FanSpeak Oct31

Crying foul

NOTREDAME soccer coach Brad Wittenborn and Central coach Tom Doyle still don't seem to get it. Do you realize the state had to step in because, in general, high school players are playing too rough and coaches don't seem to be doing enough about it? This isn't the World Cup or the MLS. It is a high school extra-curricular activity. Wittenborn states, "it shows no confidence in the coaches." Exactly. If you corrected your kids when they do something they shouldn't be doing then I doubt you would have had to sit out games this year. Also, a hard foul in basketball may not be just a hard foul. There are additional penalties that may result -- an intentional foul, a technical foul or a flagrant foul. You indirectly bring up a good point. Maybe basketball coaches should sit out games if their players rack up too many technicals, intentionals or flagrants.

Ready for a new hobby

WHATAN embarrassment it is to be a sports fan in Southeast Missouri. The St. Louis Cardinals can no longer play, the St. Louis Rams are goners, Southeast football is as bad as it's always been and the Southeast volleyball team might as well hang it up. The Southeast soccer team has the most talent but can't do anything with it, and the teams at Southeast that do win are those that get very little publicity. I say it's time to bring in some new coaches, managers and athletic directors. If it stays the way it is, then losing is all any of us fans can look forward to. Maybe men's basketball coach Gary Garner can bring back some dignity to Southeast. Otherwise, the move to Division I was fruitless. If you can't even perform in one of the very worst leagues, what's the point? Maybe its time for me to take up knitting.