It is such a tragedy to hear the news about the death of former Arizona Cardinal Pat Tillman in Afghanistan. What a great story he was: too small for high school football but he made it, a doubtful recruit in the NFL but he starred, turned down more money from the Rams to stay with the Cardinals because they had faith in him out of Arizona State when no one else did. This man had more class in his little finger than Simeon Rice, who said he should go to the Army because he wasn't good enough for the NFL. We lose sight of what real heroes are, and winning a Super Bowl in no way makes you a hero. God bless Pat Tillman.
>-- Wayne Hays, Hudson
Lightning fans criticized
I would like to congratulate the Tampa Bay Lightning on its first-round win over the Islanders. As a longtime Islanders fan, I know of the long, hard road that lies ahead in the quest for the Stanley Cup, and I wish the team well.
I was there April 16, however, when the Islanders lost to the Lightning, and I was appalled at the way the Lightning fans treated my wife and me. After the game, we were verbally assaulted the minute we walked out of the Times Forum.
The behavior displayed by the Lightning fans was reprehensible. I have been attending hockey games since 1975, and never had I ever feared for my physical safety.
The Lightning fans are a crude, ignorant, disrespectful bunch that wouldn't know the difference between a puck and a Ring Ding, and they absolutely do not deserve a fine, hard-working team such as the Lightning. Enjoy your "back-to-back" Southeast Division banners. They are a meaningless title for a meaningless division to a meaningless fan base in a meaningless hockey city.
-- Steve Szurly, Clearwater
Hockey's civil rite
In response to G.B. Leatherwood's ranting about fighting in hockey on April 18: Hockey is a violent and emotional sport by nature. In the heat of the moment there will be fights, especially when officials ignore the rule books. You imply it's uncivilized, but how uncivilized can it be when at the end of a hard-fought series both sides shake hands? What other sports do the same?
-- Jack Dunne, Holiday
Lightning-quick delivery
Thank you for the speedy news of the Lightning's OT win. The game ended after 10 p.m., and I never expected to see the picture of Marty St. Louis' winning goal on the front page, and the complete details inside, when I opened my paper at 5 the next morning. You are the greatest.
-- Carolyn Swanson, St. Petersburg
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