LETTERS TO THE SPORTS EDITOR
Coverage of Leyland was much appreciated
10/27/2013Thank you for the extensive coverage you gave on the occasion of Jim Leyland’s announcement that he was stepping down as the field manager for the Detroit Tigers. It was a wonderful tribute to Jim’s half-century in professional baseball and especially interesting in how you recognized his roots in Perrysburg.
The "cheers" and "boos" of fans echo through the years and culminate in a man who must look back on it all with a sense of gratitude, personal satisfaction, humility, and even some humor.
Thank you again. It was great.
Thomas J. Leyland
Perrysburg
(Thomas Leyland is Jim Leyland’s brother.)
St. Francis soccer fails in sportsmanship
During a recent high school soccer tournament game involving St. Francis and Waite, St. Francis won 18-0. I witnessed arrogance, greed, and nonsportsmanship conduct.
Coaches, parents, and even officials forget that high school sports are part of the high school curriculum, it's not about the trophies, the trophies are icing on the cake. Yes, no one plays to lose, it is about winning, but how we win and how we conduct ourselves are the lessons we try to pass along to these student-athletes. It's about teaching and giving these values, tools and characteristics.
Academically, St. Francis is one of Toledo's finest, a great staff and a great campus, yet during that game they failed and embarrassed not their opponents but embarrassed themselves. What did the coach prove and teach his athletes? How to be arrogant and cocky? Is this the attitude we want these young men to carry on past high school? Will these characteristics serve them well in the real world?
The coach failed in his responsibility as a teacher and as a leader. If it is true what St. Francis advertises, "teach Christian values," did this coach follow the values? I have to believe this is not part of St. Francis policy, that this was an isolated incident involving an arrogant coach. St. Francis has my respect and the respect of our community as one of Toledo's finest. In order to maintain that respect, they need to address this issue.
Eddie Boraby
Toledo
UT showed lack of respect for Navy
As the wife of a U.S. Naval Academy graduate, I was horrified by the lack of respect the University of Toledo football team showed Navy at the end of Saturday’s game. It is known, that all service academies sing their alma mater at the end of every football game. Teams stand behind one another to show their support, when the songs are being sung.
On Saturday however, Toledo chose to run around the field, off to the locker room, or jump up into the student section during Navy's singing of its alma mater. The band also thought this would be a good time to start playing an Irish dance on the 30-yard line. This not only reflected poorly on the team, but also the coaching staff.
We are very proud of our team in their maturity on and off of the field. I hope that Toledo football will once again learn to respect the opposing team, win or lose.
Amy Garwood
Annapolis, Md.