Voice of the fan

Sporting News, The, July 15, 2002

Choice voice `Jeff needs to realize that Barry Bonds is Frank Sinatra, and he's Pat Boone. Just deal with it, and try to win a World Series for Giants fans everywhere.'

--Tony Pile, St. Louis Park, Minn.

Love to hate him

I really enjoyed your article on The Enemies List (TSN, July 1). My personal enemy is Shaq because he is playing in the wrong sport. He should be in sumo wrestling or something. Anyway, I applaud you for printing Kent Harvey's testimony.

Dominic Decoux
Prior Lake, Minn.

Swing and a miss

Baseball loses two of its best men in Jack Buck and Darryl Kile within the same week, and you put a frivolous topic like The Enemies List on the cover? There should have been a dual picture of Kile and Buck on the cover, with the tiniest of print saying "The Enemies List."

Michael Griffin
New York

Redistribute the power

I couldn't agree more with your article on restrictor-plate racing. NASCAR hasn't put enough control in the hands (and feet) of the drivers. Right now, you could theoretically have a stick operate the gas pedal during green flag runs--everybody just puts it to the firewall, and off they go.

Give the cars more horsepower, so the drivers must lift in the corners. Reduce the spoiler height and boost the ability to pass. The insane blocking we now see is a direct result of a driver's inability to pass. These simple changes would make the super-speedways actual racetracks again, not just 500-mile all-out drag races. NASCAR maintains that driver safety is a top priority, yet the officials continue to make these two tracks more dangerous than they need be.

Paul Stemme
St. Louis

TSN, heal thyself

Coaches, TV analysts and sportswriters complain about the number of early-entry kids and how they should stay in school to blossom into more developed basketball players and people.

The fact you put six underclassmen and two high school kids in your top 13 draft prospects for 2003 is horrible (TSN, July 1). This is the kind of material these young players read and then think they're guaranteed NBA roster spots.

If you truly want to cut down on early entrants, stop giving them the spotlight.

Alex Corwin
Stryker, Ohio

Mile-high slight

Ken Rosenthal's breakdown of the MLB All-Star selection process has its merits. However, to dismiss Larry Walker just because he plays for the Rockies is as shallow of a commentary as I have ever read. I noticed he didn't make the same comment in reference to Todd Helton, who plays for the same team. I can't imagine any team which had the chance to have Walker in the outfield would pass on his ability to hit, run, field and throw.

Dave Brown
Bayfield, Colo.

WEIGH-IN: Maintaining Elite status

Maintaining strong college basketball teams is tough when the brightest stars are leaving early for the NBA. Even so, several of the 2002 Elite Eight teams could be beck for a run in the 2003 NCAA Tournament.

Maryland has a good chance to defend its title, with talented upperclassmen filling the shoes of departed players, writes Hong McGill of Damestown, Md.: "The Terrapins return senior point guard Steve Blake, a seasoned veteran who can guide this team through the peaks and valleys."

Brian Besaw of Louisville, Ky., believes Kansas will be back in the title hunt again. "Each year, the Jayhawks lose some talent to the NBA and then have some future NBA stars step in to fill the void. Like Duke, they don't rebuild. They reload," Besaw writes.

Avoiding the draft spotlight is a strategy that will work in Kent State's favor, writes Kevin Norton of Williamsburg, Ky. "The Golden Rashes have many of the same players as well as a new coach they're already familiar with," Norton points out "They might not be the best team in the nation, but they'll have a strong shot at making it to the Final Four next year ... and at being the least criticized of the eight teams if they don't."

THE WEIGH-IN

It seems an All-Star game can't happen in any sport without plenty of complaining from fans. This year's baseball event was no different, as fans criticized just about every roster move by managers Joe Torre and Bob Brenly. Deserving players always will be left out, but is there a foolproof way to choose the rosters?

Who should have the most say when if comes to choosing All-Stars?

[check] Fans

[check] Management and coaches

[check] Players

Make your pick and send your comments to fans@sportingnews.com. Please include your name and hometown.

Got a comment?

THE SPORTING NEWS would love to hear from you. Write Voice of the Fan, 10176 Corporate Square Drive, Suite 200, St. Louis, MO 63132, fax your message to us at 314-997-0765, or send us electronic mail at tsnmail @ sportingnews.com. Be sure to include your name and city with your e-mail. THE SPORTING NEWS reserves the right to edit letters for brevity and content.