THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604210231
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C14 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 87 lines
Sports editor:
Tom Robinson's article ``It's too early to tell if this soccer circus will catch on'' (April 14) upset a few supporters of the Hampton Roads Mariners professional soccer team, according to calls I have received.
Mr. Robinson focused on the unusual names of some of the teams that make up the United Systems of Independent Soccer Leagues (USISL).
Of the seven teams he named, only one is in the Mariners' league (the Ohio Xoggz). The Xoggz (however that is pronounced) and the Mariners play in the USISL's Select League, just one step below the new Major League Soccer (MLS) level. The other six teams he mentioned are amateur teams.
The MLS has American players with recognizable names, like Alexi Lalas, Tony Meola and Eric Wynalda all from the 1994 World Cup National Team. Some of today's Mariners players could wind up playing beside those stars just as baseball notables Dwight Gooden, Kevin Mitchell and Davey Johnson once performed in Norfolk for the Triple-A Tides.
There are other topics he might have discussed.
For example, what's the story on this Bulgarian named Stilian Shishkov, who scored two goals and assisted on the third in the Mariners' come-from-behind win? Surely there is something interesting there.
I get the feeling Mr. Robinson is not a soccer fan. Please continue to assign him to Mariners games. The enthusiasm he noted - ``most of the men, women and children gathered seemed to know and appreciate everything that was going on'' - might just rub off on him, too.
GARY GLENN, Co-Chairman
Mariners Booster Club
Virginia Beach
Sports Editor, Few weaknesses aside, PIT as important as ever
Ed Miller's article (April 3) on the 44th annual Portsmouth Invitational Tournament was a perfect example of the negative reporting that seems to dominate the newspaper.
Rather than focus on the continued success that a 44-year-old tournament enjoys, Miller decided to point out the few weaknesses that a tournament may be experiencing. He points out that the appeal of the tournament may be dropping due to players leaving school early, agents advising players not to play, and the overexposure of teams on television.
I believe that the PIT is as important as ever. The NBA draft will soon be reduced to one round. NBA general managers will be inviting players to camp and signing them as free agents. It will be more important to see a player play against NBA-style competition than ever.
Finally, the attendance of representatives from every NBA team, including Jerry West, Kevin McHale, Isiah Thomas, Willis Reed, Elgin Baylor, Wayne Embry and others, shows great value in the PIT.
This tournament is held for the sole purpose of making contributions to local charities and providing local student-athletes with scholarships. It is disappointing to open the hometown newspaper the morning that the tournament starts and read a case for not attending the PIT.
As a committee member, I also find it hard to continue to support a newspaper with advertising dollars that does harm to a tournament that for 44 years has done such good.
KEN WREN, Jr.
PIT Committee
Norfolk
Sports editor, Rick Reed a true hero in these children's eyes
They can call Rick Reed a scab, former replacement player or anything else they like. In our eyes, he's one of the good guys.
We took our son to this year's ``Meet the Tides'' banquet at Hits at the Park. Rick Reed was gracious enough to take 7-year-old Steven, his 6-year-old cousin Matthew and their 6-year-old friend Ryan around the restaurant, introducing them to the Tides players and helping the boys get signatures on the baseball they had brought along. This was something he offered to do. Those boys floated out on a cloud that night.
That is what baseball is all about. Heroes, role models, dreams. Steven literally begged for us to take him to Harbor Park the next night to see his friend Rick pitch. How could we not?
Rick Reed put stars in the eyes of three little fans that night. We don't care what they call you. Whatever your future in baseball, Rick Reed, we'll be watching and rooting for you.
STEVE AND TERRI JOYNER
Portsmouth by CNB