Sports Mailbag: 8/18/06
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Bob Smizik's article about the sports practices of private schools, especially Central Catholic High School, is commendable for its courage and accuracy ("Woodland Hills case underscores the need for a revised set of transfer rules in the WPIAL," Aug. 16).
I find it particularly ironic that a Catholic school, which putatively values fairness, justice and truth, should sanction such disingenuous practices as adopted by the football program. Imagine a student in line to play quarterback for Central, putting in countless hours of practice, working hard and earning the starting position, only to find his job effectively outsourced to a transfer student recruited from another state. How is that fair? What kind of values does that transmit to the student athletes and the student body in general?
Central Catholic has an unmitigated desideratum of winning at any cost, including the costs of lost self-esteem, injustice and nepotism. The Catholic diocese has given them free reign to run amok and without any regard for values beyond triumphalism.
MICHAEL RECTENWALD
Point Breeze
'Them' and everyone else
I read Bob Smizik's column ("Woodland Hills case underscores the need for a revised set of transfer rules in the WPIAL," Aug. 16) and don't want to step on his toes, but I have a bold and daring prediction to make:
The WPIAL will overwhelmingly approve the transfer of Rob Gronkowski to Woodland Hills.
It never met an out-of-state athlete it didn't like who wanted to transfer to an elite sports school.
You can bet that if Gronkowski or Tino Sunseri [who transferred in to Central Catholic from out of state] wanted to transfer to Duquesne High School, it would never be permitted.. Central Catholic, Woodland Hills, et al are in a different class when it comes to the rules. I wonder why?
MIKE SMALLEY
West Mifflin
Cowher only fuels rumors
Bill Cowher is disappointed that Jerome Bettis believes he will retire after this season. So much so, that he chose to scold him as if he were still playing for him. How thin-skinned is the coach?
History has been that Cowher has typically signed an extension to his contract with two years remaining, but has not done so this time. Furthermore, Bettis only responded to a question with his opinion.
If the coach wants to stop the questions, all he needs to do is offer a statement saying whether he is or is not considering retirement. Addressing the issue by "not addressing the issue" any further, will only fuel the debate. While he owes no one outside of his family and the Steelers' organization any answers, if he chooses to try to bury his head in the sand and think the issue will go away, he is sadly mistaken.
TAYE COLES
North Braddock
QB's play will say it all
Ray Fittipaldo's article on Penn State's Anthony Morelli, which implies that he may lack the mental acuity to be a great leader seems a bit premature ("Making headway," Aug. 13). As Joe Paterno points out, Morelli played in a high school system that didn't feature the pass, so he really didn't need to "read" very much. But the writer came off as uninformed in implying that since "he can't read defenses, make quick decisions, or comprehend the playbook." Morelli might be a "modern day Terry Bradshaw." I suspect that Morelli would be very happy to wind up being a modern version of Terry Bradshaw.
If the writer had really done his homework, he would never make such a statement. (He put himself in the same condescending class as the Cowboys' Thomas Henderson who tried to cast doubt on Bradshaw's mental prowess.)
Perhaps the writer forgets (or never knew) that Terry Bradshaw was [one of] the last NFL quarterbacks to call virtually all of his own plays on the field. The results speak for themselves. The supposedly cerebral one of that era, Roger Staubach, never called a play on his own.
Just as Bradshaw let his arm and play-calling decide who was really smart, let's let Morelli's on-field performance do the same.
WILLIAM BRUMMETT
Hempfield Township
What's wrong with this picture?
Why is it that the New York Yankees can find everyday playing time for Craig Wilson but the Pirates could not? There's something terribly depressing about that.
JOHN-PAUL McCORMICK
Polish Hill
Turn the radio on
Good to see that we will have Mike Lange back with us this Penguins season, albeit in a somewhat reduced capacity. He never should have been shown the door in the first place. Just another case of how the corporate biggies, without batting an eye, cast aside media icons here in the 'Burgh ala Bob Prince. I hope many more Penguins fans will follow the urgings of our departed Steelers media icons, Myron Cope and Jack Fleming, when they asked us to "turn down the volume on your TV set and turn up the volume on your radio" for their broadcasts.
BARRY A. BRYCE
Elizabeth Township
Bravo to all
People who read the sports pages should be aware of the three outstanding athletic events that took place in Allegheny County the past two weekends.
Starting Aug. 6, The Friends of the Riverfront/Seagate Pittsburgh Triathlon and Adventure Race was held (400 participants). The following weekend was the Habitat for Humanity Kid's Triathlon on Saturday and the 10th Anniversary Baierl YMCA North Park Triathlon Sunday, with 300 participants in each event. That is 1,000 people swimming, biking and running around Pittsburgh's waterways trails and roads.
It is a fine statement of the strong community involvement to see volunteers, supporters, parents and participants enjoying themselves in such healthy and worthwhile activities.
Pittsburgh not only has great professional teams, there are many terrific individual athletes who train hard to compete locally and nationally. Thanks to all the supporters, volunteers and organizers of the fine races and the state, county and city and corporate sponsors for their continued support. Go Pittsburgh!!! Bring back the Pittsburgh Marathon!
DEBBIE SAGAN
McCandless
First Published August 18, 2006 12:00 am
