SPORTS MAIL.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Keep Autzen a safe venue

I attended the football game in Autzen Stadium on Saturday and was appalled at the incident of fighting between the mascots of the teams. Such behavior is completely counter to efforts to change the culture of Autzen to a more hospitable atmosphere. If the combative actions of the two mascots had been displayed by fans in the stands, I am assuming that, under the rules of the ConDuckt Code, that would have been grounds for ejecting the fans. I felt very unsafe as I watched the two mascots tussle. My thought was, `What if it's infectious? What if their display encourages similar behavior among the fans?'

At the very least, I am counting on the UO administration to make Autzen Stadium a safe space for all fans and teams. At most, I would like to see Autzen be a welcoming, hospitable venue - which means, among other things, no booing of either team. The Mike Bellotti video played before games is a useful tool for promoting hospitable behavior among fans. It needs, however, to be played at a louder volume and at a time when people can be expected to be paying attention, which is not currently the case.

DORIS M. WILLIAMS

Eugene

Thanks for the columns

George Schroeder is doing a fine job as sports columnist, but before too much time slips by, I would like to thank Ron Bellamy for the many, many fine columns he wrote for The Register-Guard. One of my favorites was about hitting the 50-year threshold. "My baseball cards are dying ...", he wrote. And when he blew a call, like taking the Bill Moos exit at face value, he admitted it. His great skill with words made me a fathful reader.

Welcome aboard, George. May this remarkable tradition of thoroughly literate sports writers continue!

KENNETH THOMAS 

Eugene

Bench the Duck mascot

The U of O's opener against Houston was exciting, and we had a great time celebrating with our group of fans in the stands. The one blot was the aggressive and hostile behavior of the team mascots. Taunting, inciting and unsporting behavior gets players and fans benched or expelled. Why wasn't the Duck sent to the showers? Hey mascot - we're hosts! Be a Duck fan, not a birdbrain.

JOANNA HOSKINS

Eugene

Wrestlers deserve respect

If you haven't wrestled competitively, it may be difficult to understand my opinion. Wrestling is an upfront, person to person, physical interaction. As a team member, after being worked over by differently weighted and skilled wrestlers all week, you eventually face alone a sometimes unknown, but most always worthy, adversary. In short bursts, one must out-think and out-quick the opponent, going from mental trickery to physical exhaustion every outing.

Wrestlers must stand out in knowledge and heart because outwitting the other guy is the key to winning. As in real life, a loss can't dissolve into "we lost as a team." Win, lose or tie you always thank your opponent for his timely compliance, or for kicking your butt.

To wrestle, you'd better be in great shape and able to lose like a gentleman. When the final match is held for the wrestling team here in Eugene, I hope fans of all sports will attend with respect to find out firsthand what they have given up. When some guy mentions to me he was a wrestler, my respect level goes way up as part of an unspoken bond.

Dear U of O, "play ball" if you must. I wish you the best, regardless of my wrestling bias.

DAN DUBACH

Eugene

Sportsmanship lauded

One thing I think the reporter, Genaro Armas, from The Associated Press failed to mention in his story about Georgia winning the Little League World Series title was the sportsmanship. The Japanese boys were devastated after losing and wept openly on the field. The Georgia players, after a few high-fives and hugs, went to the pitcher's mound and consoled the Japanese boys with more hugs. It was heartwarming to see such wonderful sportsmanship. Maybe some of the professional ballplayers should take lessons from these wonderful young men and their coaches.

SHARON BATSON

Creswell

So much to cheer about

I can't wait until The Register-Guard publishes the photos and articles about the nationwide search for the new competitive cheer coach. We will all be proud to have a high-caliber, sought-after cheer coach.

And too bad about the (fundraising effort to) reinstate wrestling, because that would mean having to have another women's sport that might have to meet NCAA and Title IX criteria. The $100 million Nike donation won't even begin to cover the costs.

There's just so much to cheer about, I don't know where to begin.

KATHLEEN DUGAN

Eugene

Keep Mac Court

It is argued that Mac Court is lacking in comfort. This may shock the reader but most hoops/Ducks fans don't go searching for comfort at a Ducks' basketball game. When I want comfort, I lie on my couch. The idea that Mac Court must go is indicative of the `waste money now and worship our new corporate master' culture that most universities seem quick to embrace today.

But the reality is that the idiocracy of advocating for an unnecessary `new and improved' court will certainly result in mediocrity. It is sad that University of Oregon leadership cannot appreciate the environment that Mac Court creates for basketball and the hell it creates for opposing teams.

If I were a Pac-10 Duck opponent I would certainly donate to the cause of a new Duck arena. A new building would provide the road team with a more comfortable environment and thus, an easier game. Meanwhile, the "Lifestyles Of The Rich And Famous - Eugene branch" could dine on caviar and absolute insanity in their corporate swill box. Sounds tasty if you put the dollar bill before the love of the game!

DEREK VOLKART

Ashland

Too much extravagance 

If Oregon "struck gold" by hiring a baseball coach for half a million dollars with a recruiter (recruiter?) thrown into the package, what if the two offered the job ahead of him had accepted? For No. 1, it figured to be on the platinum standard, and No. 2 measured in diamonds.

Except for the wealthy (like UO athletics), times are getting tougher and will get worse. No wonder those struggling to make it - plus a demeaned faculty - have justified resentment toward the big spenders, president Dave Frohnmayer and athletic director Pat Kilkenny.

Now to build a short-season baseball stadium for home games limited to April and May, with half those games cancelled by rain. But wait: Our free spenders must have in mind a multi-million dollar enclosed stadium so baseball can compete with basketball in the winter.

No wonder sick varsity sport becomes the metaphor for our extravagant society.

GEORGE BERES

Eugene