MPA’s decision stinks

I am angry and disgusted at the Maine Principals’ Association’s decision not to renew WABI-TV’s rights to broadcast the Eastern Maine basketball tournament. I cannot believe their arrogance in shoving this decision down the throats of the people of Eastern Maine. What sort of mind set does it take for the MPA to bestow on itself the sovereignty to destroy a 40-year plus tradition and deny the people of Eastern Maine the opportunity to watch the kids play ball? They may have the legal right to make that decision, but I’ll be damned if they have the moral authority.

WABI-TV was not unreasonable to request TV timeouts and if cutting them a little latitude in calling them meant that the games could be broadcast then the MPA needed to agree to it. These timeouts did not have to impact on the flow of the games. Besides, this is Maine, there aren’t many alternatives. The MPA might want to be, but they are not the NCAA.

Frankly, I think the whole issue is about more about control. The MPA has built an ivory tower for themselves that more than a few of us mortals would like to see come down. George Hale of WABI-TV sports, in the BDN’s story last week, was right on the mark concerning the MPA: They operate in a vacuum. They justify their decisions based on some myopic perception that they are benefiting the kids, when in truth they are hiding behind the kids’ knickers while attempting their own brand of social engineering.

An illustrative case in point is the moronic, PC, touchy-feely open tournament system that only taught the kids that excellence doesn’t matter. That’s not the lesson I want my kids to learn! Since when doesn’t excellence matter in life? It’s true: sometimes you lose.

The oligarchy that is the MPA unfortunately has authority over TV broadcasting rights. That does not however, give them the ethical right to deny me or anyone else access to these games on TV. Nor do they have the right to deny the kids the thrill of playing in the only televised games some of them will ever be in. They have gone way beyond their boundary, and their decision stinks. They should be ashamed, but then again, I don’t think MPA has any shame.

Philip Ouellette

Old Town

Sox need new manager

In regard to Don Smart’s letter, “No more waiting. (BDN, Oct. 8).”

Well Don if the Red Sox got a new manager the possibility of next year winning could come true.

I’ve watched the Red Sox every game and if the manager had played the game of baseball like it’s supposed to be played – that is sacrifice the guy to second base – they would have won at least seven or eight more games. They always hit into a double play and the next player would get a hit, or a run would be scored tying the game or winning.

The thing that is wrong with the picture is the manager, Grady Little.

Harold Dutille

Holden

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