What readers are saying

Crew

Kelley caught the

essence of the sport

Steve Kelley's column ("Zen of crew," Friday) was really something to read. I think he really caught what rowers think and feel about their sport, no matter how long you rowed. It is ALWAYS with you. The symphony and poetry of rowing and the extremely hard work needed to do it. The brutal workouts day after day are worth every minute. The pearls of wisdom dropping from the lips of the Pococks, coaches and alumni were all around us. Dick Erickson, the famed Washington coach, used to say, "You row all year in the wet and muck for a few minutes of racing. There has got to be more to it than that."

Washington is really the most beautiful place to train, especially the Conibear Shellhouse. I was involved there for many years and cherish every minute of it and those who were on the team.

When rowers get together again, even many years later, it is like a bunch of brothers getting together again ... time disappears.

— George Teasdale, Seattle

Rowing brings joy

to a 16-year-old

In Steve Kelley's article, I could sincerely feel his pleasure of being out there early with those guys and enjoying the views. The sentiments captured what we hear from our 16-year-old son who is now rowing four hours a day in preparation for the national youth championship.

The team is exactly what he works for. It is the perfect sport for people who are team-oriented, highly competitive, yet not aggressive.

— Brigitte Fortin Johnson, Seattle

The great moments

made it worth it

Stan Pocock's comments in the last two paragraphs are dead on. In 1970, the varsity boat experienced the same feeling. We had been beaten in the Western Sprints, and coach Dick Erickson shuffled the boat around and made a few changes. The boat got faster and faster in workouts, but was untested. At the IRAs in Syracuse, we took the boat out for a spin after dark the night before the race. It was unbelievable the feeling. The lake was silent and still, and when we turned the power on, we flew, it felt effortless and easy. Of course, we were working as hard as ever, but we glided across the water in silence, in awe of the moment.

The next day we had a disastrous start and fell behind by one length to a mighty Penn team. Then, click, it all fell in place and we marched through the field and won by more than one length. It was as if it was no effort at all. As a senior captain that year, I looked back over the four years of workouts, and they were all worth it!

— Brad Thomas, Marietta, Ga.

Sounders FC

LeToux gained

a big fan

On Tuesday, our family of four joined two other families to cheer on the Seattle Sounders FC at the Starfire Sports Complex. My teenage daughters, along with the four other kids in our group, stood in anticipation of the Sounders FC coming out of the locker room. What a pleasure that so many of the players took the time before the match to sign autographs. After the match, the Sounders again signed and posed for pictures.

One of our favorite players is Sebastien LeToux, who after playing a full 90-minute game signed and smiled for each and every person that waited for him. He must have stayed for an hour after the game. Merci, Sebastien!

— Heather Moore, Renton

Mariners

Enough is enough

for an ex-supporter

What a relief Tuesday night's game was for me. I've been following the M's from the start of spring training, spending hours glued to the tube to support them. But after Tuesday night's debacle (again), a weight has been lifted from my shoulders. That game convinced me that they are so bad this season, I have no further need or responsibility to support them.

— Fritz Baesman,

Lopez Island

Betancourt, Lopez

need to sit

Yuniesky Betancourt and Jose Lopez will both be All-Stars someday, but we are tired of waiting for them to grow up. Rather than treating them with kid gloves, sit them for a week, or two weeks, or a month, instead of a game or two.

— David Bishop, Seattle