Letters To The Editor

MARK MCGWIRE

Andro? No big deal

It bothers me that people are making such a big deal over Mark McGwire’s use of the supplement androstenedione.

What annoys me is the ignorance of people who call it a steroid. It is not a steroid, but an organic supplement taken by thousands of athletes to enhance their body’s natural production of testosterone. When an athlete takes steroids, he takes foreign hormones into his body, sometimes in toxic quantities.

Someday, andro may be seen as the fountain of youth for men. As we age, our bodies produce less testosterone, which is why older men lose so much muscle mass and become frail. Andro would help maintain that muscle, plus may improve their libidos.

Now, the ignorance comes from people suggesting that andro is responsible for McGwire’s size. The man has been lifting weights for years, and was big, strong and muscular prior to taking andro a year ago. His size is due to good genetics, a good diet and lifting lots of heavy weight.

He claims andro helps keep him healthy. If you look at his injury-riddled history, and his ability to stay healthy the last two seasons, maybe there is something to that claim. I say, if it keeps McGwire healthy, brings new fans to the game because of his mammoth homers and his chase of history, then good for Mark, and good for baseball.

Oh, and for the reader who suggested that Babe Ruth was too smart to take steroids? The Babe died of cancer because of ingesting toxic products such as alcohol and tobacco, so I don’t know how smart he was. Besides, the Babe would have had to work out for steroids or andro to benefit him, and the most working out he ever did was 16-ounce curls. John Ernst Pullman

HORSE RACING

WHRC short-sighted

The Washington Horse Racing Commission denied the Native American Muckleshoots a license to operate Playfair. WHRC felt it wasn’t fair to Washington state citizens to grant a license?

Do the people believe that Emerald deserves all of the horse racing? Why?

Thanks, Don McCanna, for your letter (Aug. 23). Ed T. Collins Nine Mile Falls

Praise for Seabeck

Thanks to Jim Seabeck for his work on behalf of the horsemen and fans in horse racing. He supported the total industry - Emerald, Yakima and Spokane. No one was better qualified to serve this industry.

We will miss Jim, but want him to know we all appreciated and respected his time and efforts. Jack Pring Spokane

OTHER TOPICS

Not enough variety

It seems to me that everything printed on the front page has to do with Mariners, Seahawks, Spokane Indians, Washington State Cougars, Washington Huskies or college volleyball.

It’s not a bad thing to print something about the local sports, but I think most of that news should be placed somewhere else besides the front page. There are records being chased this year in baseball, and I feel it should be recognized better. Also many people like myself that follow a variety sports would like to see more coverage and better recognition for those sports. Darryl Bates Fairchild AFB

Not enough Chiefs

I feel your coverage of the Spokane Chiefs, especially during the recent training camp, has been very poor. There has been one article, the one about Chris Twerdun, and that was before training camp began. Many other papers in the WHL, such as Tri-Cities, have devoted a lot more coverage to their hockey teams. The Spokesman has had no articles on possible prospects, no articles on the current rosters (who has been cut), no articles on the Red-White game, no articles at all!

I have subscribed to The Spokesman-Review for over five years and I am considering canceling my subscription. I am very disappointed in the lack of respect that Spokane Chiefs fans have been given by The Spokesman-Review. I sincerely hope that you will consider covering the Chiefs in more detail in the future. Ryan Moore Spokane

Be honest about Cougars

Sportswriter Carter Strickland and the die-hard Coug fans on the Spokesman-Review staff just have to slip in a little jab toward the Huskies whenever they can.

So the Huskies replaced Miami at home with Utah State, or as you put it “cupcake Utah State.” My question: are Illinois, Boise St. and Idaho right alongside that pastry dish?

Let’s throw in the little sisters of mercy to make it a little easier for WSU! Please don’t start writing that WSU is the best in the Pac-10 or the nation after this weekend. I know you guys too well!

It’s only the first game and it’s against a team that was winless last year. Back to the Toilet Bowl for the Cougs. Mike Young Post Falls