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Tuesday, August 05, 2003     Page: 2B

YOUR ARTICLES ABOUT the consolidation of Wilkes-Barre Area high schools
seem to be in favor of consolidation. I wish you would have shown the negative
effect of high school consolidation. Instead of three city basketball teams
there would be one, plus students will have an opportunity to play. Children
who are involved in sports stay off drugs. The absolute worse thing
Wilkes-Barre Area can do is consolidate. I beg you, Wilkes-Barre, do not
consolidate.
   
CAN YOU TELL me if the Penn State-Nebraska football game is a night game
this year? EDITOR’S NOTE: Yes it is. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13.
    I’M CALLING ABOUT the Wilkes-Barre School District closing Meyers, GAR and
Coughlin and making it all one high school. Concerning the athletics, I think
that’s a fantastic idea, one that’s long overdue. It would save the taxpayers
a lot of money. But I also think the head football coach should be Mike Namey,
the coach that’s currently at Meyers right now. He does a better job than
those other two coaches at Coughlin and GAR.
   
I HAVE A comment. The Phillies look like a bunch of slobs. They have big
red “Ronald McDonald” feet and wrinkled, red pinstripe pajamas. They have to
be the worst uniforms in baseball for the hokiest organization in baseball.
   
I WAS VERY happy to see the four innings that Joe Roa pitched against the
Phillies on Saturday night. He did a great job. Of course, they never should
have let him go. He’s a nice man. I met him when he was at Lackawanna County
Stadium, and I’m very happy that he’s doing well with the Padres. Go, Padres;
boo, Phillies.
   
TO THE PEOPLE criticizing the local media for their “poor” coverage of
the Keystone State Games. Let’s face the real facts of life, folks. Keystone
State Games is like recreational soccer. You play for the fun of it. The
practices leading up to it are probably minimal at best. Of course, there are
some sports we put more effort into than others. But for the most part, the
Keystone State Games is a gentlemanly way of having a nice time out on the
field.
   
IT’S GREAT THAT hundreds and maybe even thousands of participants are
competing in the Keystone State Games. But the competition is for their own
benefit. It’s not for my benefit, it’s not for me to read about whether the
9-10-year-old judo player is winning or losing. That’s for them, it’s not for
me, and that’s the way we should have it. We don’t need to guarantee the
publicity of those who compete.
   
JERRY KELLAR’S JOE Paterno article proved one thing: That Jerry Kellar is
the area’s best sports writer, bar none.
   
ANOTHER GREAT COLUMN by Jerry Kellar. I like the way Jerry keeps the Penn
State football fans interested in football by these off-season articles, this
one especially. He even made the front page. Keep feeding us more Penn State
football articles, Jerry. You know this is Penn State football country, with a
few obnoxious Notre Dame fans in the way. By the way, Jerry, what’s up with
the quarterback from Wilson High School, Chad Henne?
   
KELLAR RESPONDS: Henne is expected to announce his decision on Thursday.
   

   
I’D LIKE TO add to the comment in Sunday’s paper about the person that said
nobody covered anything on the Keystone Games on television. That’s not any
big surprise in our area. The press doesn’t give much of our high school
athletes anything at all. By the way, caller, I would walk across the street
to see Ozzy Osbourne.
   
SPORTS BIAS. JIM Furyk wins the Buick Open and there’s not even a picture
of him. If Tiger Woods would have won it, it would have been front-page
headlines “Tiger wins again.” Even the sports announcer describing the golf
match is biased. Furyk missed a putt and they said he could be faltering.
Tiger missed a putt, and they said it was a perfect stroke but he just didn’t
read it right. You guys are the same way.
   
FAN FARE is open to any sports-related topic. To voice your opinion, call
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