Open tournament for high schools is a poor idea

This is in regards to Charles Farley’s comments in the Sounding off column (BDN, Oct. 29) concerning letting all high teams compete in the playoffs. I disagree with his contention that it is not fair to have teams who do not finish high enough in the Heal point standings miss the playoffs.

If all teams make the playoffs, then you are going to have an extended playoff season. This would not only delay the start of the winter sports season for many athletes, it would also increase the chance of a top team losing a player to a serious injury for the remainder of the playoffs. This could seriously affect the team’s chance to compete for and win a state title.

Secondly, why have the regular season if it is to only seed the teams for the playoffs? I have always thought that you compete in the regular season to determine which teams should compete for the state title. If a lower-seeded team in the Heal point system takes a top team into overtime and eventually loses the game, then they lose. If they win, they recieve the points associated with beating a top team and would move up in the Heal point standings.

Strength of schedule is only one factor in determining the Heal points. Teams must win as many games as they can, regardless of the strength of the team they are playing. If a team wins enough games, and you must beat stronger teams as well, then they usually finish high enough in the Heal points to make the playoffs. Winning eight games against teams with, say a combined 10 wins between them, and losing eight games against teams in the top of the standings means that that particular team, no matter how competitive the team played, does not deserve to make the playoffs.

In short, if you take away the need to win as many games as you can against all competition, then you are taking away the competitive desire that is needed to compete for and win a state title.

– Andrew Boudreau, Bangor

First of all, I would like to congratulate the members of the Brewer High School football team. Success is not always measured by the scoreboard of wins in a column.

Second, after attending the Bangor-Brewer football game, the loss was made all the more difficult by the unprofessional introduction of the Brewer players. They started and ended before the players were even on the field. For the seniors this was perhaps the last time to hear their names before friends and families. If this was an oversight, let’s hope it is the last time.

Also, perhaps next year, the announcer could take five minutes and speak to opposing coaches to get the correct pronunciations of his players names. I counted not less than five names that were so badly mispronounced that hadn’t we known them by numbers, we wouldn’t have known they were from Brewer.

Once again, thank you members of the Brewer High School team and see you next year.

– Sharon Watters, Holden

Readers may submit “Sounding Off” comments to the Bangor Daily News’ Sports Desk at P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402-1329. Our fax number is (207) 990-8092. The opinions expressed are the writers’, not the BDN’s. All comments will be edited for accuracy, clarity, content, and taste. Letters must be signed and include an address and telephone number.