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Letters to the Editors

Bucs chat

© St. Petersburg Times, published December 17, 2000

Dunn's a class act off the field

I have just read this morning's Times regarding Warrick Dunn's donation of new homes to single mothers. Looking at the expression of happiness and joy on the faces of Patricia Patton and her two sons, it is indeed the true meaning of giving. Warrick Dunn, in my opinion, is the biggest man in sports. There should be nothing but good things to happen in his life. There should be some sort of national recognition for all the good things he has done for all these families.

My hat is off to you, Warrick. You are indeed a saint from God.
-- Fred Del Gaudio, Bayonet Point

Slushy, mushy, sludge. Grass wafting, bodies flying, Fins crying, flood-filled brouhaha in Miami. Now that's football!

Yeah it was ugly. But Buc ball is ugly. I must be a masochist. I hate it, but I watch it. Afterward I feel wiped out, as if I were on the field.

So maybe they are a playoff team after all. Maybe they read these letters from astute armchair quarterbacks. Maybe they get mad and realize they are gifted underachievers. Then maybe they get mad and play up to their potential like they have six of the last seven weeks.

Before all fans get too excited, may I remind them: two tough games remain.
-- Michael Harris, Oldsmar

Ugly is beautiful.
-- Jerry Bruzdewicz, Spring Hill

I watched every minute of that Miami game, including the behavior of the Dolphins coach after the game. As both coaches crossed the field toward each other, Dave Wannstedt was marching on like a wooden soldier, steely-eyed, staring straight past Tony Dungy into the emptying stands. With a scowl on his hairy face, he reached back and took a gentle swipe at Dungy's outstretched hand and kept on looking straight ahead.

He displayed no class. In fact, the Dolphins have not had a class act since Don Shula.
-- Joe Hill, Seminole

Everyone knows Coach Dungy knows defense, but his constant statements that fans are more interested in "style points" than victories is an insult to anyone who knows the game. I'm not looking for any style points. I'd be ecstatic if the Bucs could just generate an occasional first down in the fourth quarter and have some short-yardage success. When Dunn lost his balance and failed to reach the end zone on his clutch catch in the fourth quarter, was there anybody out there confident that the Bucs would be able to punch it into the end zone from the 1-yard line?

To think that Dungy would rather have King quarterbacking than Dan Marino is mind-boggling. It figures that the coach interested in Marino was Dennis Green, and nobody doubts that he knows offense.

And what was that call near the end of the game, when King threw a screen pass to Dunn, nearly resulting in a safety or a Dolphin touchdown? Thank goodness for the Bucs defense and Warrick Dunn.
-- Michael Hilson, via e-mail

Sunday night about 40 people waited more than 90 minutes to see the Bucs return from Miami at One Buc Place. As the Bucs came off the bus, they turned and went in the opposite direction.

Now, I understand they did a good job, they were tired, they wanted to go home, they didn't want photos, they didn't want to talk or give out autographs. But please, would it have been so difficult to walk through the crowd and just give a smile to the fans who were dressed in Buc garb and yelling out cheers of praise? It would have taken two minutes to walk that rope.

A lot of kids and adults went home with a totally different frame of mind regarding the Bucs. Think I'll stick to Arena Football. More fan friendly.
-- Jane Hiller, St. Petersburg

Keyshawn Johnson is a looter and proud of it? He still doesn't know right from wrong. Keyshawn can take his immoral act somewhere else.
-- Tim Tyler, Treasure Island

Here's your chance to tell us what you think about the Bucs. Drop us a line, and we'll publish selected comments from readers.

BY E-MAIL: sptsnews@sptimes.com

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