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© St. Petersburg Times, published January 28, 2001
Gary Shelton (He just doesn't get it, Jan. 24) just doesn't get it. Ray Lewis is numb and dumb, so why badger the guy into saying something. He obviously has no feeling or understanding to be contrite or remorseful (about the deaths of two men he was charged with killing after last year's Super Bowl; the charges were dropped in a plea bargain). Find someone interesting to probe and bring a higher spirit of life to the party.
-- Tom S. Brown, Largo
The NFL and Brian Billick should be ashamed at the way they have handled the Ray Lewis tragedy. It really boggles my mind that Lewis shows no remorse and in fact is insulted that the media continue to ask him questions about the matter! If Lewis were truly innocent, he would embrace the families of the two victims and try and help them resolve this horrid event. Instead, Lewis portrays himself as the victim. Yes, it's true, Lewis is a victim. A victim of bad friends, poor choices, and low morals and character. He would be a street thug if it weren't for football.
The bottom line is that professional sports have sunk to new moral and ethical lows. Who will stand up and put a stop to it?
-- David Prescott, via e-mail
Ray Lewis is in Tampa to play in the Super Bowl. He did not step up to the bank of microphones at the news conference on Tuesday on his way from the courtroom in Atlanta. He stepped up to the mikes on his way from winning the AFC Championship Game in Oakland, and an MVP season, en route to playing in the Super Bowl. Sports writers may have been looking for sensational or emotional revelations, but football fans are interested only in questions pertaining to football and what might happen in Raymond James Stadium. The trial is over.
-- George A. Persons, Las Vegas
Since many of my Baltimore friends expect to visit Tampa/St. Petersburg for the Super Bowl, I thought your readers might want to know how to recognize them. They:
Call you "hon."
Pronounce Baltimore "Bawlmer."
Ask for "Maryland Fried Chicken."
Want to know which pub the mayor will be playing at tonight.
Think a close game is a three-point win.
Think a blowout is a seven-point win.
-- Tom Dooley, Frederick, Md. (formally of St. Petersburg, Baltimore)
No doubt something had to be done with the (Bucs) offense, and Les Steckel had to be the fall guy. But let's face it, you can't blame it all on Steckel. Tony Dungy has to say enough of Shaun King. How can you have a winning football team when you have a quarterback who can't throw the long ball? Shaun's a great role model and a really great guy, but he's not NFL quality.
Keyshawn Johnson and his big mouth should go, and Warren Sapp should learn to keep team matters in the locker room and keep his trap shut. When Malcolm Glazer realizes this, the Bucs will make it to the big game.
Trent, oh, Trent, where are you now?
-- Steve Finley, Crystal River
This letter is directed to all golf club owners, managers and golf pros, because all had a hand in this (Fore! Seven! Nine! Golf prices soaring, Jan. 18). You are nothing but (prostitutes). To think that just because there will be many visitors to our area, you are increasing fees two, three and four times the normal winter rates. The good citizens of Tampa Bay who live here year-round support your courses 52 weeks a year. That is your bread and butter, not one week out of the year.
Even if the local golfers were charged the regular rates, it's still a terrible thing to do to our visitors from around the world. You see the quick money, and don't care who you hurt.
-- Mike Caserta, Palm Harbor
How many players' strikes has major-league baseball survived since I knew what baseball was in 1977? Three, with the last one canceling the World Series. So I suggest that small-market teams such as the Devil Rays could easily force the issue of revenue sharing by threatening to secede from major-league baseball. The large-market teams need to realize that half the show is the visiting team, and as such, (the visitors) are entitled to half of all revenues produced by the game-day event -- not only gate receipts but pro-rated TV and other broadcast revenue as well as any benefits the home team gets from the stadium lease and government subsidies.
Large-market teams would still make more money because they play half of their games at home.
-- Eric DeNooyer, Largo
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