Letters To The Editor

Playfair needs help

In regard to the letter by Michael Thain (Feb. 1) about a lack of marketing for Playfair Race Course, I agree wholeheartedly.

I have never seen anything supported so poorly by the media that could be one of the big draws in this area. Or is it a lack of marketing on the part of the track?

As is Mr. Thain, I also am a life-long fan of racing and do not understand why there is no promotion. If they can’t afford a formal promotion program, I’m sure there are fans with experience in that regard who would love to get their teeth into a vigorous attempt to bring this sport to the attention of the community and keep it in front of them until the meet is over.

Playfair could use the attention and the Inland Empire could use a good promotion. Come on someone, let’s go. C.R.Lines Hayden Lake

Facts misleading

I was somewhat in shock after reading Rich Landers’ misleading and totally irresponsible article of Jan. 29, “Rules partial to special interests seem primitive.”

Landers must have his own special interests in mind when he inexplicably tries to pit hunters against one another. A cardinal sin among sportsmen. What were you thinking? Then in trying to prove his bogus claim of a frustrated rifle hunter, he uses misleading facts and jaded opinions.

Landers states the hunting regulations became complicated because archers and muzzleloaders wanted special seasons. This is misleading. They wanted a season, period. Nearly every state had an early primitive weapon season except Washington. The main reason for added seasons, however, was to make primitive weapons more attractive and disperse hunters. Overcrowding made all opening days a circus in some areas. Limiting hunters to one weapon spread them out, and the regulation has always been considered a success. Why change that?

More Landers’ sleight of hand, “success rates of archers and muzzleloaders had surpassed rifle hunters and their gain are at the expense of rifle hunters.”

First of all, the number of archers and muzzleloaders are a fraction of the number of modern rifle hunters. It only stands to reason a small number of hunters pursing a large number of animals is naturally going to have better luck than a huge number of hunters pursing that same limited number of animals. Add in the fact that many primitive seasons include either-sex hunting and you’ll most certainly get higher success rates. I’m sure if total animals harvested by weapon were examined, there would be no question as to the advantage.

Still, I can’t see where primitive weapon seasons are affecting modern firearm seasons. Certainly, Landers gives no proof. In fact, I don’t see any problem with the seasons. It’s when traditional hunts are eliminated for no biological reason that infuriates people. If it’s not broke … don’t diminish recreational opportunity for the sake of simplicity. Wes Ebel Colville

Report appears biased

Rich Landers’ obvious bias toward modern firearm hunters (Jan. 29) was unprofessional and uncalled for.

Most particularly, his distortion of hunter statistics was absolute political nonsense.

There are approximately 27,000 modern firearm hunters, 13,000 archers and 8,000 muzzleloaders who buy tags each hunting season in the state of Washington.

Using Mr. Landers’ quoted hunter percentages from the 1997 season, and the above hunter group population numbers, the following statistics are derived: Modern firearm hunters harvested 1,512 deer and 1,647 elk. Archery hunters harvested 1,352 deer and 1,456 elk. Muzzleloaders harvested 1,088 deer and 1,200 elk.

As Washington hunters are painfully aware, 1997 was a poor year for hunter harvest due to winter kill in the winter of 1996-97.

In past years, modern firearm hunter harvest has been in the 8th to 12th percentile. The poor carry-over from 1996, and the three-point minimum on Eastern Washington mule deer both worked against modern firearm hunters this past season, and harvest within this hunter group was down.

It sounds to me like Mr. Landers failed to get his deer this past season, and is now trying to take it out on everyone else. Thomas M. Nieberding Coulee Dam

Injury was needless

My wife and I went to the hockey game (Jan. 28) and sat beside the opponent’s penalty box.

There was an injury to a Medicine Hat player in front of us when his head hit the post beside the penalty box and he lost some teeth and blood. Hockey is a dangerous sport, but this seemed like a needless injury. Why isn’t there a plexiglass partition above the penalty box door like the one above the door between the timekeeper and the crowd?

I am not an avid hockey fan, but this seems like such a no-brainer, I must be missing something. Jay Nooney Spokane

Broncos have their day

I bought the (Jan. 25) paper and read the dire predictions from all over the country. “0-5 for the Broncos.” “Elway’s final shame.”

The country’s sportswriters were already gleeful about a (Super Bowl) game that hadn’t even begun. There was simply no chance for that poor, little offensive line to win against unbeatable Green Bay.

How rich, how grand to read the ridiculous predictions of arrogant know-it-alls in the bright light of the aftermath of Super Bowl XXXII. How wonderful the memories of a jubilant, ecstatic, victorious John Elway raising the shining silver trophy to a screaming crowd. And no, it wasn’t Elway’s day; his performance was mediocre at best. But the combined performances of his supporting cast, their tight-lipped, classy behavior during two weeks of Packers glorification and stories of another Broncos embarrassment, and a world-class performance by best-in-the-NFL Terrell Davis did, indeed, lead to a championship.

The Super Bowl defied all predictions while at the same time provided us with a rare treat: a genuinely good ball game. Super Bowls almost never live up to the hype, and the final two playoff games are almost always the best of the season. Not this time.

As a 17-year Colorado resident and an Elway-Broncos fan through the best and the worst, it was a fine day to watch the highlights well into the wee hours to relive the moments of one of the best-played Super Bowls ever. No sloppy play, no mistakes. The better team won. And today, the Denver Broncos are the best football team in the world.

I have a message for all the sportscasters, columnists, writers and fans who knew without a doubt the Packers would win, that Elway should have retired three years ago and the AFC might as well pack up and go home because the NFC always wins the Lombardi Trophy: How do you like your crow? Fried or baked? Julia E. Hubbel Spokane

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