Letters to the sports editor

I feel compelled to write in response to James Vasquez’s letter regarding Cam Newton.

Mr. Vasquez excuses Newton when he’s “sore” about losing the big one and failure to jump on a fumble.

Well, in my opinion Newton is arrogant, classless and entitled. His boorish behavior surfaced long before the Super Bowl.

Like the “Superman” end-zone celebrations. If Cam Newton is a hero, then Charles Manson would be a candidate for the Nobel Peace Prize.

A wonderful high school coach once told me, “Win or loss, always give your opponent dignity.” Obviously, Newton never heard that one, as demonstrated by him stomping on a “12th Man” flag after Carolina’s playoff win over the Seahawks.

Prior to the Super Bowl, Newton made the asinine statement: “I’m an African-American quarterback that may scare a lot of people.” Like he’s some ethnic trailblazer, this generation’s Martin Luther King Jr. Newton apparently never heard of Doug Williams, the first African-American QB to start a Super Bowl game, in 1988 for the Washington Redskins. By the way, the Redskins won 42-10 and Williams was named MVP.

Cam capped his not-so-Super Bowl day with a petulant performance throughout the postgame news conference. I’ve seen 5-year-olds show more maturity.

Newton needs to start being accountable for his actions. Then he should try to learn some respect. Humility and gratitude – it’s the right thing to do.

Dan Keenan

Spokane

Loved the article on the “influx” of basketball players from Australia. And while I realize that the focus was on current players in the area, I thought it might be appropriate to acknowledge where I believe this phenomenon began – Tony Bennett at WSU with the help of assistant Ben Johnson. The first one who comes to mind is Aron Baynes, whom I believe is still in the NBA. He was a major factor in the Cougars’ run to the Sweet 16 in 2008.

Then Brook Mutum lit it up for the Cougs, earning all-conference recognition. Add Dexter Kernich-Drew and James Hunter and you have a pretty good assortment of Aussies that played for WSU.

It really is a great story, and whether those Cougars had any influence on the wonderful collection of Australian players here now is anyone’s guess. Just glad that they decided to play hoops in the Inland Northwest.

Keith LaMotte

Spokane