Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
© St. Petersburg Times, published August 27, 2000
Domestic violence is a crime. Devil Rays baseball players and other athletes are not exempt from prosecution. All community organizations, including the Devil Rays, have a responsibility to be involved in trying to reduce this crime.
It is extremely disturbing the Devil Rays did not fulfill their community responsibility last week. Devil Rays pitcher Bryan Rekar was arrested for domestic violence. The evidence included his wife's bloody nose and facial swelling. General manager Chuck LaMar's statement in response to Rekar's arrest minimized the crime by calling it "a personal incident." Domestic violence is more than a personal incident, it is a crime.
LaMar also said, "We will monitor the situation." Monitoring will not stop domestic violence. It takes a no-tolerance policy.
Where is the Devil Rays' commitment to their female fans and women that they will not tolerate violence against women?
-- Ruth Whitney, Ph.D., St. Petersburg
I feel compelled to address the response of the Devil Rays organization, specifically general manager Chuck LaMar, to the arrest of Bryan Rekar for "a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery." LaMar's response was that "Bryan Rekar was involved in a personal incident." Perhaps if LaMar did not minimize Rekar's behavior by referring to it as a "personal incident," but rather accurately referring to it as the crime of domestic violence, then the community as a whole would be closer to understanding this issue.
It is not a "personal issue" when law enforcement is summoned to the hotel room and Mrs. Reker is found "bleeding from the nose and had facial swelling."
-- Donald P. Gibson, Pinellas Park
Thank you for pointing out the opportunity the Rays have of taking a stand (Rays need to shelve Rekar now, Aug. 24). Baseball is much more than a sport. Look at the great example of Jackie Robinson. Now we can take a stand and demand our team be heroes on and off the field and stand up and help our players (and their families) with problems. You were right. Thanks for saying it in print.
-- K. Bronstein, via e-mail
As Hubert Mizell wrote, "innocent until proven guilty." Bryan Rekar has the right to pitch until proven otherwise. I don't condone spousal abuse, but nobody knows what goes on behind closed doors. Until Bryan or Jamie speaks up and lets us in on what happened, nobody should judge them. Instead of "shelving" Rekar, why doesn't Mizell shelve his comments until we get all the facts.
-- Mary Ann Bartholomew, St. Petersburg
For all you bay area sports fans who chose to watch third- and fourth-string football players slop around for the past couple of days rather than taking in a "boring baseball game," you missed some exciting play by your hometown Devil Rays.
Like when Bobby Smith celebrated a return to the lineup with a 10th-inning home run and a run-saving stop in the field that helped beat the White Sox 12-11 in 10 innings.
You missed Tanyon Sturtz, a young pitcher traded to the Rays from the White Sox, pitch seven hell-bent-for-leather innings. You missed light-hitting Felix Martinez punch a line drive leadoff homer that started a bat-around in the seventh. You missed the Rays improve to three games better than .500 with consecutive wins over Chicago.
You've really been missing a lot watching that boring football.
-- Joel Hersch, Clearwater
Forget high prices for hot dogs, forget high prices for seats, forget the Rays are in last place. But notice how dirty the Trop is. The floor of the seating areas is so dirty that it is slippery. Plus the place is in need of painting. Not a pleasant place to go.
I'll bet if the Bucs played here they would not put up with such conditions. What's the matter with the Rays, don't they care about the fans comfort and safety?
-- Ed Zierhoffer, St. Petersburg
You failed to mention anything about Pat Sperduto, coach of the Nashville Kats, in your ArenaBowl coverage. Did you know he was an inspiring and great teacher to many children in the Tampa Bay area? I had the honor of teaching with him at West Tampa Elementary for a few years and he was a hero to many disadvantaged young people growing up in that area. He was an enthusiastic teacher and wonderful role model.
-- Mary Davies-Vreeman, via e-mail
Have a sports-related question or comment? Drop us a line and we'll publish selected comments. We'll also consider guest columns, not to exceed 250 words.
By letter:
Sports Department/Letters
St. Petersburg Times
P.O. Box 1121
St. Petersburg, FL 33731
(Include name, address, phone number)
By fax: (727) 893-8782
(Include name, address, phone number)
By e-mail: sptsnews@sptimes.com
(Text only. Include e-mail address, name, mailing address, phone number)
--