Calvary Chapel Players: Ambassadors for Christ

What a blessing your front page pictorial was on Monday morning, Feb. 23!

Perhaps there still remains a glimmer of hope for the journalistic community?

Blatant sarcasm is not the intent of the previous statement, however, it is a bit out of the ordinary for the “mainstream” press to be willing to help we Christians give the glory to God as demonstrated by the marvelous picture printed on the front page of the BDN.

That being stated, let me move on to the real purpose of this epistle; and that is to thank the team (Calvary Chapel) for a wonderful and awesome season of fine basketball and the opportunity to fellowship with their many supporters and the team members themselves. These young gentlemen represent the epitome of the words: “Ambassadors for Christ!!” Their game plan and rallying call of “All for Jesus” is certainly not hype. They always give the Glory, where Glory is due, no matter what the situation or the outcome of any contest set before them!

I’m sure that the community at-large as well as their church family will be served by these special young men in the years to come (should the Lord tarry).

Once again, thanks to the team, the coaching staff and the many enthusiastic fans for this season filled with many blessings.

Richard R. Coffin

Eddington

God’s support?

I thought high school sports were supposed to teach teamwork, sportsmanship and the value of effort. Now it’s “O Lord, smite that dude with the jump shot?”

Is God going to keep backing any of these kids if they make it to the Olympic Games, which were started by pagans?

Clayton Barclay

Addison

Private prayers

Congratulations to Calvary Chapel of Orrington on winning the state Class D title in just their second year. There’s no denying they had a remarkable season. Outstanding 3-point shooting, tenacious defense, great teamwork, and faith in each other.

Speaking of faith, I’m not sure God, or Jesus Christ, cares who wins a basketball game. Invoking either name during TV or radio interviews after a win seems to be standard procedure for these people, both coaches and players. I don’t begrudge them their religious choice, but perhaps they should save these proclamations for themselves in the locker room, or with the rest of the congregation Sunday morning.

Dave Glidden

Bucksport

Support needed for new Bangor Auditorium

I really enjoyed your article by Ernie Clark on the Bangor Auditorium. The Auditorium holds a special place in my heart. My dad first took me to the tournament when I started playing basketball because he wanted me to see good girls basketball.

He took me to see Cony when Marcie and Meaghan Lane played. We have been going to see Cony every year since.

I also played at the Auditorium as it was my home court at John Bapst. One of my concerns about the aging Auditorium is that the tournament would go to another city. The article mentioned the possibility of the Class A tournament moving to Augusta. I am saddened at the prospect of this happening. I can’t say I’m surprised, especially with the addition of Eastern Maine teams such as Brunswick, which is only 30 minutes from Portland.

I agree with Bill Fletcher that Eastern Maine draws a lot of fans because they love the game, not because they love a particular team. If the Class A tournament leaves it would be a big loss to Eastern Maine basketball fans and the city of Bangor.

The tournament brings people into the city’s hotels, restaurants and shopping centers as well as to the games. I sincerely hope a solution is found to funding a new Auditorium or making major renovations, and that the people of Eastern Maine come together to support this.

Sherri Wakeling

Portland

Thank you, Katahdin

While I was watching the Class D semifinal game, Hodgdon Lady Hawks vs. Lee Academy (Feb. 19) at the Bangor Auditorium, I was touched to see an act of support and kindness that the Katahdin High School students showed toward the Hodgdon High School team.

There were only three Hodgdon cheerleaders, and a few of the Katahdin cheerleaders volunteered to help cheer with them. In a matter of minutes, they had worked out a few cheers to help lift the crowd.

Then a few of Katahdin’s band members joined in with the Hodgdon band members to help raise the volume for their sister County team. I was moved considering we play against them during the year, and had the Hodgdon ladies won and the Katahdin ladies won, they would have played each other in the finals.

Thank you, Katahdin High School, for your support.

Debbie Lunn

Hodgdon

Bad fans shouldn’t be allowed at games

I read the letter from the lady who was bothered by the loud whistling. While I can understand her concern, I witnessed something far more bothersome and hurtful than any whistle can ever be.

I attended the Houlton vs. Dexter girls tourney game and witnessed some unbelievably poor fan behavior. I am all for cheering and school spirit, but what was displayed at the beginning of that game by the fans from Dexter was downright shameful.

At the beginning of the game, a girl from Houlton shot a 3-pointer and missed. From that point on, every time that girl touched the ball, the Dexter fans hollered “airball, airball, airball” until she passed it or shot again. This continued the entire game. Without exception, if this particular girl touched the ball, the taunting started all over again.

Now, I don’t live in Houlton, I have no children who attend Houlton schools, I don’t even know the girl that this was done to, but I think behavior by those fans was inexcusable!

As I see it, anyone who feels that this type of “school spirit” or “cheering” is OK and acceptable has never been the one that this type of behavior was directed at or has never had a child that this was directed at.

With all the school programs and policies in place these days – no bullying, tolerance, promoting a positive self image, respect for other students -would this type of taunting or something even similar be allowed in a classroom among their own students? I think not.

So why at a sports event such as this?

I have a question, is there an award given for “Poor Sportsmanship?” No, that might make someone feel bad about themselves!

