Times Leader

Tuesday, December 07, 1999 Page: 2B

I’d like to comment on the Nebraska-Texas game. I think Nebraska is the
best team in the country. It’s a stinking shame they’re not going to be
playing Florida State for the national championship. Don’t get me wrong, I’m
not a Nebraska fan, but after watching them devour that Texas defense, you
have to go with Nebraska. Alabama is also pretty good. The Big Ten might have
a lot of teams in the bowl games, but I think Nebraska, Florida State and
Alabama are the best teams in the country, and Tennessee also.

I’m still thinking about the fellow who called in about Pete Rose not
belonging in the Hall of Fame. What I think about that fellow is I don’t think
his elevator goes all the way up, and he’s two bricks short.
I am calling about the field hockey and soccer articles in Saturday’s
paper, Dec. 4. It was a beautiful field hockey article, but a pathetic article
on the first-team all-state soccer. They had such a wonderful honor bestowed
upon them, and the article written about them was pathetic. That’s very sad.
Field hockey is more important to the Wyoming Valley than any other sport.

Yeah, way to go, Times Leader. I’m reading the Sunday paper in the What’s
Going On section: NFL, Colts at Dolphins, WYOU. Turn it on, Jets at Giants.
Good job.

Editor’s note: We received several similar calls.

Yeah, we’re here watching the Jets and the Giants, and if Sam Wyche roots
any harder for the Jets, he’s going to get stuck in Joe Namath’s pantyhose.

Last night, Saturday night, I went up to the arena for my first visit and
my first hockey game. I thought I might be a hockey fan. I won’t go up there
again. Two reasons: one, the music that they played was so loud it actually
hurt my ears; two, I don’t understand what good a player like Bonvie is doing
a team sitting in the penalty box four or five times. I can understand him
being aggressive, but not when it gets to the point where he is going to be in
the penalty box and the team is going to be short-handed.

I thought Jean-Sebastien Aubin was going to be the cure for the Penguins’
goaltending, but from what I saw (Saturday) night, I don’t think that is going
to happen. Coach Patrick should have pulled him in the second period. It’s
time to give Weninger a shot and see what he can do. Aubin has given up 12
goals in two games since being sent down from Pittsburgh. Might as well make
another change, even though Weninger isn’t much better. Aubin isn’t the
answer. It’s going to be a long year for the Penguins.

I’ve been reading Fan Fare over the past few weeks and I find it ironic
that people have been saying that Crestwood field hockey is only AA and that
the competition is tougher in AAA. I think this is ridiculous. Any team that
wins a state championship should be congratulated, and it is in very poor
taste to attempt to diminish somebody’s accomplishments. Having said that, I’d
like to point out when Lake-Lehman won the AA state championship in field
hockey in 1996, Crestwood was AAA at that time and their fans were whining
about how the competition was tougher at that level. I guess the moral of this
for Crestwood fans and all fans is that you should watch what you say because
your words can come back to haunt you.

This is for the person who is against Virginia Tech playing for the
national championship. Virginia Tech has to play a weak schedule because of
their conference. They play in the Big East, their conference is weak, very
weak. Look at Syracuse. Wisconsin plays in the Big Ten, which is more
competitive but they still play weak teams. How come Wisconsin doesn’t play
Penn State? Kansas State is in the Big 12, and I believe their schedule is
just as easy as Virginia Tech’s, but they are from a larger region of the
country. I don’t know about you, but I am getting really sick and tired of
watching the same teams play for the national championship each year. It’s
about time there’s someone new in the Sugar Bowl.

Editor’s note: Regarding the question about Wisconsin playing Penn State,
the Big Ten has 11 teams, and each team plays an eight-game conference
schedule. So the conference designates the two teams that each team will not
play.

My husband and I had the pleasure to be present at the awards ceremony on
Wednesday evening for the athletes of Wyoming Valley West at Plymouth. I want
to say, Valley West, be proud of these young men and women. They sure made a
remarkable appearance for those present. Remember, these young people are our
future, take care of them.

I have a suggestion for Mike Strong, the coach of the Lady Royals in
Scranton. If he wants to get some class, I suggest reading John Wooden’s book.
Mr. Strong obviously has no class.

Editor’s note: We assume the caller is talking about Saturday’s women’s
basketball game against Wilkes. Scranton won 92-40 and played full-court
defense throughout the game.

In regards to the moron in Monday’s paper, The Associated Press
All-American team has not been announced yet. Sporting News and Sports
Illustrated release their own All-American teams. The college football season
is far from being over. Either go back to sleep or go back to New Jersey.

I’d like to congratulate Mount Carmel and Southern Columbia on their
Eastern championships and I’d like to let them know there’s lots of alumni and
fans up here in this Valley that are rooting for them and I’d like to wish
good luck to both of them. I’ll be there Saturday myself and good luck to
Southern on Friday afternoon. Go Red Tornadoes.

The Fan Fare hot line is open to any topic. To voice your opinion, call