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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 8, 2007

Sore Loser On Park

Regarding 'Game Over! Commission Says No To Sports Park' (front page, Oct. 4):

Commissioner Jim Norman's dream for Championship Park was defeated Wednesday, and rightfully so. Norman is an avid sports fan, a big booster of youth sports and has coached teams for many years. But I hope none of the kids Norman has coached were watching Wednesday or they would have seen quite a display of poor sportsmanship from Coach Norman.

One of the first concepts good coaches teach their kids is how to lose in a sportsmanlike fashion. No kicking the dirt, throwing the bat, crying, pouting or lashing out. Maybe Coach Norman should revisit those concepts and follow them himself. Losing on the dais is just as hard as losing on the field, but in both places - be a good sport and accept it gracefully.

MARCELLA O'STEEN

Balm

A Tired Old Chant

I, for one, am sick and tired of hearing of anything 'for the children.' This sanctimonious chant has been used by politicians for years to get at the pocketbooks of the taxpayers. I say enough! Any politician that uses 'for the children' again should not be elected for any office.

What the children need are parents who will parent them and not try to be their friends. The children already have too much.

DAVID J. BRAMUCHI

Dade City

Please Keep Raymond

Regarding 'Rays Abandon Sea And Look To Sky' (Our Opinion, Sept. 25):

Thank you for the editorial sneak peek of the new Rays colors and non-logo. Ownership has hinted at the color scheme in certain of its murals and billboards at the Trop as well as in its Inside Pitch's team member mini-profiles. One thing your editorial didn't mention was Raymond's fate.

Raymond is the best team mascot - better than any other college, pro baseball or any other pro sports' mascots. His clever and humorous routines entertain old and young alike; even the most serious baseball fan can't help grinning at Raymond's antics. His persona is one change that our relatively new and progressive ownership doesn't need to make.

CATHY PEEK McEWEN

Tampa

Questions Abound

Regarding 'Girl Safe; Sex Offender Sought' (Metro, Oct. 3):

I think we are all relieved the 15-year-old is safe and free from a sex offender. Now how do we prevent this from taking place again?

How did this 15-year-old's parents not know who she was talking with online and on the phone? What is going on at home that is so bad she willingly escaped with this man? How is a sexual offender allowed to have a MySpace profile? What is the difference between an offender and predator? Do parents know how easy it is to get a My-Space account? Do parents know any child any age can get online at any library and open an account?

The questions all need to be answered in public to help parents who care. I know what I do daily to prevent this. What do you do?

DAVID LETO

Tampa

A Horrible Tragedy

Regarding 'Man Kills Wife, Turns Gun On Self' (Metro, Sept. 30):

A beautiful, generous and loving mother has just lost her life in a senseless murder. Her sons have had their mother ripped from their lives. She will not be there for their baseball games, high school and college graduations, marriages and grandchildren.

In this despicable, selfish act, a father in a sad moment of despair took Anna's life and then his own. Their boys are left with heartbreak and loss of both parents.

And what about the neighbors who heard the gunshots and did not bother to call the police? Is Hunter's Green a 'crime' neighborhood where gunshots are commonplace? Had those neighbors taken some action when they heard the shots, would the outcome possibly have been different?

Anna Burgess was a friend of mine. My son was a teammate at Wharton with her youngest son last year. Anna was and always will forever be 'Team Mom' to the Wharton Varsity Baseball Team. I know many hearts are broken over this horrible tragedy. A light has truly gone out with Anna's passing and this world is a sadder place without her.

GRETCHEN STULTZ

Tampa

Players Not So Innocent

Regarding 'Duke Chief Apologizes For Not Backing Lacrosse Team' (Nation/World, Sept. 30):

As a graduate of Duke in the 1960s, I was surprised by President Brodhead's apology for the university not supporting the lacrosse players in District Attorney Mike Nifong's ill-conceived rape case.

When I attended, it was made clear from day one that you could be dismissed from the university for; 'Behavior unbefitting a Duke gentleman.' If it became known you used alcohol on campus, no less the hiring of strippers, you'd be in serious trouble!

I guess the university's definition of a 'Duke gentleman' has changed considerably.

No question the players were put through a great deal of needless pain and suffering by an overzealous prosecutor.

What bothers me is that during their interviews I saw on TV, acting as the self-righteous victims, I never heard them take responsibility by saying; 'We were wrong to hire the strippers; if we hadn't, none of this ever would have happened!'

BOB LAWRENCE

Gibsonton

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