On your story about golfer Dakoda Dowd and her mother, this whole family is a team - wife and mother, husband and father, daughter, student-athlete. They get what life is all about - dedication, understanding, looking at the glass half-full - and will probably have more quality time together than relationships spanning many more years. They are there for each other and will have a richer life, though fewer years together. Maybe they will help some of us cherish life a bit more.
-- Robyn Dalton, via e-mail
Report praise
Kudos to the Times for its report on the corruption in the long-line observers program. This level of corruption cannot be tolerated. Way to go, Terry Tomalin.
-- John Hermes, via e-mail
Remember Bert?
If catching the ball with your hands constitutes control, then we need to bring back Bert Emanuel and replay the end of the Bucs-Rams NFC Championship Game. The Lions may have lost a game, but we lost a trip to the Super Bowl.
-- Brian Marton, via e-mail
Lions robbed
Your picture on the front page of Bucs Extra on Sunday shows the Detroit receiver out of bounds, but this is two seconds after he caught the ball. When the ball was in his hands, his knee was clearly in bounds and every replay showed that. Claiming that there was indisputable evidence that the referee made the wrong call is ridiculous.
Overturning the correct call was the worst call I have seen in 35 years of watching pro football.
-- Jon Roberts, St. Petersburg
A few more Rays changes
Re: Sternberg brings chance for image overhaul, Monday.
John Romano's image overhaul of the Devil Rays didn't go far enough. I would add these measures:
1. Change the name and logo. Where did "Devil Rays" come from, anyway? My vote for a new name is Tampa Bay White Caps. Tie the logo into the white cap of the dome.
2. Ditch the mascot, Raymond, and find one who doesn't look second-hand.
3. Roll back ticket prices to (at least) opening-season levels.
4. Guarantee wins until the Caps reach .500. Fans who attend a losing game would be offered free admission (in the open nose-bleed section) to the next home game.
-- Marty Normile, St. Petersburg
[Last modified October 9, 2005, 02:20:59]