Sheryl Duff

Hodgdon

Hope fills Sox fans

The one thing that keeps all human beings alive is hope. Hope on every level of life is what keeps us going and keeps us believing, and the people I know who have more hope than any others are Red Sox fans. From the time of their last World Series until today, Red Sox fans have lived with the fact that they support maybe the best franchise to constantly not win the championship. Yet after every season they will tell you that next year is the year and will believe this from the bottom of their hearts because deep within them there’s the ability to hold on to everlasting hope.

Being a Red Sox fan, I know how it feels to have this hope and I have felt all of these emotions that come with being a fan. I’ve seen ninth-inning leads lost, I’ve seen managers fired and players lost or released, but most importantly, I’ve gone into every season saying that this was the year we are going to win it all, knowing deep down that that was most likely not true, but hope keeps me saying it.

The worst part about this everlasting hope is the one thing that has crushed that hope for many and has put hate in the hearts of those who would otherwise feel no hate, and that thing is the New York Yankees. From the beginning with that horrible trade until now with yet another horrible trade the Yankees have plagued us with their undeniable success and their enormous fan base that consists of fair-weather baseball fans who find soccer interesting when the Yankees aren’t winning and are blind to their responsibilities as people when they are winning.

From Babe Ruth to Alex Rodriguez, the Yankees have taken players we often love or support and make us wish death upon them. Yet through all of these hardships from the Ruths and the DiMaggios, the Mantles and Jacksons, the Boggses and the Clemenses and now the Rodriguezes, Red Sox fans have and will come through all of this with everlasting hope, the kind of hope that has no match.

So for all of you fair-weather fans and for all of you who feel sorry for all of us true Sox fans, keep one thing in mind when that one World Series comes, that one that is bound to happen, the excitement that comes out from our Red Sox Nation will be that that can never happen twice. It’s the kind of excitement that brings out the emotions that this world has no description for.

That hope for that excitement is what makes Red Sox fans better than any other, for through it all, after nearly 100 years of not winning and after 26 rings for the one team we truly hate, we are still here, we still stay strong and support our team and wait for that final out, that one play that will ease all of our pain and bring us to rest. Cowboy up boys and girls because Sox fans are willing to wait it out.

RED SOX FOREVER!

Robbie Foster

Calais

It takes a community

As head coach of the Fort Kent ski team from Community High School, I would like to congratulate our skiers and their community on winning the Class C state meet held at Sunday River and Black Mountain on Feb. 16-18.

For the first time in 10 years, the Fort Kent boys and girls ski teams brought back the gold and silver trophies, respectively.

This achievement brings honor to these young athletes, their parents, their school and the greater Fort Kent area. I can attest to the hard work that these skiers have put into preparing for this state competition that involved over 20 different teams from all over the state. They demonstrated that by working together as a team they could overcome severe obstacles such as illness, injury and bad weather. They were victorious because of their positive attitude and the great support team behind them.

On their behalf, I would like to thank all those folks who helped them both at the race sites and at home when they were training. Thanks to SAD 27, which through athletic director Paul Michaud supplied three coaches: Carl Theriault for Alpine, Paul Cyr (assistant) and myself for cross country. They also furnish transportation, accommodations and fees for ski meets.

Thanks also to the Green Bean Ski Club, which takes care of other expenses like skis, poles, waxes, racing uniforms, and for special training trips to help the skiers get used to competing on steep terrain. They also supply many volunteers to run our ski races

A very special thanks to Bonnie Cyr, Dan and Rollande Vaillancourt, our volunteer coaches who helped Carl and me throughout the season. With 30 skiers on the team, Carl and I appreciated all the help we could get.

Among the army of volunteers were: Pat Theriault, president of the Green Bean Club, who organized meets, prepared start lists, took great pictures and gave us great support; Peter Pinette and Dave Mitchell, who did the timing; Tamara Mitchell, announcer; Rose Pinette and Gloria Robichaud who handled the bibs and did other race duties; Tom and Carole Pelletier who helped officiate along with many other parents; Diane Hill, Scott and Laurie Coltart, John and Gayle Labrie, Alain Ouellette, Steve and Carolyn Sherwood, Jim and Nancy Thibodeau, Lucien and Marie Theriault, Lucien and Cheryl Daigle and many others.

And thanks to Darold Bossie and my son Mike Paradis for preparing such great trails to ski on.

I would like to thank my wife Nancy for holding up the home front while I’m at my second home at the ski tow or the 10th mountain. She’s the one who gives me the encouragement I need throughout the long ski season.

A special thanks to the team that made snowmaking happen at Lonesome Pines this year: Lucien Theriault, Jim Thibodeau, Dan Vaillancourt, and those who donated so much money to make it possible. Our ski team had many more practices and races because of you.

Next, our Alpine coach Carl Theriault is not only great at Alpine but equally adept at cross country. He loves to work with all skiers, helping them with their technique, waxing their skies but especially with their attitude. So many factors can affect a skier’s performance that they need constant direction and encouragement. Thanks a million, Carl, for that helping hand to the skiers and to me. Our ski team’s success is due in great part to you.

Most importantly, I can’t forget to thank the skiers themselves for their work ethic and fun loving attitude. Thanks Joey, J.J., Jenna and Blake for helping out at practices and race preparation. We will miss you and the other seniors next year. Thanks to our younger skiers for believing in yourselves and listening to your coaches’ advice.

Thanks to the moms and dads for supporting your children in such a demanding sport. And thanks to Fort Kent for being such a great place to ski.

Ben Paradis

Fort Kent ski coach

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