Sunday's FanSpeak

How to make champs

THIS IS to the super series 13-year-old group that went to Oklahoma this year. Whether you're a swimmer or even a baseball player, the finish line is about much more than being the best. It's about setting goals and seeing them through. That's why determination, drive and practice are what true champions are made of.

No politics here

MY HUSBAND and I went to watch a baseball game the other evening because a close friend's son was playing. The parents of the boys spent most of the evening criticizing the high school and the junior and senior legion coaches for being political, claiming it's not how well a boy plays but who their parents are that dictates whether a boy makes the team and then starts and gets to even play. This is a view from the other side of the fence, so to speak. Our daughter graduated several years ago having played softball at Central. Our son will be a junior this year and he plays two team sports. He starts most games in both sports. We've never had a one-on-one with any coach. We don't go to church with any of them, don't belong to any social clubs or groups. I graduated from Woodland and my husband graduated from Jackson. And I'm sorry to admit, we forgot to join the booster club last year. So according to the parents at this game, our kids shouldn't even be on the team, much less playing. These claims of politics just don't ring true.

Bring up the minors

I HAD to laugh when I heard a baseball player state that he needed to make more money because ballplayers' careers are so short. The average professional baseball player earns $2,300,000 per year. An average person earning $57,000 per year would have to work more than 40 years to earn what the average baseball player makes in one year. And these guys want more money. If the players' union goes on strike, I hope the owners call up the minor leaguers and put these prima donnas out of a job.

Good, but not cheating

THIS IS in response to the caller who called the coach a cheater in the 11-12-year-old division in Little League. You said you felt sorry for the boys on this team. Well, don't. My son was on that team and it was a very good experience. Those coaches always said positive things to the boys and never yelled at them. The coaches put time and effort in the team and in response, the whole team tried their best and respected each team member. What an insult for boys on that team who worked hard, clicked with each other, played well and won all their games but one. They did not win because their coach cheated. They won because they played better.