Voice Of The Fan

Sporting News, The, Sept 3, 2001

Choice voice `Great article on Jevon Kearse and Kevin Carter (TSN, August 20), although I was surprised to see no mention of one of the most intriguing facts about the Titans' bookend defensive ends: They are both former Florida Gators playing deep in enemy territory.'--Gregg Arum, New York

Rose bashing is outdated

Regarding Dave Kindred's assertion that Pete Rose does not belong in the Hall of Fame (TSN, August 20): We, as fans, have to stop focusing on the behavior of ballplayers and celebrities rather than their accomplishments in their chosen craft.

Yes, Pete Rose did bet on baseball and would be best suited to come clean and try to gain back baseball's respect. But the Major League Baseball/Hall of Fame people must look solely at Rose's on-field accomplishments with regard to election to the Hall. There are countless people with worse character in the Hall of Fame, while the all-time hits leader, Rose, is left out in the cold with a record that most likely never will be equaled (4,256 hits).

It's time Rose is recognized for his vast athletic accomplishments--even though his inner character truly has to be questioned.

Bob Lazzari
Columbia, Conn.

* Let me get this straight: Pete Rose is permanently banned for betting that his team would win (not lose), but it's OK for a casino to be one of the Yankees' biggest radio sponsors? Dave Kindred and so many other sports reporters never mention this.

Now, I'm not saying that Pete is without fault, and a permanent ban would be appropriate if he bet against his team. But acceptance of support from organized gambling by a flagship franchise is pure hypocrisy.

Frank H. Staley
Upper Marlboro, Md.

Rockets will soar

As a fan of the University of Toledo, l was very pleased with last year's 10-1 record and the top 25 ranking in every football poll at the end of the regular season. To the dismay of many in the Midwest, the Rockets were snubbed when the bowl bids were announced, though dozens of teams with as many as six losses played in bowls. To add to the insult, without being able to play, they were dropped out of the top 25 in every poll.

With 16 returning starters from last season, I expected the Rockets would be rated at least as high as they finished last season. THE SPORTING NEWS didn't even see fit to rate them in the top 40 in its preseason poll (TSN, August 20). I should remind TSN that Toledo went to Penn State and won, 24-6, and it drilled Marshall 42-0. Both these teams made your ratings. You even called Marshall the class of the MAC. I can assure you, they were only the class of the weak Eastern Division.

I realize people from most of the country don't pay much attention to the MAC, but if you are going to rate it, do your homework.

Tom Hage
Toledo, Ohio

Early Heisman write-in votes

It's no coincidence that your top 10 Heisman contenders list (TSN, August 20) includes only players from the top 18 teams in your preseason rankings.

Sure, I understand that these fine athletes are major reasons for the projected success of their teams. But clearly this award has become more about playing for a BCS contender than about individual excellence. For example, Illinois' Kurt Kittner easily is better than half of the quarterbacks on your list.

Marty Brennan
Wixom, Mich.

* There is a glaring omission from the Top 10 Heisman contenders list (TSN, August 20): Antwaan Randle El of Indiana.

Interesting to note however, that Randle El is described as "the most electrifying offensive player in the game" in your Big Ten preview (but you note how unfortunate it is that he plays for a poor team at Indiana).

Randle El has led the Hoosiers offense for three exciting and effective years. The Hoosiers consistently have scored a lot of points, and Randle El has racked up statistics that will place him among the NCAA elites by this season's end. This has been accomplished against a tough Big Ten schedule. With a decent defense, the Hoosiers would be a Big Ten contender.

This year, Randle El will move to wide receiver. He is also the punter. What other college player is so versatile?

So we have the most versatile, electrifying offensive player in the game, but he cannot even make a top 10 list because he plays for a team with a bad defense. Your logic escapes me.

Dave Shaw
Columbus, Ind.

What arm?

In your college football preview issue (TSN, August 20), you mentioned quarterback Rohan Davey as the most feared arm in the SEC. With Phil Petty (South Carolina), Wayne Madkin (Mississippi State), Casey Clausen (Tennessee), Eli Manning (Mississippi), Rex Grossman (Florida), Brock Berlin (Florida), Greg Zolman (Vanderbilt) and Jared Lorenzen (Kentucky), how can you say he has the most feared arm?

Sure, LSU has a great defense, but other than two games, Davey has been very erratic and hardly has played. Putting him above the rest mentioned is baffling, at best. Davey has a feared arm, but not by the defensive backs.

Kevin Bean
Los Alamos, N.M.

Nice work if you can get it

What's with the orange crush everyone has on Mssrs. Terrell Davis, Mike Anderson and Olandis Gary? I'm 6-0, 270 and embarrassingly out of shape, and I will bet the national budget I'm good for a grand on the ground behind Tom Nalen, Matt Lepsis, Dan Neil and friends. Can we please, for once, give credit to the cause, not the effect?