Labels are racist
I’m tired of this! I’m tired of sportswriters doing what Jim Armstrong did in his Sunday column. Can someone please tell me why a black athlete has to be described as having tattoos? That they have cornrows? Why? How is this not being racist? What “white” athletes do sportswriters describe with having too much ink or label them by a hair style? Why do these terms seem to be used when describing a black athlete with a troubled past? They don’t seem to use them any other time. I challenge all editors of every sports section in America to stop sportswriters from using these terms. It’s as stupid as describing a black athlete as articulate. I hate that. I’ve only ever heard one person in my entire 51 years of life describing a white athlete as articulate. It “should” be a good compliment for all races and not to point out an athlete doesn’t speak hip-hop. It’s not 1932. You can’t use the excuse you’re trying to describe an individual. It’s 2006 and the entire world knows how an athlete talks, what their hair looks like and if they have ink.
Robert Reinhardt, Denver
Step to the plate, Hurdle
In the past two weeks, I have watched the Rockies lose games because of management decisions. “He’s made 85 pitches, let’s get a closer in there!” This is the mentality of modern-day baseball established by whom? Where are the Sandy Koufaxes, Bobby Fellers, Jim Konstantys who at $6,000 salaries could go nine innings and on occasion pitch doubleheaders. Now we have prima donnas who are far superior in physical size, stamina and the miracles of modern medicine making millions of dollars, incapable of throwing nine innings. It’s ludicrous to lift starters with an average of 1.5 runs, six hits or less per seven innings and put in a mediocre bullpen because (duh!) it’s what to do. With appropriate decision-making, the Rockies should be 51-41 and in first place. C’mon, Clint, spit out less seeds, blow fewer bubbles, and manage.
Harry G. Smith, Longmont
Rockies need to deal
Someone who claims much sapience in baseball predicted before the season the Rockies would win about 69 games this year. They are well in that route. Some changes must be considered as soon as possible. No one has spoken seriously about acquiring decent relievers, and the coach must go. The time for acquiring and selling players is about to end. All we hear from the coach is that they must have patience – for what? Our media should stop helping make excuses for the team’s deficiencies, and state clearly the faults of the team and how to correct them.
Milton Zapata, Rifle
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