Letters To The Editor

Wrong lesson learned

In Webster’s Dictionary, fair is defined as proper under the rules and free from dishonesty or injustice. Now, in my humble opinion, an issue I read about in the paper a while back was quite disturbing.

The fact the Shadle Park High School administration found a “loophole” to lighten the sentence of three of its athletes who went against a contract really frustrates me.

These young men had signed this contract, and when it was broken the punishment was lightened! To me, this shows (the administrators) take sports more seriously than the well-being of the students. What does this teach the young adults of our society? It teaches them they don’t have to honor their word and don’t have to take responsibility for their actions.

High schools are expected to honor this contract and enforce the consequences when needed. The Shadle administration has proved to be weak and inadequate in the responsibilities of these serious problems. A volleyball player from Ferris committed a similar offense and was punished to the fullest. She has learned her lesson, but have those three basketball players?

Responsibility and fairness is important in this issue. High schools are expected to fulfill this obligation to the contract and have. Shouldn’t Shadle, too? Maggie Johnson Spokane

Chiefs rate more support

In recent playoff games with the Spokane Chiefs, I’ve noticed we have far from sellout crowds. Last year at this time you couldn’t find a place to stand, let alone buy a seat. What’s wrong with this?

The Spokane Chiefs haven’t changed. We’re having a great year. Maybe not as good as last year, but nevertheless, a great year.

Are all you “fans” fair-weather fans, or are you true fans? I think these guys need our support.

At the games I hear people yelling, “You don’t belong out there,” and “you’re no good.” If you’d only get behind the team you’d realize the heart and soul of these guys is unmatched by any organization in this area.

People can’t expect any team to win every game it plays. Local support gives a team better incentive to do its best. So why can’t we, as fans, do our best to give them the support they need?

We have a facility that’s better than most other hockey cities have to offer. Isn’t this what we’ve wanted? A facility that will attract larger crowds and have a place we can boast about?

Maybe it’s high time we, as devoted fans, start showing the support that’s intended to be given to a team worthy of that support.

Let’s pull together and give them the support they received last year. After all, they’re still our Spokane Chiefs. Peaches Rygwalski Spokane

Billy Packer, wake up!

Even while winning its second NCAA basketball championship in three years, the Pac-10 gets dissed by Billy Packer. During this year’s game he pontificated, “I’m sure Arizona would not have finished fifth in the Pac-10 Conference if they had had Miles Simon at the start of the year.” Sorry Billy, the facts suggest otherwise.

After starting strong in the conference with a 6-2 record, Arizona slumped to 5-5 the rest of the way. This stretch included losses to Washington and Oregon, the sixth- and seventh-place teams. Its finish was particularly weak, losing its last two conference games, including one to Cal, which played without Ed Gray (the conference’s leading scorer, who had suffered a season-ending injury the previous weekend).

We will never know how far Cal might have gone with a healthy Ed Gray or how important the loss of UCLA’s starting center (Jelani McCoy) to injury at halftime of the Minnesota game was to the Bruins. Perhaps if the networks ever televised Pac-10 games to the rest of the country, Billy would have known better than to have made that statement. Mike Helland Eloika Lake, Wash.

Education on Seahawks

In response to Al Coumont’s letter (March 30th, “We don’t need Seahawks”): First of all, the people of this region went to Paul Allen, he didn’t come lurking around hoping to empty our pockets. And, were the Seahawks using Cheney as a workout facility in the ‘80s as “a ploy?” No, they want to let East Side fans know they appreciate their support, so they’re coming back.

And you obviously have no idea (or just don’t care) about the hundreds and hundreds of people who will be put out of work if the team leaves and the millions of dollars that will go to some other state’s income, and the hundreds of thousands of fans that will be heartbroken.

I’ll bet you didn’t even know the stadium will be state-owned and that paying for it will be sports fans’ responsibility, i.e.: tax on memorabilia, parking at stadium, sports lottery tickets.

If this team leaves, it will affect you negatively. And when the Seahawks are a great team again (real soon) I’ll see you at the sports bar hootin’ and hollerin’ and jumping on the bandwagon I’ve been riding faithfully for 20 years. Daryl Smith Spokane