Norm Frey is gone but his legacy lives on

I'm a Peabody graduate (1980) whose post-graduate life has been shaped by Norm Frey. I was a student manager for Norm and Ken McDonough while at Peabody.

There have been few occurrences in my life over the past 28 years where "What would Mr. Frey say?" hasn't crossed my mind.

The memories came flowing back as soon as I received the news of his passing. There was a bond that existed between all of Norm's former students. He was old school before old school was cool, and tough, demanding and utterly supportive. The life lessons I learned from watching him in class, in practice and in games have served me well, and my basketball was learned at his side.

I've spent most of my career in education and athletic administration, and have thought of him often. He helped shape City League basketball, and one more link to those glory days is gone. I'll miss him, and am grateful that he was a part of my life.

JAN MARCUS
Frederick, Md.

No pride without boxing

In today's Post-Gazette there is a big layout on Pittsburgh's former sports greatness ("Pittsburgh Pride," June 18). Unmentioned were three great boxing champs -- Fritzi Zivic, Billy Conn and Harry Greb. It's not only this article by Robert Dvorchak that fails to mention them but they are never mentioned when the subject of Pittsburgh's sports greats are mentioned with a rare exception of Conn. What is amazing to me is that Greb is forgotten by Pittsburgh's historical minds. Boxing historians consider him in the top five of middleweights of all time. Yet he is a forgotten man.

DAVID MARSHALL
Knoxville

A salute from a Red Wings fan

To Penguins fans:

I am from Detroit and a diehard Red Wings fan, but I want to let Pittsburgh know that, next to Detroit, I am amazed at the excitement and energy that you have brought to your team.

I congratulate you and the Penguins for a great playoff season and for the excitement and fun you brought to the playoffs. Your stadium looked great in all white and you kept us on the edge of our seats throughout. I have to say that your team is also a great team and you can't feel anything but proud of them and their accomplishments.

KATHY WALTERS
Detroit

Eight-armed applause

The legend of the octopus lives on.

Watching the Red Wings skating down the ice to victory in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup final, led by European captain Nicklas Lidstrom and Chris "The Wizard of Oz" Osgood, I was reminded of all those shining lamps of antiquity who sought to honor Hockeytown with that coveted Stanley Cup.

Summoned to mind were such unforgettable names as Gordie Howe, Norm Ullman, Terry Sawchuk, Roger Crozier, Alex Delvecchio and Steve Yzerman. Conn Smythe trophy winner Henrik Zetterberg's winning goal assured the sporting kingdom that the 2008 Stanley Cup will go down in history as one of the most dramatic Cup final ever played and one of epic proportion that entertained not only the whole continent but the whole world.

Paying tribute also to the indomitable spirit of head coach Mike Babcock, I congratulate this year's conquering hockey heroes of Detroit for defeating the Penguins and winning their 11th Stanley Cup.

PAUL KOKOSKI
Hamilton, Ontario