Sports

Where will it end?

Letters to the Editor
Published August 7, 2005

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Re: NCAA mascot rule stings Florida State, Saturday.

The NCAA is ridiculous. Florida State and the Seminole Indians have a great relationship and the NCAA wants to end that. Now the Cowboys will have to change their name because all the real cowboys will not want to be symbolized as gunslinging killers. Notre Dame will have to change its name because we can't have people thinking all Irish are killer leprechauns. All the animals that are kept on leashes during games will have to be set free because animal rights activists will get involved. It is time to boycott the NCAA.

-- Craig Morton, Palm Harbor

Preserve Florida history

As a lifelong Florida Gator I have taken great joy in rooting against the FSU Seminoles. Today I support FSU and the Seminole Nation in what I feel is a shortsighted and unfair ruling by the NCAA. I have always felt that the gator logo is real Florida, but the FSU logo is real Florida history. Supported by the Seminole Indians, bringing their history to those who may never take the time to ask, "Who are they?" They are the true Floridians along with other Indian tribes whose names are not as familiar.

-- Alan R. Dick, St Petersburg

Greed was deciding factor

Re: Habby Trails, Saturday.

The headline should have read "Habbynough?" Nikolai Khabibulin and his agent, Jay Grossman, "really wanted to make it work with Tampa"? That really explains why you would turn down $27.5-million for five years and the chance to defend a Stanley Cup championship with your teammates.

And I think John Romano was wrong for a second straight day. Part of that, of course, was due to Habby's greed. But then he defends Habby's decision. "Who could walk away from an extra $5-million?" Speaking as an original Lightning fan who has rooted for and supported the team since its inception, but never made $50,000 in a year, I know I could walk away from an extra $5-million to stay with my team with $22.5-million safely nestled in my pocket.

-- Jim Ahearn, Clearwater

[Last modified August 7, 2005, 01:30:25]

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