Letters To The Editor
Hasek the diver
Hasek - Champion in two sports! Hockey and diving!
Dominik Hasek far outshines Greg Louganis with his diving technique!
When your hockey days are over Hasek, consider an acting career. You’re great! George M. Robinson Spokane
NHL slighted by S-R
I am writing to say how disappointed I am in The Spokesman-Review’s coverage of the NHL playoffs. The season is almost over and you have yet to cover the games on the front page of the sports section. You cover other sports of lesser importance on the front page and stick the highlights and scores of the NHL back yonder. Why is it that you cannot find the room to give hockey the same coverage as football, basketball or even track?
I do not understand your bias against hockey and hope you will attempt to be more fair and equal in your coverage of all sports in the future. Linda Ondracek Spokane
A fun-to-read day
What a joy to read today’s (June 6) stories in the sports section. All had something one looks for. The Charismatic Belmont Stakes, who no doubt would have won if he hadn’t suddenly developed an injury in the race; the incredible Steffi Graf victory; the nice story on Mary Reilly, who I knew quite well through tennis at Spokane Racquet Club; and of course the Andre Agassi piece.
What a great day for The Spokesman-Review sports section. It makes you feel good, so exhilarating and I have now witnessed a dramatic victory by Agassi in the French Open Championship. What a victory after being two sets down. Who thought he would come back to win? But my thoughts still go back to that courageous horse, Charismatic, who tried so hard. It was so reassuring that the horse will not have to be destroyed.
What a Sunday this has been for The Spokesman-Review. Charles E. Auton Spokane
Golf columns colorful
Do we, who are of age, still like bedtime stories? Do we like to hear them early in the morning? Do we like to hear them quoted from a sports column? How about three weeks consecutively come Saturday?
My husband, a pro golfer incognito, is forever now to enjoy Steve Bergum’s colorfully descriptive anecdotes about the game of golf and those specific holes on courses where they are being played.
He finds this column not only rings a bell of truth, but is tastefully written in such good humor, that it’s a story deservedly needing to be retold!
I also play golf. I guess (the June 12) article will be most pertinent. It will be about the women’s game! I look forward to hearing Bergum’s upcoming story …
Without doubt, before I finish reading through my section of the Review, my husband will relate to me HIS better part of the newspaper! Connie Pomeroy Spokane
Guidebook serves purpose
The Idaho Trails Council appreciated a mention in Rich Lander’s outdoors article about our guidebook to the 1,200-mile Idaho Centennial Trail. The first edition of the book was released in July 1998, as the best and only source of information on Idaho’s only long-distance trail.
Landers is correct to point out the maps in the book are not the product of a well-paid computer graphics expert. This was a low-budget, selfpublished guide. Page 8 of the book warns readers that the purpose of the overview maps for 23 different segments of the trail is to provide a big picture view. The maps are not intended for navigation. Each trail description in the book provides the names of the general forest or BLM map required, as well as the specific topographical maps needed. Anyone who ventures out on the Idaho Centennial Trail should have a general forest map at minimum. A topographical map is best.
We have been excited at the response to the guidebook, and to the elevated interest it has caused about the Idaho Centennial Trail. The notion of traveling the length of Idaho - through all of Idaho’s most scenic territory - is appealing to longtime residents as well as long-distance backcountry travelers.
Because of the trail’s truly daunting scope (1,200 miles), many people will try to pick off the trail one piece at a time, and make it a lifetime project to cover the whole length of Idaho. Stephen Stuebner Boise
Sorensen to be missed
Whoa, what? Let’s fire ol’ Paul Sorensen? Get real. (“Cougars games should be a lot easier on the ears,” May 21.) We sure wouldn’t want anybody to tell it like it is, controversial and outspoken. Maybe, just maybe, we can hire someone who’s sanitized, gives us the company line and tells us what we want to hear. And all you Cougars Lemmings can follow him off a cliff. Ed Ellenz Spokane
Jazz need more than two
Stockton to Malone, Stockton to Malone, Stockton to Malone - all those assists, steals, points and rebounds and no NBA championship. The greatest player retires and supposedly the greatest point guard and greatest power forward ever can’t even get to the conference finals.
It all started in last year’s NBA Finals in Game 6. The Jazz were down by one and instead of Stockton to Malone - Stockton takes a wild 3-point shot. Down by one and he takes a 3! Desperate to win a championship?
Malone plays for one person - the MVP regular-season trophy. Heck, in a few weeks he’s going to say he doesn’t want to play for the Jazz anymore. He does it every year.
As I said a few years ago, two-man basketball will never beat a five-man team for a NBA championship. Won’t happen. The Utah Jazz will never win an NBA championship with both Stockton and Malone on the roster. Like an old movie, they’re “Gone With the Wind”.
P.S. Sorry Spokane Louis Alling Warden, Wash.
Letter writers supported
I want to add my “Amen” to two letters in last Sunday’s sport page; Don Hogeboom’s letter regarding some sportscasters and Jock Swanstrom’s letter regarding some professional officials.
Ron Fairly would have to improve to get to lousy. I can’t believe some of the “profound” statements he makes. Joe Morgan is not too far behind. Not being an Atlanta fan, I rarely hear Don Sutton and being a Husky, I didn’t have the “opportunity” to hear Paul Sorensen.
Swanstrom’s points on officials are right on. They seem to think they don’t have to follow the rule book. The major league umpires developing their own strike zone different than what the rule book states is unacceptable. Their obvious attitude, “holier than thou,” detracts from the game also.
Professional basketball referees are the main reason so many fights break out during a game/season. They are extremely inconsistent in their foul calling and allow too much physical contact. I wonder what would happen if they called the games closer to college standards?
Officials are suppose to enhance a game, not detract. Wm. J. Hiatt Spokane
Lakers a team divided
Maybe it’s something in the air, or maybe it’s just Jack Nicholson. I do not know, but what we do know is the L.A. Lakers are the most overhyped team in the NBA.
With Shaq making those hits on his CDs (do you sense the sarcasm?) and Kobe Bryant the poster boy for Sprite and Adidas, among others, it’s no wonder they have not won a ring since 1989.
The problem with the Lakers is not the talent they have as individuals, but the talent they have as a team. Let’s make a comparison to the Portland Trail Blazers. Blazers and Lakers have the same talent level, so what’s the difference? Blazers come to work, as a team. They’re so deep, they have a nine-man rotation.
The reserves don’t complain, they adapt to their role because they want to win an NBA team championship. The Blazers play hard and do not complain about issues to the press, unlike the Lakers. While Shaq tells the media he gets fouled on every possession and uses that as an excuse why he is not scoring up to his price, Portland’s Brian Grant says he has to come more prepared and work harder after scoring 20 points and grabbing 10 rebounds.
If I were Jack Nicholson, I’d get season tickets to the Rose Garden. Evan Barbour Spokane