SPORTS MAIL.

Byline: The Register-Guard

Put pedestals away

I still can remember when a problem within pro sports was star athletes getting too close to members of the Mafia. Things have changed today - I'm not sure for the better.

We read that in defense of some suspicious testosterone imbalance, the winner of cycling's biggest event, the Tour de France, attributes it to his consuming too much whiskey the night before the championship leg. That may seem to be a lesser problem, but not likely to his fellow Mennonites.

Then the coach of the top sprinter to run in Eugene claims the runner's illegal level of testosterone came from a masseur using a cream with the drug to massage his legs.

Anyone care to bet if either will be exonerated of such claims?

At least three major newspapers (Register-Guard, July 30) no longer are in denial about the integrity of sport. Their resentment was expressed under a headline, "Don't Look to Sports for Heroes."

What bugs them - and should bug all sports sections - is that the false pedestals for many of our athletes, pro and collegiate, are created by the excessive glorification they get in the home team newspapers.

GEORGE BERES

Eugene

Call your own shots

I enjoyed the article on the local sports talk shows (July 30).

Justin Myers has improved a lot since his first shows, but as long as his hands are tied on certain subjects, it is not really his show.

Jerry Allen calling the shots on what he can and cannot say about Oregon sports is only part of it. If anyone calls with criticism of Jerry or Joe Giansante, the `Idol' won't have anything to do with it.

I think it is safe to say it is the Joe and Jerry show starring Justin Myers. I hate to say it, but "puppet on a string" comes to mind.

I'm a big Oregon fan, but I'm also a fan of the truth and like to hear it like it is, whether it's good or bad for my team.

I do give Justin credit for telling it like it is more than Joe and Jerry. Those two need to be wearing skirts and holding pom poms. So the "Idol" needs to cut the strings before he can call it his show.

BRIAN BOWMAN

Springfield

Send in the clowns

We are soon to be blessed by track and field's elite at The Road to Eugene '08. Is BALCO a sponsor? I'll pass and wait until BALCO brings us a home run derby at Civic Stadium with Bonds, Sosa, McGwire and Canseco. That circus would be more transparent than pro track.

DAVID JENSEN 

Vida

Ems worth the price

How sad that Michael Smith won't ever take kids to go see the Eugene Emeralds play baseball. Where else can they see 22-year-old young men going all out to snap up line drives, kids getting autographs at the dugout, friends competing in tricycle races, third base coach antics (also called "signs") and game-winning home runs.

The Ems still draw more spectators than most of the other Northwest League teams -- more than 100,000 per year. They are second this year only to Spokane in total attendance.

As for city support, the city pays for soccer fields, swimming pools, little league diamonds, tennis courts and doggie parks! Surely civic support of local baseball fits into this list.

JULIE SCHULTE

Eugene

Return the favor

As avid Duck fans, we traveled to Oklahoma in September of 2004. It turned out to be Adrian Petersen's coming out party. The next morning the sports headlines said: "A star is born!" and they described Oregon as being well-coached and said that they played better than expected.

We are sure everyone has heard that the Oklahoma fans were great. They were courteous, helpful and everywhere we went in our Duck colors someone thanked us for making the trip out for the game. It was a better game than the score indicated. We have been to a few Duck away games and haven't experienced that kind of hospitality at OSU, Washington, USC or any other opponent. They were first-class, big-time college football. We felt we won just from the experience. They will be here in September, and this time it is our turn.

Let's repay the hospitality and show them we too are a great university with a first-class, big-time college football program and the greatest fans anywhere. And, oh yeah, tell them they played a good game and are welcome back anytime for another first-class, big-time whippin'. Wouldn't that be fantastic?

JACK BRUNI

Eugene

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