Letters To The Editor

A salute to persevering Chiefs

I want to commend the Spokane Chiefs on an excellent 1994-95 hockey season. As a new fan to the sport of hockey, I was disappointed when the Chiefs’ season started out as poorly as it did. Yet, the courageous men who played in the Boone Street Barn did not lose their competitive spirit and persevered to make a successful run into the playoffs.

As we all know, the Chiefs were robbed by a terrible call in overtime of the seventh game of the second round playoff against the Tri-City Americans. Yet, as one of the many fans who made the long trip to Kennewick, the goal that got away will not be the only thing remembered. When I think back on that exciting game, I will remember the Chiefs once again not giving up. I will remember Spokane coming back from a two-goal deficit, not once, but twice in order to push the game into overtime. I will remember the Chiefs’ fourth goal, the last-minute, shorthanded goal that didn’t seem possible. Above all, I will remember a team that wouldn’t let its fans down.

So to all the members of the Spokane Chiefs, I offer this. You made the last year in the Spokane Coliseum a memorable one. And you did it because you all had character and enough drive to play your hardest, even when you were behind. Thank you for a great season and good luck in the future. Adam Kohler Moscow, Idaho

Hawks need better descriptive name

I have been a TV fan of the Seattle Seahawks since they were organized, even venturing over to Seattle to watch them stumble through one of their better performances several years ago, but once was enough.

The last few years watching this bunch of overpaid, would-be athletes stumble around the Kingdome on Sundays caused me to lose interest to the extent I would rather mow my lawn than watch their pretense at playing football.

This morning, spying the headlines on the sports page, “Erickson faces DUI after registering .23,” and after reading the article, the thought occurred to me that as their past performance certainly proves they are far from being a hawk, it is time for a name change. My suggestion for a new moniker is to call them the Seattle Booze Hounds as they have certainly lived up to that reputation. B.I. Overlie Spokane

Bergsrud’s the lucky one

Scott Bergsrud’s election to relinquish racing privileges in Washington was probably a simple decision. Why should a talented professional (jockey) risk anything in relation to the uncertainty and intangibles of racing in Washington?

By the time a track is built in Western Washington, he is likely to be retired. Scott has not regularly competed at Yakima, and Playfair racing will either be short-lived or inclement at best.

The horse racing industry in Washington is on its lips, but not because of allegations of improprieties on the part of certain riders.

Only Playfair has something to lose with the continuing innuendoes, if it has not already been destroyed because of political favoritism and the apparent private control of the industry itself. John Montgomery Otis Orchards

Fishing license not a good deal

I’ve had enough. Seventeen dollars for a fishing license that gives us absolutely nothing. The lakes and rivers are not stocked like in the years past. The booklet on the rules is now so thick - 119 pages - you need a wheelbarrow and a Ph.D. to understand it.

It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see where our money is going - straight to the West Side.

Come on, give us a break. Either lower the cost or stock our lakes, rivers and streams. Preferably the latter. Judy House Spokane

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