THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 9, 1995 TAG: 9504080383
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Sports editor:
I have been a season ticket holder for the entire time the Admirals have been in town. I think it is time for the Admirals to go in a new direction. This means that they need a new head coach to get a few new ideas. John Brophy has been outcoached and outmaneuvered so many times I lost count.
As the owner of the team, Blake Cullen has the obligation to put the best team possible on the ice. I think there have been too many times Brophy has embarrassed us. Many teams in the IHL and the AHL may not want their young players to play for this man. The Portland Pirates sent players to the Wheeling Thunderbirds instead of the Admirals.
I think commissioner Pat Kelly needs to be replaced by someone that will think of the league first instead of going against one or two teams because of a grudge. As a fan I hope that other fans will speak out so Cullen will get the message that without the real fans the Admirals would not have made the impact they have. The 5,000 or so fans are the real fans; the other so-called fans come to party and drink beer when they have nothing else to do.
PHILLIP SMAWLEY
Portsmouth The fans, not Cullen or Brophy, make Admirals
Sports editor:
As a season-ticket holder of the Hampton Roads Admirals from day one, I have been trying for weeks to think of the words to express my disappointment in Blake Cullen and John Brophy.
The fans of this team are what have made it successful, not Cullen or Brophy. To suggest as some have that Admiral fans come to Scope to see Brophy act like a 5-year-old kid is utterly ridiculous.
These two guys thought they could sit back on winning the championship two times and no one would notice how bad the Admirals have been the last three years. We send our best players up to higher leagues and never get help back. The fans also can count on Brophy trading the ``most popular'' Admirals every year for nobody.
Then comes the ``ultimate slap'' in the face of read Admiral fans. The AHL, whose brand of hockey is about a thousand percent better than the bush-league ECHL, comes looking for new markets and Cullen slams the door in their face.
The Hampton Coliseum has been contacted by parties interested in putting an AHL team in Hampton next year. Those are the only season tickets I will purchase next season. I will not miss Cullen or Brophy.
TIM WOOD
Chesapeake Vehorn, Molinaro offered balance in UCLA coverage
Sports editor:
As a native Southern Californian, and huge UCLA Bruin fan, I have been frustrated (during my first two years of law school in Virginia) by the lack of coverage and respect afforded West Coast basketball by the East Coast press. Especially aggravating were the missing UCLA scores and derisive commentary concerning the PAC-10 during a year in which half o the conference spent time in the top 20, and in which UCLA went 31-2 (including regular season wins over Kentucky, Arizona, Arizona State, Louisville, Duke, etc.)
All of this to say I'm very surprised to now find myself writing to compliment Mr. Molinaro and Mr. Vehorn. Both of these writers proved themselves open-minded critics with their final tournament articles.
They were willing to recognize UCLA for what they are, the best basketball team in the nation. It was especially nice to read of Mr. Vehorn's conclusion that Carolina couldn't have beaten UCLA this year. While very true, this is an amazing statement in ACC country. Thanks for the articles.
STEVEN GERTSEN
Virginia Beach Where to write
Letters to the sports department are welcome. They must be signed and include the address and phone number of the writer. Be brief. Letters may be edited. Send to: Sports editor, The Virginian-Pilot and the Ledger-Star, 150 W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk, Va. 23510. by CNB