Letters To The Editor

Jones says goodbye

Thank you Spokane for a great four years. All the games I played, all the super people I have met as a Spokane Chief have given me memories I will never forget.

Special thanks to the billets, booster club and secret pals. The things you do for us are very much appreciated. To Gary and Nora Horsman, my “billets,” thanks for putting up with me. You are the greatest!

To Tim Speltz and Ray Dudra, thanks for giving me the chance to prove myself.

To Bobby and the entire Brett organization, a huge thank you for all you do for the team. It has been first class all the way.

To Coach Babs, Pelino, Shockey, and Cox, I truly appreciate all the hockey knowledge and life skills you have taught me. When I came to Spokane, I was as green as they come, but I’m leaving here a more mature person and a much better player.

To the guys, good luck the rest of the season; I wish you all the best in the future.

To the local television and Dan Weaver of The Spokesman-Review, thanks for the awesome coverage.

And to the Spokane fans, thanks for all your support. I will never forget my time in Spokane and you are “The Best in the West.” Ty Jones Kamloops, British Columbia

Samaranch attacked

History taught in school is usually kind to tyrants and murderers who masquerade as great leaders or exemplary people.

The unkind history of International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch, if widely known, might illuminate the recent favors-for-votes scandal exposed in Salt Lake City involving IOC members.

Samaranch is a former Spanish fascist who served, without remorse, the butcher Franco. Fascism arose in Spain under Franco just as Mussolini and Hitler took over Italy and Germany. Our parents and grandparents often enlisted, fought and died in Europe with a gut understanding that fascists were the enemies of people.

Samaranch was selected IOC chief by Chicago millionaire Avery Brundage, IOC president from 1952 to 1972 and Nazi sympathizer. His “excellency,” Samaranch’s preferred address, is still the fascist, publicly denouncing President Reagan’s State Department in 1987 for denying a visa to a Chilean Olympic rifleman, a known torturer in Chile. Vindictively, Samaranch said Americans could “forget about” Anchorage getting the 1994 Winter Olympic Games.

Neither Samaranch nor his associates will ever be known for their true history if we stay dumb about the continuation of fascism in this world. We’re talking about people with a gangster mentality presiding over our wonderful Olympic Games. But what’s so wonderful with the crooks in charge? Chuck Armsbury Elk, Wash.

Military slighted

As a season ticket-holder for many years and an employee at Fairchild AFB, I attended the Spokane Chiefs Military Appreciation Night game Jan. 30.

While I have issues with the Chiefs management’s choice of Greg Heister as public address announcer, the way he handled his “duties” last Saturday night was unconscionable to our military families in attendance.

It was bad enough that he introduced the wing commander as “Mr. Col. Timothy Jones,” but followed that with the introduction of the National Anthem singer as “Bobby Jackson.”

Staff Sgt. Bobby Jackson was in full military uniform at the time and should have been addressed as such. Such lack of professionalism on Heister’s part leads me to believe he is not fully capable of handling the duties and responsibilities required of this position.

Perhaps he has gotten himself in over his head in work load, with his duties at KHQ and such, then can’t do his “homework” when it comes to learning the names and titles of dignitaries in attendance.

I feel Heister owes all the military men and women in attendance that he insulted an immediate apology, and a quick resignation from the class act of the Chiefs. Larry White Spokane

More national

I would like to challenge all you who wrote letters a month ago concerning a certain fan who wanted more San Francisco 49ers coverage in the sports section of The Spokesman Review to think from his and my viewpoint.

I am a California sports fan and I enjoy such teams as the Los Angeles Lakers, L.A. Dodgers and Oakland Raiders.

I also like Gonzaga as an area sports team. I don’t mind having Gonzaga coverage on the front page because I understand they are big here in the Northwest.

But when there is a Gonzaga win over Pepperdine or Santa Clara on the front page and on the third page there is a medium-sized article on Mike Tyson defeating Francois Botha, that just doesn’t make sense to me. Gonzaga does deserve coverage, but over a story like Ricky Williams winning the Heisman or Tyson knocking out Botha, I don’t think so. Take notice that not everyone, and probably 30 to 40 percent of the readers of The Spokesman-Review, have other favorite teams outside Washington and Idaho.

And the comment, “Well if you like teams outside of Washington and Idaho then move there,” is absurd. If a Gonzaga fan lived in Florida, I doubt they would move to Washington to get more Gonzaga coverage.

Please respect our rights as fans to choose our own favorite teams and be able to know something about your sports team from The Spokesman-Review. I don’t, believe it or not, want to know the ins and outs of the Idaho Vandals or the Washington State Cougars.

I care about WSU sports, but please don’t shove it in our face. I am really getting sick of not even being able to read a front page article.

I will not move to Los Angeles to get more Dodgers or Lakers coverage suggested by some readers. Matt Kenna Spokane

About letters We welcome letters of up to 300 words on all sports and outdoors topics. All letters are subject to editing. Writers are limited to one letter a month. Please include your signature, street address and telephone number where you can be reached for verification. Send to Letters to the Sports Editor, The Spokesman-Review, 999 W. Riverside, Spokane 99201, or fax to (509) 459-5098, or e-mail to sports@spokesman.com.