Letters To The Editor

Cox no friend of sports fan

In response to Mark Truppner (Cox viewer calls for KIRO, April 9): I agree it would be great if we could be a part of the state of Washington. However, we have always been isolated from Western Washington.

You must also understand that Cox Cable has never been a friend of Spokane sports fans. It deprived us of WGN for Ryne Sandberg’s entire career. It also deprived us of the glory years of the most dominating athlete in sports history, Wayne Gretzky. We received little NHL in Spokane until a few years ago. In the meanwhile, Cox crammed Ted Turner’s Braves down our throats.

Cox has demonstrated its arrogance many times by pulling the plug on Mariners telecasts while the games were in progress. Yet when it is contract renewal time, it shows up and tells us all the wonderful things it is going to do for us.

Cox Cable seems to be a very strong company around the country. Perhaps the problem is Cox takes more and more money out of subscribers and delivers less and less. Cox will continue cheating us as long as we take it. Allan LeTourneau Spokane

Playfair got what it asked for

After reading Leonard Melman’s letter to the editor (March 26) regarding Playfair Race Course, I must agree that government domination and interference are destroying our once-great nation. But his ill-conceived claptrap regarding the Washington State Horse Racing Commission and Playfair exhibits his complete lack of understanding of what is really taking place on the horse racing scene in Spokane and Washington state.

The Washington State Racing Commission did not allot only 50 days of racing to Playfair. The commission merely granted to Playfair the racing dates it requested. The “proper management” Mr. Melman refers to at Playfair requested the dates because they believe, without simulcasting their programs statewide, they would be unable to conduct a profitable race meeting. Granted, with the new competition from the lotto, bingo, casinos and the dog track in Post Falls, the public has more choices where to spend its gambling dollar. But when faced with competition, all corporations must become innovative and imaginative in order to survive, instead of crying out to the government to help bail them out.

Playfair management are insolent, self-serving individuals, who care nothing about the race fans or horsemen, but instead are interested only in becoming concert promoters and could care less about running a successful race meet. Once grandiose Playfair has been reduced to shambles under the Hilliard/Rich “management (sic) team.” They are cold and rude to their customers and combine that with terrible service in the turf club, outdated seating that actually collapses on fans, lack of any security in the parking area that results in vandalism and theft, and last year’s refusal to provide fans with a racing form - instead printing their own racing program that was both uninformative and unreadable. The list goes on.

Mr. Melman, please do some research before taking up space that could be used to inform the public about what is really happening to horse racing in Spokane. Arlan Grytdal Spokane

Aaron anniversary stirs memories

Your April 9 newspaper contained two separate articles regarding Henry Aaron’s momentous breaking of Babe Ruth’s home-run record. It is unfortunate its place in the annals of history is marred by the prejudices of a few. Their bigoted reactions and life-threatening taunts, which, by the way, were made aware to those loyally following his pursuit, are overshadowed by the joy many of those of us shared in being witness and, therefore, a part of Aaron’s success.

I still remember waiting for the afternoon newspaper during the early ‘70s, tearing open the sports section, and eagerly searching the headlines and box scores to see if Hammerin’ Hank had hit one out the day before. Those of your readers who followed Joe DiMaggio’s hitting streak in 1941 share the importance I felt during those days of my 12th summer.

Our intense interest in baseball and Aaron’s success left physical imprints, for the newsprint stained the elbows of young boys who laid on the floor, their heads in their hands while the box scores were scrutinized for the whos, whats and wheres. What did we know of prejudices, the narrow minds of these few who pale in comparison with those we all saw, the 50,000-plus who filled Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium, and the millions of viewers we were told watched Aaron’s 715th homer?

Let the memory of those who exulted at the moment and followed history in the making prevail rather than the hate that has become such an unfortunate part of our heritage that Aaron himself cannot part with the hate mail he received. The boys of summer are not only the players, but the boys who idolized them. John D. Michels Spokane

Big Bend wrestling needs help

The sport of wrestling is the great equalizer. You don’t have to be fast, super strong, genius I.Q. (though some are), real big or real small. The sport welcomes all body shapes, sizes and races. Throughout the state of Washington, junior high and high school wrestling thrives while generating opportunities for youngsters weighing 101 through 275 pounds.

There are currently only five collegiate programs in our state: Yakima Valley, Pacific Lutheran, Highline JC, Central Washington and Big Bend Community College in Moses Lake. Gone are the great programs of Washington State, Washington and Eastern Washington. If financial and emotional support cannot be generated by April 28, the Board of Regents will disband the program at Big Bend Community College.

Why is this a problem in Spokane and the East Side? Estimates range from 4,000-6,000 wrestlers participating in A/B, AA, AAA, junior high and recreational programs throughout Eastern Washington. One less college wrestling program means fewer opportunities for these young wrestlers to pursue their dreams into college, just like their high school classmates who play football, basketball, baseball, track and soccer.

I’m writing this letter to raise community awareness of this potential loss to our youth. We cannot afford more dropped programs - the promise of wrestling in college keeps thousands of our children goal-oriented, busy and out of trouble. Please join me and my friends in our attempt to save the Big Bend Community College program. Personal and corporate pledges and sponsorships are encouraged. If you can, and choose to help, please mail your tax-deductible contribution to: Big Bend Community College Wrestling Program, c/o Mike Lang, 7662 Chanute Street, Moses Lake, WA 98837. Jack Vandagriff Spokane

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