Letters To The Editor
Husker bashing not appreciated
You have just run the worst wire service article possible concerning NCAA football. Who chose to run such a negative story (Dec. 28) trashing Nebraska? What’s your opinion? Do you have one? Why not run Florida newspaper stories?
I was very upset to see your anti-Huskers story on the front page.
How can you run a feature story that, in reality, is an editorial from some Southeastern Conference loser?
There is no balance to the story. In fact, writer Kevin B. Blackistone of the Dallas Morning News proceeds to rip apart Nebraska. Huskers coach Tom Osborne is a fine person, who doesn’t run a day care. When a player runs into trouble, he is dismissed until the verdict is rendered.
I could blast his “points” one by one, but I don’t have the time this morning. Where is your story about the positive Huskers who have endured for years without NCAA trouble, who have the best GPA in college football, who graduate more players than any other major team and their spotless record over the years? Instead you choose to run a story that takes a class team through the mud. It stinks.
I am disappointed with your paper. The sports section was the only section of interest, now I doubt your credibility, too! Where is the balance? Rex Watson Spokane
Crockett no savior in Spokane
The article about Bruce Wagar (Dec. 27) and thoroughbred racing in Spokane could not have been closer to the truth.
For horse owners, trainers and jockeys, this is a means of everyday life - not a hobby. I dread the idea of another track opening and our days being numbered.
What do they think will happen to the immediate families, the children? We don’t want to have to move all over. Some jockeys even opt to work on local farms after our season is done, exercising horses or breaking colts, then resume racing here when the season starts. But with the season shortened to a mere 48 racing days, that calls for a stretch of 10 months for some to be away from their families.
It’s hard to have a family when one parent is gone so long, and it’s frustrating to take a family on the road.
So if Emerald Racing and Ron Crockett think we are going to uproot our families and live over there (in the Seattle area), he has another think coming.
We are all affected by the industry. Why should we all have to give up our season dates because of this?
What right does Crockett have controlling the racing commission? I’m not giving up my life and my family for absurd plans. You can bet we will not patronize Auburn.
Crockett is not the savior over here. If we had more Bruce Wagars speak out against this, we could be our own saviors and re-energize Playfair to what it once was. Jeanette Rockstrom Spokane
A retort from the “killers”
In response to Deanna R. Kuhn’s lettter, (Dec. 31):
There is nothing illegal about the fair and ethical pursuits of big game. Many benefits are derived from this activity. These people you call “killers” help maintain herd populations, many of which are higher than ever.
Most public land revenue is derived through the sale of hunting and fishing licenses or from taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. Also, some people even feed their families with this activity.
Far be it for me to call you a name that would be offensive to you. I just wish you had other ammunition in your arguement, some facts for example. Larry Vanderlinden Jr. Hayden, Idaho
Correction
A letter in last Sunday’s sports section from Deanna R. Kuhn claimed that only 1 percent of the population hunts. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s latest statistics say 9 percent of the nation’s population hunts.
xxxx S-R sports staff Sports editor: Jeff Jordan Assistant sports editor: Joe Palmquist Outdoors editor: Rich Landers Columnist: John Blanchette Reporters: Steve Bergum, Kevin Blocker, Dave Boling, Chris Derrick, Greg Lee, Jim Meehan, Dave Trimmer, Mike Vlahovich, Dan Weaver Copy desk: Gil Hulse, Hilary Kraus, Mike Sando, Ralph Walter Stats desk: Kory Boatman, Katharine Kumangai Contributors: Rita Balock, Paul Delaney, Jim Price, Fenton Roskelley, Chuck Stewart