SPORTS MAIL.

Byline: The Register-Guard

The Register-Guard sports department welcomes letters on all sporting topics. Our length limit is 250 words; all letters are subject to condensation. Writers are limited to one letter per calendar month. Letters must be signed with the writer's full name. An address and daytime telephone number are needed for verification purposes.

Mail letters to:

Sports Mail,

P.O. Box 10188,

Eugene, OR 97440-2188

Fax:

687-6674

E-mail:

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Canham made their day

Our time with Mitch Canham on the Ems was cut short. We loved watching the former OSU standout from Lake Stevens, Wash., play in Eugene. We hope the best for him with his surgery and lots of luck with his next step in baseball with a Single-A team in Fort Wayne, Ind.

The first game of his we went to was July 11. Our second-grader and his Kidsports team got to accompany the players onto the field for the National Anthem. What a treat. Mitch had an RBI to tie the game.

The rain had been going since the seventh inning. All the box seater's had moved to the covered area to stay dry. When the game was over and all the players had headed to the locker room to dry off, there was Mitch by the dugout signing balls and caps for all the kids. My boy got his ball signed and will treasure it always.

We wish Mitch all the best as he continues his baseball career. Thanks for sticking with your OSU Beavers another year and not taking the 41st draft with the Cards last year. You are very deserving of the six-figure signing bonus the Padres gave you.

Just the fact you excelled at OSU as a leader and academically - highest GPA on OSU's team - with the tragic loss of your mother the first week of your freshman year. My hat is off to you. Keep up the good work.

PAUL PIERSON 

Eugene

Cheer counts as a sport

This letter is in support of the University of Oregon's decision to add women's competitive cheerleading to its athletic programs.

By adding 35 more opportunities for female athletes to compete at the NCAA level and pursuing their education, I have heard some say this is a "fall-back sport." Untrue!

To get to the Division I level, it takes athleticism and years of training, gymnastics classes and experience. Most who cheer in college are ex-high school/all-star cheerleaders and all-sport athletes.

This move will bring new fans and money to the university and Lane County. More will apply to UO instead of "other" colleges that offer more in scholarships and competition. Not to mention the fact of going to and competing at national competitions and TV time on ESPN.

I have been coaching for more than 13 years for South Umpqua High School and try to teach my squad members who are interested in college cheer the skills it takes to go on to the next level. I have had three go on to cheer at UO and nine more go to other universities.

In the past 13 years, this sport evolved from an activity to a sport. At SUHS we are considered a sport. We have the same contracts and expectations as other athletes while also doing fundraising, community service and keeping grades up.

TONI GIBBONS 

Canyonville

Revealing argument

I was parked in front of a lingerie store, so it was easy to be looking at the displays in the window. I realized two things: that I did not like the stuff displayed because it lacked subtleties, and that cheerleading is about performance and being in service to others (women to men, usually, always and again!)

Interesting that it took sexy undergarments to reveal to me what I do not like about UO's decision to use cheerleading as its answer to Title IX equity.

Likely, there will be some who will counter my concerns with the argument that cheerleading is athletic, fosters camaraderie and more. Even so, cheerleading must be a cheaper sport to support than, say, rowing - about which I was very excited. Now that's an athletic sport and not without its subtleties.

Shame on Kilkenny and his cohort, and I am sorry for the young women who were looking forward to varsity rowing. With all due respect to the women who are excited about cheerleading, I send condolences to those who are disappointed UO won't muster to support rowing. I can imagine that one of those programs brings in the bucks.

MARY TEGEL

Eugene

Title IX minus football

Thanks to great leadership and decision-making by U of O president Dave Frohnmayer, and generous support from donors like Phil and Penny Knight, the entire university flourishes.

Consistently basing decisions upon what is best for the university, the president's success is outstanding. His selection of AD Pat Kilkenny, whose charge is to do what is best, maintains that goal.

Kilkenny immediately put his staff to work developing goals and evaluating programs. He did not choose "I need to get comfortable in the position." Instead, he has faced difficult and controversial decisions head-on. The term `leader' comes to mind.

Lost in the current controversy is needed changes to Title IX. Well-meaning at inception, it needs tweaking.

Football funds almost all men's and women's sports (not men's basketball). All sports need football money, yet its 85 scholarships applied to Title IX's formula cause men's sports to be dropped and a backlash of unfair, negative feelings toward non-revenue-producing women's programs.

Suggestion: Since both men's and women's sports need football money, eliminate football scholarships from the formula and fund all other male/female sports on a 1-to-1 ratio with compliance required in five years.

ROGER DIDDOCK

Eugene