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© St. Petersburg Times, published May 13, 2001
I read Marc Topkin's article on John McHale (McHale is a man of many, many talents, Rays Extra, 5/6) with interest, and I must say I agree with his assessment of him as a top-notch baseball executive.
A few years ago, I was a one-fourth season-ticket holder of the Tigers when they made what I consider an extremely poor public relations move. Yankee Stadium had some structural problems, and they needed to swap some home and away games with the Tigers on short notice. I had some friends flying in from out of town for the event that was canceled.
I fired off a scorched-earth letter to McHale telling him how unhappy and disappointed I was with his decision. I did not think any more about it until I got a phone call at work from McHale asking me how he could make the situation right with me. We had a very pleasant conversation and he ended up giving me his four personal tickets to a game of my choice.
The Rays would be getting a winner in John McHale.
-- Clifford A. Smith, via e-mail
It's time to back up the truck on the Rays. The veterans are not doing the job and worse, they are impeding the progress of the future Rays. The money is already wasted on them. Just cut the guys, like Stocker was cut last year. Williams, Flaherty, Guillen and McGriff should be dumped immediately. If it is remotely possible to trade Vaughn, do it, even if they get Daffy Duck in return.
Play Cox, Huff, Hall, Winn and Tyner. They may not win more games this year, but they need the development time and at least they would be hustling, moving the runners over and diving for balls. Larry Halstead, Seminole
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Not so fast
A Laker team that barely beat the Kings is a lock to win it all? The way I see it, the Lakers needed Shaq to have a huge game in order to win. He has to carry the team, but if he has an off night, then it's a new game. I don't think he'd have such an easy time against the Spurs, who have the best defense in the league.Jorge Angulo, via e-mail
In light of the NCAA's new rule allowing college football games to be played on Friday nights, the traditional time high school football is played, I propose that the NFL change its rules to allow its games to be played on Saturdays, the traditional day for college football.
After all, shouldn't the NFL be allowed the same "opportunity" and "upward mobility" for its teams that the NCAA colleges say they're after by taking it out of the hides of the kids on Friday nights?
By the way, lest the NCAA isn't aware of it, a lot of churches and charities offer bingo on the remaining nights of the week. Perhaps the NCAA might want to schedule a few games on those nights, too.
-- Larry Weier, Spring Hill
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