The only difference between Rush Limbaugh making his ignorant, racist comments on ESPN and your arm-chair quarterback foaming at the mouth at a local pub is Limbaugh is a millionaire and has a vast audience and the forum to feed his huge ego and promote his opinions.
Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb would not be in the NFL if he were all the things Limbaugh said he was. McNabb has proved himself over and over because he's a talented athlete who has worked hard to be where he is. The NFL is too competitive to accept anything less than the best.
-- Linda Flack, Seminole
A call for Ted Williams
I don't mean to add heartache to misery for decades, but it is not the Curse of the Bambino (Babe Ruth's sale to the Yankees) that plagues the Red Sox in their quest for another World Series title. You can be assured the Red Sox will be plagued by the fate of Ted Williams, or The Curse of Teddy Ballgame. I suggest that all Red Sox fans, ballplayers and Red Sox management contact Ted's son and the Alcor Life Extension Foundation in Arizona to free Ted's remains from his frozen casket of absurdity. Ya better do it this week, fans.
-- Jack Polidoro, Laconia, N.H.
New singer, same old song
The most amazing thing about the Rays this season is Lou Piniella. He is revered in the area as a baseball savior and has done absolutely nothing this season to earn it.
He did come up with the astounding conclusion the team needs to spend more money to get better players. Is that news to anyone? The local sports media and fans seem to think it's different because Piniella said it this year. Piniella has mentioned signing free agents and everyone's thoughts go to Gary Sheffield and other big-name, top-quality players.
Will Piniella use his powers to get the Rays to sign anyone but the usual has-been or midlevel free agents? I doubt it. Everyone seems distracted from Piniella's failure by his on-field tantrums, recollections of earlier baseball days or just the desperate hope he is the second coming of Jon Gruden.
So what has Piniella done other than provide a few moments of individual entertainment and restate the Rays' well-documented need to spend more money on players? Nothing. Fortunately for all of us the Detroit Tigers are so bad the national media focused on their efforts to be the worst baseball team ever. But unfortunately, other than the Tigers this season the Rays are the worst team in all of major-league baseball.
And the Devil Rays are again taking the position that things will be different next year. Again, nothing new.
-- Dennis Alan, St. Petersburg
Level the NFL playing field
It's time for the NFL to change the bye week system. It's unfair to the teams that have to take a week off after only two or three games. Why not have one conference take off Week 7 and the other Week 8? This would still give them the TV coverage they need and level the playing field for time off.
-- Charles Ackley, Seminole
Clarett wants too much
Maurice Clarett has a problem because he told police untruths when he reported a theft. Now because he was suspended from his college team he thinks he is entitled to a reward by signing a nice contract with the NFL. He's determined to change the rules put in place by the the NFL to protect young players from jumping into the pros before maturing mentally and physically. Apparently, young athletes who get involved in criminal activities believe they are entitled to have these charges overlooked because of their ability to play sports. When is it going to end?
-- Dominick Orso, Homosassa
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