What readers are saying

Alex Rodriguez

He finally got

what he wanted

When Alex Rodriguez left Seattle it "wasn't for the money." I'm sure we all believed that. It was to get to and win the World Series. So, of course, he chose to go to the Texas Rangers, those perennial playoff and World Series contenders. But, alas, it just didn't work out there. Who'da thunk?

Somehow, Mr. Sincerity ended up with the New York Yankees. Again, it wasn't for the money. And this time he got his ring.

I hope he's happy, cause he's still a liar and a jerk.

— Marshall Weiss, Seattle

Instant replay

Human game, human errors

Why don't sportswriters and sports announcers get off the subject of instant replay? Larry Stone's recent column ("Baseball can't botch this call: Instant replay should be expanded,"Oct. 25) is a good example. Unlike Stone, I think we should get rid of instant replay, and we could then enjoy the game for what it is — a GAME played by human beings who make errors. The game is made up of umpires, not just players. If you want a computerized game, go play Wii or PlayStation. You cannot make a perfect game in an imperfect world. Umpires and referees still blow the calls with replays.

Stone's main point seems to be: "Get it right." Don Denkinger could have lived down his call if not for idiot sportswriters who keep bringing it up and blowing the call out of proportion. If the Cardinals would have executed, his call would not have mattered.

— Gary Stange, Las Vegas

Seahawks

Housh out of line with outbursts

Are Houshmandzadeh's initials really T.J.? T.O., as in Terrell Owens, is more like it. The chest-pounding, throw-me-the-ball act has grown tired and distracting to fans and worse to his teammates.

He is a talented receiver, fearless and intense, with strong hands and the ability to get the tough yards after the catch.

But he plays on a team, a struggling team. There is no "I" in team. That an "I" is the only vowel missing from his name drips with irony.

The remarkable turnaround of his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, makes one wonder.

Frustrations need to be saved for the locker room. I'm tired of seeing them, and I'd bet his teammates are tired of being embarrassed by them, too.

— Ted Bambrick, Renton

Cutting James

is no solution

Why did the Seahawks waive Edgerrin James? After passing Marcus Allen on Sunday to move into the 10th spot on the all-time rushing list, James had a real possibility of eclipsing Marshall Faulk for ninth on the list (being just 33 yards away) and of passing Jim Brown for eighth (just 66 yards away). I looked forward to seeing this happening.

The one thing that made me watch the dismal Seahawks play is no longer a possibility. Cutting a surefire Hall of Famer to give another running back a chance is not going to resurrect the season. The Seahawks' issues are deeper than one position.

— Joseph Munsterman, Everett

Phil Lumpkin

An example

of excellence

In the early 2000s I had the chance to be Phil Lumpkin's assistant coach with his varsity basketball team for two seasons at O'Dea. I had coached junior-varsity basketball around the Seattle area for seven years. I wanted to learn from a man who I had heard was a very good basketball coach in this community. I had high aspirations of being a head coach, but was splitting time between coaching soccer and basketball.

He was a master tactician, a strong motivator and, in my mind, the best high-school coach all around I had ever witnessed. My two years with him convinced me I knew nothing about basketball at the highest level, and if I wanted to be good in basketball, I had a long way to go. I have stuck with varsity soccer, a sport I know.

Phil Lumpkin showed me what supreme excellence is in one subject.

— Gary Hunter, Seattle

Oregon Ducks

Don't blame

the system

A letter to the Sports Editor regarding the Oregon Ducks football program ("Spread offers little pro preparation," Backtalk, Nov. 1) argued how its quarterbacks of the past and present do not make good NFL players because of the offense used by the program. The article stated that Joey Harrington, Kellen Clemens and Dennis Dixon were failures in the NFL because of their training as spread-option quarterbacks.

To my knowledge, Harrington and Clemens were dropback passers in Mike Bellotti's offense because Chip Kelley was not in the program then. Also, the teams that drafted Harrington and Clemens were not quality programs for them into grow in the NFL system.

Yes, Dennis Dixon was an option quarterback, but he tore a ligament in his right knee that ended his college career.

— Don Fujishige, Kirkland