Letters To The Editor
A mother’s side of the story
I opened the paper Sunday morning, Jan. 22, to the sports page and found my name in print based on issues that are very painful and private to me. The story was about the Whitworth athlete Kevin Wright.
The details gave only his side of the story. I work hard to provide for my daughter, and, currently, receive little help from Kevin. Her father is good to her, when he has time. However, their time together is less than the article portrays and generally at his convenience.
I am sure (columnist) John Blanchette believed this article to be a good human interest story. However, he failed to see the personal side. Few young fathers can take advantage of the opportunity presented to Kevin. Instead, they must work to pay bills and do child care.
I am happy for Kevin. I know furthering his future will benefit our daughter. However, I was forced to put my career on hold so Shelby would be cared for in the manner Kevin and I felt was important. But now, he has chosen basketball, track and fun over full-time fatherhood. This saddens me and my daughter. We are trying to accept it. We wanted our family to stay together.
I hope that in the future John Blanchette will take into consideration that, in most cases, there are two or more sides to every story. If he decides to use someone’s name in a personal story, I hope he will talk to them first. Jannell Martensen Spokane
WSU needs to look at local talent
Regarding the headline and article of Jan. 1, 1995, in the sports section: Mike Price, what are you doing in Los Angeles? Did you “go to Disneyland” after your hollow victory at the “Forget the Alamo” Bowl?
You are wasting Washington state taxpayer money trying to recruit second- and third-string L.A. players when you could be in northeast Washington recruiting players who obviously don’t meet your high standards.
If you would try, I’ll bet you could find at least one student athlete in every small and large high school in the state who would and could play for WSU.
The athletes of the greater Spokane area are the “Rodney Dangerfields” of sport. Their own local cowtown colleges won’t even recruit them. And if you talk to Joe Average in Spokane and include “competitive” and “Spokane-area athlete” in the same sentence you’ll be horse-laughed, ridiculed and viewed with great skepticism and suspicion.
Alumnus, coaches and athletic directors who support the current system that discriminates against local athletes perpetuate the idea that the players can’t compete on the national level, which is ludicrous.
Mike Price, why aren’t the majority of athletes recruited and playing for local colleges from the Inland Empire? Not competitive you say?
To refute that notion all you have to do is look at the dozen or so local athletes who are playing pro sports and wonder how many more would be at that level if given a chance. And also, the recent past success of Gonzaga University men’s basketball speaks volumes.
Coach Price, why aren’t you spending most of your time in Washington developing a talent pool three or four years deep that would benefit WSU in the long run and would provide local kids an opportunity for higher education? Dick Brauner Spokane
Montana for Chargers? Oh, no
Say it ain’t so Joe!
Tell us (Joe Montana) you really didn’t say you were rooting for the San Diego Chargers in the Super Bowl!
You are now a (Kansas City) Chief, but your heart should have been left in San Francisco. You are in the AFC now, but you played a virtual career in the NFC. You’re a sports hero and a legend.
If you and K.C. were in the big show, I could understand. While you worked your magic for more than a decade, Steve Young patiently waited his turn.
Now it is his turn to continue the legacy and perhaps dynasty as we know one today that Bill Walsh created and you implemented.
The public likes an underdog and the fans may be starved for a close and exciting Super Bowl. We could have easily back the Chargers against many other NFC teams, but not this one.
Say it ain’t so Joe, say it ain’t so. Ken Moseanko Colbert
Racing industry needs change
If anyone is wondering why dinosaurs are no longer on the face of the earth it is because they refused to change and decided to fight over a drying-up swamp instead of expanding it. This behavior is roughly akin to what Emerald Racing and the horseman’s association are doing to horse racing in Washington.
To make a long story short, the sport is in miserable shape. Fields are small and attendance and handle are down. One innovative action, dual-card simulcasting and additional racing dates at Playfair, was blocked by Emerald and horsemen after an apparent agreement.
This is nothing more than a feeble attempt to protect their own narrow economic self-interest.
The thinking that a new West Side track is going to save racing could be wishful thinking, in that Texas, with three new tracks, should be a mecca for horse racing instead of an economic money pit.
These dire times for racing call for innovative ideas. Unfortunately, the horsemen, Emerald and the racing commission have demonstrated a clear lack of imagination. The mindset of decision-making that was developed when a monopoly reigned is not the mindset that is necessary to meet the competitive challenges from other states, Indian reservations and, eventually, from interactive betting from cable TV or satellite.
The swamp is rapidly drying up and the only alternative they came up with is to get a bucket and bail.
The last part of the monopoly, the racing fan, could be the key to the solution. Victimized by short fields and a low handle, many loyal fans continue to attend. This loyalty is misplaced and continues only to serve the arrogance of the leaders. It is time for the fan to boycott Emerald. Maybe they will get the message when they run some races without any handle on the board. Steve Quaid Colbert