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The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 6, 2008

Suck It Up, Nick

Regarding "Bollea's Lawyers Fight His Isolation" (front page, June 3):

Thinking he would get a better "deal" being charged as an adult, spoiled brat Nick Bollea is trying to whine his way out of prison.

Not a word of regret for his brain-damaged friend, John Graziano, Iraq war veteran - who is serving a life sentence because of Bollea's bad choices!

Suck it up, Nick. You wanted to be tried as an adult and your request was granted. Now, when you don't like the sentence, you want to revert back to juvenile status, hoping to be released with only a monitoring ankle bracelet.

DOTTYE STEINBACH

Lakeland

No Sympathy Here

There are many types of prisons: some are relationships, some are cells and some are our own bodies that are crippled and lock us into a lifetime of physical and mental anguish that engulfs even our families.

It's hard to stir up any sympathy for Nick Bollea when the moment he is incarcerated, he begins complaining how he is suffering and plotting how he can turn this experience into a TV show. Since when has permanently crippling a "friend" ever caused someone to think, "Hey! This would make a great reality show!"

Bollea is paying for his crime (too little if you ask me) and is having to deal with the reality that even the "Hulk" can't save him! Rather than complain about his justified prison sentence, he needs to spend the time remembering the one he sentenced his "friend," John Graziano, to - for life.

KATHY LANE

Lithia

A Few Alternatives

I was sitting down to breakfast, looking forward to another stunning day in Florida while reading my favorite paper, The Tampa Tribune. Then my eyes caught yet another article concerning Nick Bollea and his ongoing saga in jail. Then the entire day was ruined.

All I can hear is Bollea calling, "Mommy, please help, pweezzz. The other guy told me to drive 150, but I only wanted to go 120, pwweezzzz help."

I would like to recommend to the judge that Bollea be given a choice of two facilities to be billeted: either Attica or Parris Island. Here is your Pic-Nic.

STAN FUNDOCK

Lakeland

Show Some Sympathy

I feel so sorry for the Hulk Hogan family. Hogan brought my children a lot of pleasure when they were growing up. In the '80s, my daughter even had a T-shirt with Hulk Hogan's picture on it. She loved him!

So many judgmental people, such as Daniel Ruth, are quick to condemn Nick Bollea. Yes, he was speeding and hurt someone. But how many others, while in their teens, broke the speed limit and just had the good fortune of not hurting anyone?

If Ruth never broke the speed limit when he was a teenager, then I would imagine that he was the same nerd that he looks like in his picture today!

DEBBIE MOORE

Plant City

Stop Your Crying

Well too bad that the spoiled, rich kid, Nick Bollea, has to do his time in a room that's only half the size of his bathroom at home.

I say hooray for Judge Philip Federico for upholding the sentence. We need more judges like him.

As for Bollea, he should stop crying like a baby because he can't have everything his little heart desires.

BOBBY DAVIS

Valrico

Familiar Familial Logic

The protestations of Nick Bollea call to mind the example of the man convicted of murdering both his parents and then pleading for leniency on the basis that he was an orphan.

BRYAN FIRTH

Clearwater

Wrong Message Sent

I was struck by the contrast between two stories in the June 2 edition. On page 1, above the fold, was a long, detailed (and whining) account protesting Nick Bollea's accommodations in jail. On page 9, I found a much smaller story of much greater significance.

The president awarded the parents of PFC Ross McGinnis the nation's highest honor. He earned it while on patrol in Iraq. McGinnis covered a grenade with his body and saved the lives of four soldiers in his vehicle at the cost of his life.

The Medal Of Honor has been awarded only five times in this current conflict, a fact I find astounding as we've been in this conflict for six years and hundreds of thousands have served.

I think this rare event was worthy of greater note than you gave it. The contrast in coverage between the two stories sends a clear message: Selfish, celebrity criminal page 1, selfless quiet hero page 9.

Is that the message you intend?

STEVE EMERSON

Valrico

Case Of Bad Parenting

Regarding "Polk Beating Suspect Seeks Relief" (Metro, June 3):

This is a clear example of what is plaguing this nation - bad parenting. At least with the "child" you can try to create the excuse of immaturity, but the parent is supposed to set the example and provide discipline.

The only reason the story is so one-sided is because the teens accused provided the evidence against themselves, and their own statements claim their problem with the victim was trash "talking," not trash hitting or anything "physical" so there is really no need for her to speak publicly about her case.

It is really sad to see the adult so blind and clueless.

JAMES JONES

Tampa

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