I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article on Simeon Rice (Beyond mortal limits, Sunday). I have twin 9-year-old sons who are training for their second season of triathlons and just finished their fourth season of Little League. As I read your article out loud to them and their best friend and training partner, you could see the enthusiasm building in their eyes. They went outside and swam 40 laps in our pool, then ran on the treadmill for 30 minutes. The example that Simeon set by his commitment to excellence was one that I would love for my kids to emulate.
Unfortunately, the downside was his comment regarding Pat Tillman and his decision to give up the money, prestige and celebrity status of professional football to serve his country. It is only through the selfless sacrifice of our servicemen and women that people like Simeon have the opportunity to pursue their dreams.
-- John Motley, Via e-mail
Rice works over Times as well
Man, I want to work for the person that approved Roger Mills' request to spend three days in Arizona, spend the paper's money and call it a story by hyping an NFL offseason workout.
Simeon Rice is a talented athlete, he works hard and deserves credit. But he is no different from any other NFL defensive end.
The venerable St. Petersburg Times got taken for a ride. Strength training will help any athlete become more efficient.
But running hills and hitting heavy boxing bags in the name of football is like crashing planes so you get used to the sound of it.
Show me a correlation between boxing and football.
As far as a 45-degree hill and running up it, does it take effort? Absolutely. Do quarterbacks in an NFL game ever stand on a field that has a 45-degree hill? Not that I've ever seen.
Come on guys, you got schooled.
-- Jim Loftus, Via e-mail
Paddlers raise more questions
I just received copies of the June 22 and June 29 Times, which describe the exploits of the team that paddled an outrigger canoe from Key Largo to the Bahamas. I am writing to offer kudos to the daring group, including outdoors editor Terry Tomalin. They did what I told him couldn't be done. There is nothing I enjoy more than being proved wrong because it shows that there are always new things to learn. Yet in answering one question they have raised another: If native peoples could travel between Florida and the Bahamas, why haven't we found archaeological evidence that they made such trips?
-- Bill Keegan, Curator of Caribbean Archaeology Florida Museum of Natural History, Gainesville
[Last modified July 13, 2003, 02:03:49]
