kristen Howard, who was a starter and also a senior. When he talked about the seniors from this year, he included a player who left the team right before Christmas. When you do these articles, maybe you ought to check your research just a little bit closer.

Coaches push too much

I WOULD like to say that I'm watching a middle school girls basketball tournament for ages 10-12. The coaches are just pushing these girls so hard. It's ridiculous to do this just to win a game. I know it's important to some people, but you don't push a child until they nearly fall over. I think this should be reconsidered.

Otahkians are not dull

THE GUY who thinks that women's basketball at SEMO is dull and slow is dead wrong. He must have lapsed into a coma in 1954 from which he has never awakened. The women may not be able to jump as high or run as fast as the men, but dull they are not. I have seen the Otahkian point guard, Sarah Costello, make two behind-the-back passes on the fast break to teammates going full speed for a score. That is not dull. The entire team plays with as much grit, toughness and determination as any men's team I've watched. For my money, Otahkians basketball is one of the greatest shows in town.

Govs are talented, unselfish

IN REGARD to Marty Mishow's comment about Austin Peay's talent: What he fails to realize is Austin Peay has a very talented team. Any player on that team could get 20 points per night if they wanted to be a one-on-one offensive team. But they choose to play defense and don't care who scores. A round of applause to Austin Peay's great defense and unselfish team which is 15-0 in the Ohio Valley Conference.

Pack the place for Otahks

THIS IS to the person who would rather watch paint dry than women's basketball: I'm assuming he's probably never been to an Otahkians game in the last couple of years. They're a very exciting team to watch. They run up and down the floor and play excellent defense and hustle -- a lot more than the boys do. Hopefully if they get a conference tournament game here in Cape, they'll pack the place and move on to the national tournament. For people who don't like to watch women's basketball, watch some of the games on TV with Duke and North Carolina with 15,000 to 20,000 people in the stands.

Congrats to Trainee 14

I'M CALLING in regard to the lady you interviewed that was going to be at the Gateway Championship Wrestling on Saturday night. I went out and watched her wrestle and I want to congratulate Trainee 14 on winning her match Saturday night. I'd like to see her come back March 20.

Coaches need to behave

IT MAKES me sick to see how little character our coaches have today. How can our coaches expect character out of their teams if they don't have character themselves? I saw a coach actually shove a girl the other night because she made a foul. Surely you coaches know that your team will foul, miss free throws and plain goof up at times. You act like it's a complete shock to you when this happens. The raging fits you throw tell me you are not mature enough to handle your job. Surely you coaches wouldn't want to be treated like you treat your team in public -- calling them out by name in front of crowds and embarrassing them to tears. Really, I'd like to see one of your players to do this to you in return. What are you wanting? To be noticed? Or is it that you are immature and don't know how to act? It's amazing how one can go to college for years and never learn the meaning of character. You coaches are supposed to be an example. It's time that you cleaned up your act and started leading by example.

Riding the pine with class

I WANT to commend the non-starter Oran Eagles basketball players. These boys have sat the bench the whole season and has showed the true meaning of athletic sportsmanship. They have supported their team and have showed respect to their coaches.

Kudos to SEMO marketing

A BIG pat on the back needs to go out to the Southeast Missouri State sports marketing department. Charles Wiles and his devoted staff really had their hands full this basketball season in trying to create a great environment for the fans. The men's team didn't exactly have an attractive home schedule -- last year we hosted SIU and Southwest Missouri State -- and then struggled to find wins in the OVC. It wasn't exactly an easy team to market. But, the sports marketing department threw out all the stops and did what they could. The 4,500-plus that attended SEMO's final home game got a taste of their hard work. Whether it was T-shirts, basketballs or teddy bears, they always had something to throw into the stands. Hopefully with some harder work on the floor and a few more wins, that 4,500 will turn into 5,500 or 6,000 fans next year.

Two points on basketball

THERE HAVE been a lot of calls in lately about SEMO's basketball program and also about how the girls basketball program, the Otahkians, are treated. As a longtime booster club member and season-ticket holder, I'd like to comment on both of those issues. First, of course, you're going to have a terrible basketball team and basketball season when you recruit the way our coach does. I've called in about this before and I've even spoken to Don Kaverman about it, and it's basically ignored. We keep recruiting kids that can't even make grades and stay eligible at a junior college and we expect them to remain eligible at a Division I school. That makes no sense at all, and I don't understand why the coach would do this or the AD would approve it. Second, on the women's basketball program and not having much support: They don't get any support from the booster club either. We have meals and activities that take place during the girls game and then the boosters go in and watch the men's game. The booster club itself doesn't support the girls program. In fact, by its actions and scheduling of activities, it discourages attendance of its booster club members at the girls games.

No respect for the Rams

I WAS just looking at the SEMO boys basketball top 10 poll that's picked by the Southeast Missouri sports writers and sportscasters. Scott City is ranked sixth in this poll. They have beat Bell City twice but Bell City is fifth. They just beat Portageville and Portageville is fourth. If Scott City would have beaten Charleston and Jackson this year, what would they have been ranked? Twentieth?

Look at the good

TO THE person who thinks the Delta school board is not doing its job, nothing can be done if the issue is not brought to the board. I invite anyone who thinks they can do a better job to jump to it. There are elections every year. It seems everyone is quick to condemn but when it comes to the good things, nothing is ever said. The Delta school board and administration as well as the parents and students do a wonderful job at supporting each other. We are having a successful basketball season both boys and girls, we have an all-state cross country runner that has been invited to compete in an international cross country meet in Australia. The parents and school have done several fund-raisers to help with the travel expense. We have sent students to Florida, Washington and various other places. So before you start complaining on what you see is wrong with the school, look at the good that is coming out and I think the good will outweigh the bad any day.