Even in the world of sports, the Times continues with its gender politically correct mantra.
The identification of the world's greatest athlete Sunday was reasonable. Water polo is, indeed, a demanding endeavor, and Tony Azevedo is a good choice for the title. The comparison of athletes from different venues, of course, is subjective, and other choices could be reasonably made.
But how can there be any question regarding a choice between the decathlon and the heptathlon champions? The two have six common events, in which the decathlon/male performance is objectively superior to that of the heptathlon/female performance. In addition, the decathlon includes the pole vault, the discus and longer-distance running.
The article states that either Tom Pappas (decathlon) or Carolina Kluff (heptathlon) might be considered as world's greatest athlete. Such an assertion is clearly politically correct nonsense.
-- Donald Barnhill, Trinity
Thanks for recognizing water polo
I would like to say thank you very much for shedding some light on the sport of water polo. Your article, The World's Greatest Athlete (Sunday) couldn't have been any better. As a member of the USF water polo club, I have to agree that water polo is the hardest sport, and anyone who challenges that statement should come out to one of our practices or games. The day the article was published, USF held the final of our annual Gasparilla tournament in Clearwater. Anyone interested in water polo is invited to watch USF and 14 other men's and women's teams compete March 26-28 at USF's Spring Break Shootout.Eric Benson, Clearwater
-- Rays' best answer: Ignore LaMar
Marc Topkin's article (Rays have more questions than answers this year, Sunday) concerning the hard work and dedication of Rays GM Chuck LaMar sounds like a rewrite of what Tampa Bay baseball fans have been hearing since Day 1.
Lamar is totally ineffective as a general manager and appears to be clueless on how to build a baseball organization. Never has a franchise been so mismanaged and riddled with stupid decisions.
Let's wish the Rays luck this year and hope LaMar keeps an arm's distance with his insight into the game. Maybe that way they won't finish last in their division again.
-- John J Kienast, St. Petersburg
Bucs might not be worth the bucks
Just wanted to thank the Glazers and the Buccaneers for the $3 increase in my ticket price for next season. I can only assume that this represents $1 for each home victory the Bucs had last season. I am certainly pleased they didn't go 8-0 at home, because I don't know if I could have tolerated such a large hike in ticket prices.
-- Steve Chesley, Dunedin
Please don't scrap JV baseball
I recently had been selected to play for the junior-varsity baseball team at my high school. I have worked very hard to get where I am today, and now they are going to shut down the program I have dedicated the past year to make? They didn't even think of the kids when they started this investigation. I just don't see the problem with having a JV baseball team without having JV softball. As long as nobody from the softball team complains, it should be all right. Now maybe I just don't know the whole story, but from what I've read, it sounds very selfish.
-- John Jones, Oldsmar
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