Very nice, insightful article by John Romano in Tuesday's edition about Michael Phelps (In failure, Phelps deserves praise). Isn't this what good sportswriting (especially the Olympics) should really be about - finding the silver lining in shattered dreams? Romano's article leaves nothing else to be said and Phelps can still walk away with his head high.
>-- Jerry Dunn, via e-mail
A failure with how many golds?
Bring John Romano home. He doesn't deserve to be in Greece with all those idealistic, talented young people. I am appalled and outraged. Michael Phelps is winning medals for the United States and John refers to him as a failure? The talent, in this case, was all in the water, not sitting in front of a computer.
-- Rinette Parece, Pinellas Park
All medalists deserve cheers
I was appalled by the headline on Wednesday's sports section, "Silver lacks luster." Obviously the women's gymnastics team was disappointed by the little mistakes and deductions that cost them gold. But the implication of the headline doesn't seem to speak for the athletes' disappointment but rather the public's. We should be supportive of a medal in the Olympics. Let the athletes be disappointed, but we should be proud. Your headline implies otherwise.
That silver is less than gold is obvious, but the choice of the photo and headline comes across as critical.
-- Yvette Strickland Johnston, Largo
Role model muffled by snub
Coach Mark Schubert's last-minute decision to drop Maritza Correia may have cost the U.S. more than a gold medal. As the first black American to qualify for an Olympic swimming event, she had the potential to serve as a highly effective role model, especially if she had secured a win for her relay team.
She might well have done so. Maritza posted a better time during the qualifiers than Jenny Thompson (who replaced her), and had considerably more reason to go for the win in her Olympic debut. The drive to pursue a goal is determined by its value and by the strength of your belief that it can be achieved. Maritza had both going for her. I agree with her brother, Justin, who said, "Maritza wouldn't have lost that race."
Earning her first medal, especially gold, would have been of far greater value to her than to Thompson, who already had 10. She had proven her superior ability during the trials, and I believe she had a stronger resolve.
Sadly, we'll never know if she would have made a difference in the 400 freestyle relay. But it's a certainty she would have made a difference in attracting black youth to a sport in which they are dismally represented. If only she had been given the opportunity she had been promised.
-- Nick Hall, Temple Terrace
Columnist misplaces priorities
Gary Shelton laments the Iranian judo athlete who refused to compete in the Olympics against an Israeli competitor in protest of Israel's war on Palestine (Games are taken to a new low, Monday). According to Shelton, instead of refusing to compete, the Iranian athlete "should have crushed him (the Israeli athlete) on the mat. He should have run up the score. He should have thumped his chest."
So, violence and humiliation is okay, but choosing not to participate is wrong? Believe it or not, there are things more important than participating in a sporting event - even if it's the Olympics.
-- Chris Ernesto, St. Petersburg
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