Van Buren is class act

This past weekend (Nov. 13-14) I was privileged to witness just what the Van Buren High School boys soccer team was made of. They showed true character in the way that they played in their state class D championship game in East Millinocket. Even though they had just suffered a tough loss, you would never have known it by the way that they cheered on the girls team or by the way they congratulated and celebrated with them upon their win over the Monmouth girls. But the real showing of class and character came before the game even started.

While the boys teams were warming up and players were practicing their shots, one of the Van Buren players kicked a ball at the goal which happened to be a little too high and sailed over the goal towards the entrance gate.

Unfortunately a lady and a couple of friends just happened to be walking out at that moment. Since this lady had her back to the field, she did not see the ball coming at her. I was speaking to a friend at the time at the entrance gate facing the field, but the ball came so fast that we could not react quickly enough to warn her.

The ball struck her on the side of the head sending her crashing to the ground. There she remained, stunned, not really knowing what had just happened. After about a minute or so with the help of her friends she got to her feet and seemed to be OK, though still not too sure of what had just transpired.

Before she did get up one of the senior co-captains from the team came over to see if she was all right. Although he was not the one who had kicked the ball he still felt some responsibility for this accident. It was easy to see the concern on his face and although I ressured him that it was not anyone’s fault, he still felt it necessary to be sure that she was OK and to apologize on behalf of the team. This he did at least a couple of times. Once he was certain she was fine, he resumed his warm-ups.

This act of concern and maturity on the part of a 17-year-old boy was really very special for me to be able to witness. In a day and age where all we hear about are the negative aspects of the behavior of our youth, I can tell you first hand that there is actually a lot of good in these kids. Our children are a product of their environment. As a parent and a fan I am proud and grateful for the environment that the Van Bus fostering.

To the coaches, your attitudes guide. To the parents, your involvement nurtures. And to the fans, your enthusiasm encourages. Our teams came home with much more than a championship; they came home champions. These champions are the people who will soon be making a positive impact on this world. Who would have thought a white and black ball placed at the feet of our children could hold so much potential to make this world just a little bit better. Peter Violette

Van Buren

Holyoke misses point

I read with amusement John Holyoke’s parody of a University of Maine Faculty Senate resolution (“A lesson for Maine faculty on sports ads,” BDN, Nov. 13-14). I liked the way the parody turned into self-parody. In arguing that the heads of UM faculty members are too high in the clouds to engage in the real world of sports and commerce, he demonstrates that at least some sports writers don’t think deeply or too often.

Mr. Holyoke concludes his little piece with the image of a penitent faculty, enlightened by their walk across campus, offering up to the Director of Athletics their sincere apologies and thanks. But for what?

If Mr. Holyoke means to say that revenues from athletics at UM actually support academics, he simply hasn’t done his homework. About half of the sports budget still comes from Education and General funds (money from tuition and state appropriations), and from student fees. When the athletic division overspends its budget or its revenues fall short, the administration transfers more money to athletics. That money might be better spent on books and journals for the library, if not on thingamajigs.

All that carping aside, the Faculty Senate resolution, as reported in the Nov. 12, 1999, BDN is not about funding athletics. That resolution is about studying the effects of intrusive advertising and commercilization on an educational environment. Somehow Mr. Holyoke seems to have missed that essential point, which leaves one wondering where his head is. Richard Brucher Orono

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