NOT VERY AWARE: I've never been so disgusted as I was after reading the response by some Padres players regarding using pink bats to support Mother's Day breast cancer awareness.
What in heck is going on? These prima donnas cannot do such a simple and noble thing as using a pink bat to help promote a great cause? What a bunch of losers! No more Padres games for me. They are filled with themselves. They say, “It's not baseball.” Well, I'll tell you what. Those big-time big shots won't see me at any of their “gatherings” anymore! Good luck and good night!
ROGER G. LOWNEY, San Diego
DISAPPOINTING PADRES: Shame on “The Boys of Summer.”
I was disappointed to read the comments of some of the Padres players regarding the use of pink bats on Mother's Day. I challenge them to sit by the bedside and hold the hand of a mother, wife or sister going through the throes of cancer. Perhaps then they will realize that swinging a pink bat is a small price to pay to witness this kind of courage.
LYNN CHRISTENSEN, Santee
GRADING THE BOLTS: In response to the negative letters written last week about the Chargers' draft class of 2006 and that A.J. Smith is the second coming of Bobby Beathard, one must realize that it takes a few years before a draft can be graded because it takes awhile to learn the speed and plays of the NFL. There are exceptions such as Shawne Merriman (defensive Rookie of the Year), Shane Olivea (seventh-round pick and full-time starter) and Nick Hardwick (started at center his rookie season), all drafted by Smith.
Then there's the complaint that Antonio Cromartie, who is the most gifted and athletic defensive back in the draft, played only one game because of an injury suffered last year. How many college games did Antonio Gates play? There also are concerns that Marcus McNeill's spine is too narrow? He was cleared by doctors and played throughout college, blocking for two running backs drafted in the top 10.
I also remember the criticism Smith got for drafting a “steroid-using” defensive lineman last year. After doing his homework, Smith picked Luis Castillo and he went above and beyond all expectations. As for the second coming of Beathard, at least Smith did not trade away next year's No. 1 draft pick to pick some unknown in the second round. In A.J. we trust!
CHRIS HOWE, La Quinta
THE GOOD: For Hank Wesch to do such a magnificent story on Michael Martz when all the other writers were writing about the same horse and same ol' same ol' trainers was pure brilliance.
Thanks for having Hank on the U-T staff. A great story, told in a touching manner about a great American and then his horse wins the Derby – what a story.
BEV and RICH MEUMANN,
Escondido
NO COMPARISON: I was angry that Mike Cavna in his cartoon appearing in the May 7 sports section of the Union-Tribune would compare Barry Bonds to the Derby winner Barbaro. This was insulting to the horse and his connections. Horse racing tests its winners after each race and has done so for many years. There is no reason to suspect that the horse was on steroids, which are illegal.
There are, however, numerous indications that Bonds has used steroids. This was a cheap shot at a sport that is dealing with drug issues with a lot more integrity than is baseball.
DEBRA GILBERT, San Diego
