Congratulations on John Cotey's piece on that fraud that is Steve Duemig (Duemig a shill for Johnson, Friday). You hit on every single point that I've been shouting at the top of my voice for years about that guy. Not only did he nail Duemig's handling of the Keyshawn situation, he pointed out all of his other failings - exactly dead-solid perfect.
I just got through renewing my subscription to the Times and his article was a reminder of why I did. I live in Tampa but continue to get the Times because of its fair handling of the local sports teams. Nice job and keep up the good work.
-- David E. Clark, Tampa
Racism in football can cut both ways
Your article White Wash (Nov. 16) does not tell the whole story. Why didn't you publish the pictures of all the players on these 12 teams and let us see who is white? Let me answer that question for you. The majority are black.
The white players have been choked out of football for years and now you want to choke out the white coaches.
Why is it always racism when we have no black coaches and not racism when we have a majority of black players?
-- Liz Hagan, Clearwater
Double standard applied in views on race, sports
What goes around comes around. On Oct.3, a Times editorial criticized what Rush Limbaugh said about Philadelphia quarterback Donovan McNabb. Quoting your paper, "Most football fans look at Donovan McNabb and see a quarterback. Rush Limbaugh, however, sees a black quarterback."
Well, well. Does the Times now look at SEC football coaches and see white coaches. Why the reference to race? Real sports fans, as you so aptly editorialized on Oct.3, look at a coach and see a coach. Another Times double standard?
-- Joseph Wynne, New Port Richey
Formula 1 overlooked
So let me get this straight, eight of the top 10 stories in motorsports in 2003 were NASCAR-related (Top 10 stories of 2003, Tuesday). Well, shazam! Paul Tracy's first title certainly deserves a mention. But what about Michael Schumacher's record-shattering sixth world title in F1? His '03 championship broke a record that had stood for nearly 50 years. F1 didn't even rate a mention in your "champions" box.
And what about Bentley winning Le Mans for the first time in 80 years? The same cars and drivers that finished 1-2 at Le Mans in June drove at Sebring in March. You've heard of Sebring, right?
I could go on, but what's the point? Why didn't you just call it "The Top 10 Stories in NASCAR" and dispense with the pretense that it was about racing in general?
-- Rick Reeves, Tampa
Funk's season worth citing
Your piece on golf's 2003 highs and lows was great (A look back at 2003, Nov. 13). However, how did you leave Fred Funk (47) out of the over-40 crowd of success stories for the season? He led the tour in driving accuracy and had nine Top 10 finishes. He had a great year and is a crowd favorite.
-- Bob Mensch, Tierra Verde
Rivalry emotion overstated
Thanks for your preview of Saturday's great football rivalries. However, the word "nastiness" to describe the Alabama-Auburn game is simply incorrect. You attribute it to Gary Shelton, whom I understand went to Auburn and should know better.
As a 'Bama alumnus, I've been attending these games since 1948 and, for all the deep feelings in the stands and fierce combat on the field, I have not seen anything among players, students or fans, either in Birmingham, Auburn, or Tuscaloosa, that would make "nasty" an appropriate description.
It's a bitter rivalry, yes. But it's fought out on the field, not among the fans. And players and fans alike leave as friends, just as they came. Many are neighbors, spouses, and kinfolks, for gosh sakes. Like most family fights it ends when it's over, except for the Auburn and 'Bama jokes.
So please, whatever else this greatest of all college football rivalries is, it ain't "nasty."
Thanks for your excellent sports coverage.
-- Ed Davis, Tampa
[Last modified November 23, 2003, 01:46:45]
