Letters To The Editor

OUTDOORS

I-713 a good idea

Fenton Roskelley is dreaming if he believes the Washington State Fish and Wildlife Department manages wildlife with any semblance of science (“I-713 is a dreadful idea,” Oct. 25). The only thing it manages to do is grossly reduce the number of wild animals in a crazed scheme to leave just enough animals to hunt and trap, but not quite enough to attack toddlers whose families have unwisely moved into their habitat.

The question of banning leghold traps is not one of wildlife management by emotion or by science. If it were, they would have been banned long ago due to the preponderance of the former and scarcity of the latter.

I don’t think Roskelley, or DFW, would recognize scientific game management if it stalked them, dragged them to the ground and bit them.

It is pure speculation, on Roskelley’s part, to presume that Initiative 713, if passed, would lead to further wildlife initiatives. Even if it did, each of these measures would have to be judged on its own merit.

I don’t want the state to sanction cruel, inhumane and indiscriminate traps and it seems the only way to do this is to vote Yes on I-713. Bob Chorush Seattle

A vote for I-713 a real pleasure

I strongly disagree with Fenton Roskelley’s appraisal of the crux of I-713 (Oct. 25). It is not about replacing scientific management with emotional management. It is about ending cruelty toward animals.

This is the right and decent thing to do for the important reason that they can feel physical pain just as human beings do.

Two things have resulted from my having read Roskelley’s article: 1) I am going to thoroughly enjoy voting for I-713; and 2) I know I need to get down on my knees and thank God I am not a person without a soul like Fenton Roskelley. Bill Saur Spokane

Clinton/Gore subvert process

I see Rich Landers believes it is NRA “propaganda” that the Clinton/Gore administration is conducting a vicious assault on the right (remember that pesky Second Amendment?) of citizens to keep and bear arms. (“What liberal agenda?, Oct. 26.)

His attitude is typical of those who seem to think it is acceptable to give up the rights delineated in the Constitution bit by bit.

On Aug. 22, Seth P. Waxman, Solicitor General of the United States, responded in a letter to an NRA member that, indeed, the Second Amendment “did not guarantee to any individuals the right to bear arms.”

I think I can elucidate the feeling that this administration has used the executive order to an inordinately high degree, totally excluding the public process, eliminating any public voice in the process. That is what upsets me and what I think is a characteristic of this administration. If they cannot get their agenda through Congress, then they subvert the process.

The above letter was generated in response to a statement that Assistant U.S. Attorney William Mateja made in oral arguments before the Fifth Circuit in the case of United States v. Emerson, in which Mateja made the statement that no citizen had the right to keep and bear arms, and the National Guard only had the right to bear arms when in the conduct of its duties.

This administration’s assault on the constitutional process, and presumably a Gore administration, since he hasn’t made any statements that he disagrees with Clinton, should be a wake-up call. James A. Hoy Spokane

PREP FOOTBALL

The edge goes to Lake City

It is always easy to say, “If I can do it, so can you!” It is even easier when you are saying it to an individual, or better yet, let’s say another football program that doesn’t have (pardon the pun) an equal playing field.

Coach Van Troxel (of Lake City in Coeur d’Alene) has fast established one of the finest programs in the area. He should be commended for this.

However, let us not forget there were a few “little” things that assisted him. First and foremost, anyone who has seen Lake City High School knows it is as nice a facility from top to bottom as there is in the state, and possibly the country. Second, it wasn’t by accident that this facility is as nice as it is. It is a community committed to the kids, and more importantly, has the money to back up this commitment. Third, Coach Troxel has a talent pool of 550-600 potential athletes from which to choose.

Now, let’s compare that to West Valley and Colville. Proud schools to be sure, but a whole lot different situations to try and build a football program. As Wayne McKnight (of West Valley) stated, football is a “numbers game.” The bottom line is West Valley and Colville only have 250-300 potential athletes from which to choose.

Coach Troxel’s comments seem innocent enough. “How are you going to get better if you don’t play the top teams… .” Is this a plea for West Valley and Colville to make better student-athletes, or is it so a coach can get an easy “W?” I wonder. Terry Baker Sandpoint

WV, Colville lose in numbers game

In response to avid North Idaho high school football fan D.F. Oliveria’s comments (Oct. 19) concerning West Valley and Colville teams leaving the “heat of the kitchen” of the Border League, let’s clarify some facts.

It’s really not about winning or losing, and it’s certainly not about athleticism. It’s simply a numbers game. I have attended many seasons of Border League football and am amazed at the balance of players suited up to compete. Many WV players play every down of the whole game, while Border League players sprint in and out of their specialized positions because they can! As a result of much smaller schools playing much larger schools, the second half of play has resulted in some serious injuries. Is that what it’s all about?

Lake City football coach Van Troxel flatters himself if he thinks WV and Colville are leaving the Border League because Idaho teams are so good. He has to remember he’s playing teams from schools half his enrollment size! Shame on Troxel for wanting to pad his winning column at the expense of our athletes.

Meanwhile, we’ll take our football to comparable kitchens where “fans” don’t throw rocks or apples or sling “hot potatoes” from newspaper columns without the facts. Peggy L. Estey Spokane

WORLD SERIES

Bat incident a sad commentary

It is a sad day when it is acceptable for a World Series pitcher to throw a sharp, broken end of a bat at a fellow athlete. He didn’t get thrown out. He didn’t have to sit out one inning! Apparently the coaches, umpires and teammates all agree this a good way to show your feelings on national television with millions of children watching.

I guess when you make as much money as these guys, it’s too risky to speak up and be a decent human being. And my brothers wonder why I don’t watch sports. Connie Copeland Malone Spokane

Good-bye sport, hello WWF

Baseball has fallen to the same low level as WWF, NBA and strong-man contests by letting New York Yankees thug Roger Clemons stay in Game 2 of the World Series after throwing a broken bat at Mike Piazza.

Money rules. Too bad for a formerly pure sport. Hudson Mann Clarkston

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Injury could be a playoff by-product

As we begin to reach that part of the college football season when fans start to talk about wanting a playoff, I’d like to offer this thought on the subject.

Place yourself in the future, where you are a lineman for Tennessee and an eight-team playoff is in place. Your team is selected, and if it is to play for the national championship, it will involve three more postseason games. This following an 11-game schedule and the SEC championship game.

So at the end of the season, when players are most tired and thus most likely to be injured, three more games must be played by those who get paid nothing extra for risking injuries that may result.

Why would a college football player with a chance at a pro career want to risk injury, and thus a lower spot in the NFL draft, in order to play more and more games for no money, risking injury, just to satisfy the couch potatoes who want a playoff system in college football? Bob Kirlin Spokane