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Rice's offseason training sure to help
While I always enjoy reading some of the more idiotic things that people write to you, the letter sent by Jim Loftus (Your Turn, Sunday) last week takes the cake. Though I did not play in the NFL, I did play tackle and end for eight years, in high school and the Navy. Let me tell you that everything Simeon Rice does in the offseason will make him an even more devastating player for the Bucs.
Loftus wonders what correlation boxing has with football. Tell him that the improvements in hand-eye coordination, stamina and overall quickness that you get from boxing are second to none. Boxing is one of the best things you can do to get in shape, and for a man whose game depends on quickness not strength, it will become a great asset for Rice. When Simeon gets to the fourth quarter and still is running at close to full speed, you will see what boxing has done.
As for running up the hills in Arizona, that will only make a very fast end even faster. He's right, quarterbacks do not play on an incline, but I would wager they wish they were when Simeon is chasing them down.
As a former lineman I thought the article (Beyond mortal limits, July 6) was very well written and informative. Simeon is one of the best lineman in the NFL. I do not think Mr. Loftus is qualified to tell him what kind of workout he needs to be doing. He should try to do the things that Simeon does, then maybe he'll have a clue what it takes to play in the NFL.
Let's face it. As an owner, Bill Davidson is a dwarf among NHL giants. By not stepping up to the plate to re-sign Vinny Prospal (Prospal to leave Lightning, Sunday), Davidson proved once again that he cares more about concert revenues than he does about building a powerful hockey franchise.
Rest assured that the fallout from this bonehead mistake will have a season-long negative impact upon player morale and attendance. Tampa Bay hockey fans deserve an ownership group with a greater commitment to the long-term success of the team.
All this Tiger slump nonsense is hilarious. Tiger still has nearly twice as many points in the World Golf Rating as the No.2 guy.
I find it interesting that Michelle Wie's father, who caddied for her, was quoted as saying, "They play golf for a living. We don't know the tiny things" (SideLine, July 5).
The tiny things like not walking in someone's line? How about the hole on Friday where Dad failed to tend the pin while his daughter was putting? If she had hit the pin, his daughter would have been penalized two strokes. Another tiny thing I guess!
Come on, Mr. Wie. You've got a very talented daughter; one who will be a cash cow in a few years. How about a little respect for the game that will provide a very comfortable living for the family? ... Tiny things like etiquette and the rules.