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The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 17, 2008

USF Being Disrespected

Regarding "USF's Scheduling Pursuit Has Caused Strife" (Sports, Feb. 13):

It is amazing that the Tampa Sports Authority does not consider the University of South Florida as a major tenant of Raymond James Stadium. After the Bucs, scheduling of RJS is treated on a "first come, first served" basis, even though USF plays five to six games there annually.

Wasn't RJS built with taxpayer dollars? Isn't USF one of the largest employers in Tampa, with employees paying taxes in Hillsborough County? USF's economic impact to the area has been estimated at $3.2 billion annually - more than any football conference championship game.

Many people would be upset to know that the majority of the revenues from USF "home" games go to the TSA, not to USF. This includes parking and concession profits. In fact, via the contract in place, USF actually has to pay fees for each game they play in the facility.

USF may be forced to pursue an "on-campus stadium" at great expense, because the "community stadium" that taxpayers built is really just a stadium for the Bucs.

KEN GRIFFIN

Clearwater

Appalled By Treatment

I, among other University of South Florida alumni, support Bulls football. I am appalled at the way the Tampa Sports Authority has conducted itself over the past few days regarding the situation between USF and the ACC.

Economic development is one thing, but overtly snubbing their hometown team is quite another - especially when that team is arguably the second-best collegiate football club in Florida.

Perhaps we should remind the TSA that USF is the third-largest school in the Southeast, an institution responsible for more than $3 billion in revenue for the Tampa Bay area, and the alma mater of over 200,000 USF alumni who reside in Tampa and paid for that so-called "community stadium."

KARLA A. STEVENSON

Tampa

Compulsory Health Care

Regarding "Time For Hillary To Show And Prove" (Commentary, Feb. 10):

In response to Marsha Mercer's article regarding Hillary Clinton's recent statement that "her" administration "might garnish the wages of those who could afford to buy health insurance and refused," where have our freedoms gone? Clinton's misnamed "universal health care" proposal (universal refers to all countries; it should accurately be named "national" instead) would be compulsory to the point of removing monies from our paychecks without our consent and without our ability to prevent it. What comes next? Compulsory dental insurance?

Must we force all Americans to have insurance if they want to opt out? Medical costs have soared for many reasons - Medicare and Medicaid fraud, increased costs to doctors for medical liability insurance and the insatiable desire of Americans to sue, sue, sue for everything. Why not introduce creative ways to address these problems instead of proposing for government again to stick its hands in our pockets? If big government, or anyone, can find ways to bring the costs of medical care down to where it should be, we might find that so much insurance would not even be needed.

JANICE PERELMAN

Brandon

Thrilled With Parade

After reading the two views of the Gasparilla Parade on the Feb. 9 letters page, I felt compelled to write and air my views on the subject.

We are newly retired to Florida so this was a first time event for us. We had a grand time, and we can only say that the pirates were very courteous to us and gave us so many beads - 10 pounds, to be exact, because I weighed them! At age 65 I had nothing to "show" and I got tons of booty! In fact, one pirate came by and said he had to save his beads for the little kids. The crowd around us was lots of fun, and we shared beads. The day couldn't have been more fun for us, and we'll be back next year!

As a follow-up, I donated my beads to a local store to be passed out to children. They were thrilled to receive them!

Job well done, Gasparilla pirates!

DIANE DeDARIO

Sun City Center

Unreliable Sources

Regarding "Finding Truth In The Hot Tub" (Other Views, Feb. 9):

Community Columnist Buzz Kelly considers two gay Episcopalians from Texas he met in a California hot tub "reliable sources" in his truth quest about gay marriage. If you're willing to make just a teensy bit more effort than Kelly, I'd suggest the book "One Man, One Woman", the culmination of 10 years of research by Dale O'Leary. Despite its religious orientation, O'Leary is more than fair to gay marriage proponents.

O'Leary cites (300) references, many by supporters of gay marriage in her analysis. From the now discredited discovery of a "gay gene" to horror stories of children raised by same-sex parents, verifiable truths differ significantly from Kelly's "extensive" hot tub research. Mike, the gay chiropractor, might have an advanced degree in ancient languages but his "truth" about original language translations doesn't square with unbiased experts either. Even Kelly's "cutesy, more sex" intimation doesn't hold up to facts. Read the book.

DAVID SCHNELLY

Tampa

Only In America

While frolicking in a hot tub in Northern California with three homosexuals, community columnist Buzz Kelly and his "beautiful and talented" wife found truth. My goodness.

The truth, or maybe Sonoma's finest, will set you free and at the same time you get to yuk it up and take a few shots at the "Christian crazies." What more can one ask for in the land of the free and the home of the brave?

DOUG JOHNSTON

Temple Terrace

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