LETTER: Sports debate of little value

To the editor:

This is just to say, the weekly sports debate between misters Baker and Bryner is a waste of print space. A sports debate is a great idea, but in this case, poorly executed. I am in constant shock at the lack of knowledge and apparent choice not to attempt to understand the subject before giving an opinion. Statements such as hockey not being a sport so who cares, I don’t know much about (insert sport/team here), so who gives a rip, and other such paragraphs having nothing to do with the question and only serve to discredit the persons speaking. It seems to have no purpose other than to tear one team down or flaunt ignorance about any given situation. The opening question in Wednesday’s edition, regarding the upcoming Sunday showdown between undefeated NFL teams New England Patriots or the Indianapolis Colts, is the last straw. One side said he loathes both teams and so choses the lesser of two evils, and the other admitted to not knowing/caring and went with a gut feeling. Where are the stats? The information on offense and defense? The quaterbacks could be compared (though not by saying “I hate one because he’s good looking and one because he has a lot of commercials”) or the differences in coaching. Sports debates should present objective opinions, given after researching statistics and potential, not personal vendettas or a lack of caring about the outcome either way. If the individual does not know much about hockey, or baseball, or any other sport in question, some research should be done so at least a semi-educated opinion can be stated. When the questions presented can be answered in an intelligent, well informed, non-biased way, then the sports debate will be worth reading. Until then, it is a pathetic attempt at a sports-related comedy column and needs to be critically revisited as to its relevance to American sports.

Kristen Encheff