Letters to the Editor

Sports teams bonding is all in good fun

To the Daily:

I am saddened to hear that instances still occur in the year 1998 as those stated in the Sept. 23 article "Western suspends hockey players, coach."

While we hear stories of "hazings" and "initiations" happening all the time at other universities, I am hard pressed to believe that it happens here. We all know that at the University, we don't have any underage drinking, no promiscuous sex, no drug use and no hazings or initiations of any kind.

I'm sure these standards range all the way from SAPAC to the men's hockey squad. I'm sure this incredibly close-knit group that brought the national championship back to Yost Arena spends Saturday nights watching movies and eating popcorn.

While that may not be a very realistic picture of things, I'm sure that what the sports teams do behind closed doors is all in good fun and promotes group bonding.

If that brings success and glory to the mighty Wolverines, then so be it.

Frank Brick

University alumnus

'M' fans should shout 'Hail!' at anthem

To the Daily:

As the baseball playoffs begin, we're going to hear Atlanta fans shout only one word when the National Anthem is played. In Fulton Country Stadium, you'll hear " ... o'er the land of the free, and the home of the BRAVES!"

In Baltimore's Camden Yards, fans shout "O" (for the hometown Orioles) when the National Anthem gets to "O, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave ..."

In Michigan Stadium, where fans know only one word of the Maize and Blue ("Hail!"), it's always surprised me that we don't shout "Hail" when the National Anthem gets to " ... what so proudly we hailed!"

Don't you think we should start this tradition?

Mark Pekala

University alumnus

Daily sports needs to do more team research

To the Daily:

Do the Daily sports writers do any research? Do they think it is alright to write and print an article about an athletic team without even knowing who is actually on the team?

For the past two articles about the golf team, ("Linksters prep for Hawkeye," 9/25/98 and "Golf searches for consistency in Iowa," 9/28/98) you have included the same picture of former golfer Kyle Dobbs. Dobbs's last year on the team was 1996-97 (two years ago). I cannot pinpoint exactly when, but I do remember reading a couple of articles about the golf team last year, also, that had Dobbs's picture attached. I hope the Daily realizes that it is not only embarrassing itself but it is embarrassing me and the rest of the golf team. If we are not important enough to have current pictures and information published about our program, then don't print anything at all.

Scott Hayes

Varsity golf team member

09-30-98