Mail | What readers are saying

Seahawks

Chamber not for sports injuries

I was dismayed to see irresponsible coverage of Seahawk Patrick Kerney's use of a "hyperbaric chamber" to heal his sports injuries.

As medical director of the Center for Hyperbaric Medicine at Virginia Mason Medical Center, I am well qualified to comment on this issue.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is defined as the delivery of 100 percent oxygen for breathing in an environment of increased pressure.

Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is appropriately delivered in a hospital setting by trained medical staff, knowledgeable in the conditions treated and equipped to handle the emergent situations or side effects.

This therapy is used to treat such emergencies as carbon-monoxide poisoning, decompression sickness of divers and severe soft tissue infections. Nonemergent conditions such as healing of refractory wounds (e.g., diabetic leg wounds) and tissue broken down after radiation therapy for cancer are also routinely treated. Sports injuries are not.

The photographs in the Times do not show a medical hyperbaric chamber, but rather a zippered inflatable device similar to a Gamow bag used on mountainsides by climbers with altitude sickness. They are licensed by the Food and Drug Administration only for use in the treatment of acute altitude sickness.

A number of controlled medical studies have investigated the role of real hyperbaric oxygen treatment of sports injuries. The studies have uniformly shown no benefit. For a review and analysis of all the published studies in this area, the reader can go to www.hboevidence.com to learn more.

— Dr. Neil B. Hampson, Seattle

A boo for effort

There seems to be lots of discussion and speculation surrounding the reasons why Seahawks fans are booing Shaun Alexander. It should not be any great mystery.

The booing is not a reflection of his lack of production. Seattle fans are very consistent across all sports, whether it be the Sonics, Mariners, Huskies or, in this case, the Seahawks: They expect and demand effort. That's it.

When Junior didn't run out grounders to the infield, or Vin Baker got pushed around under the hoop, Seattle fans booed.

We can live with poor results, but we can't live with poor effort.

Historically, Shaun has been known as a soft runner. Even when he was racking up all the touchdowns, he was looking to get out of bounds as soon as he could.

The reality is that his production and MVP trophy should really be attributed to the great blocking that [Steve] Hutchinson, [Walter] Jones and [Robbie] Tobeck, afforded him in years past. Without Hutch and Tobeck, Alexander's weaknesses are front and center.

Seattle fans don't expect 5 yards every carry, but they also don't expect their running back to fall down before contact with the defense has been made. It's clear that opposing defenses have seen this weakness and are going after him even harder than they would otherwise. We can cut him some slack if he's injured, like he has been, but he should be on the sideline if he can't give it his all.

— Jon Engman, Newcastle

Baseball

One way to end cheating

In the last year, we've heard about corruption in baseball, football, track and field and cycling, to name a few. You have the coach for the New England Patriots cheating and countless numbers of athletes from many different sports cheating by taking some type of artificial enhancement. Considering how many athletes have been caught in just this last year, the number not caught must be staggering.

This is a plague, which, if not stopped, will permeate college and high-school sports, as well. I know many people brush this issue aside, but the physical consequences are too great to ignore.

There may be a solution, though. Today while reading the Second Epistle of Clement, which was written in about A.D. 100, I came across an interesting section. It says: "We must realize that if one who competes in the earthly contest is caught cheating, he is flogged, disqualified, and thrown out of the stadium."

My guess is if today's players who cheated were flogged instead of fined, the cheating would end rather fast.

— Keith Hamilton, Redmond

Two-step program

The Seattle Mariners need to do two things to get into contention:

1. Get a manager who knows how to coach as well as manage. This means going to the college ranks and getting a winning college baseball coach. Football and basketball do this, but baseball, for some bizarre reason, brings up guys from within the major leagues, and for the most part, they are not very good.

2. They need to look for better, and hungrier, players. Bankrolling mediocres and has-beens is something the Mariners are noted for. Go interview some good ball players with potential for better play, and ask them how they will help the Mariners win the pennant.

— Dick Mills, Palm Desert, Calif.

Huskies

Next year, it might be a tough decision

I recently asked my friend, "What will it take for UW President Mark Emmert to keep coach Willingham beyond next season?"

My friend replied, "Simple. Win seven or eight games."

Then I said, "That's not so simple. Next year's schedule is as tough as last year's. Nonconference foes include Oklahoma, Notre Dame and BYU. The five conference away games are all going to be at tough-to-win places. In addition, virtually all the running backs and receivers are going to be either newcomers or returnees with little experience at this level.

"On the other hand, the recruiting momentum seems to be returning to UW, and Willingham appears to be putting together a top 15 recruiting class. Of course, as true freshmen next year, they probably won't have a major impact on turning the program around. What do you think President Emmert will do if the Huskies finish at 6 and 6, or worse?"

My friend just shrugged and said, "Tough call. That's why they pay him the big bucks."

— Raymond S. Wilson, Bellevue