How about UM men?

Congratulations to UMaine women’s basketball greats Jamie Cassidy and Heather Ernest on having their jersey numbers retired recently and joining four other women who came before them.

However, as one who has followed UMaine basketball for many years, I have to wonder why, with all the great men who have played up at Orono in the past, that Skip Chappelle and Keith Mahaney are the only ones to have their numbers retired. How about UMaine Sports Hall of Fame members Rufus Harris, Bob Warner, Jim Stephenson, Wayne Champeon, Larry Schiner, and Don Sturgeon, and even Peter Gavett?

Kent Saunders

Bangor

No ‘stripes for Nixon

Trot Nixon should follow the footsteps of the New England Patriots players. Keep your mouth shut and play the game!

A-Rod may not be your typical Yankee, but he deserves to wear the pinstripes. You, Mr. Nixon, would never deserve or earn the right to wear pinstripes.

One championship in 86 years does not earn you the right to criticize anyone, let alone the best player in the game.

Taking the pennant from you guys this year should be as easy as bagging groceries. Have a nice summer. See you in September, maybe sooner.

Ed Grant

Brownville

Dogs deserve better

The sentiments of many Iditarod and other dog-sled race supporters – that these dogs were “bred for running” – hit a very sore note with me because they sound exactly like the statements made by supporters of greyhound racing.

I share my home with a gentle, beautiful ex-racer that was going to be killed because he lost part of a toe during a race and was therefore deemed “too slow.” Iditarod manuals and articles written by top mushers blatantly recommend killing dogs who do not measure up.

Thousands of greyhounds are killed simply because they are not fast enough. Drowning, shooting, hanging, and bludgeoning are popular methods for both industries. Those that aren’t killed or adopted into loving homes are subject to life in cramped kennels that often are not inspected by any regulatory agency.

Both huskies and greyhounds run when they want to – for fun or for food – not to put money in their “guardians'” pockets. Both of these industries are sad disgraces that I heavily urge people not to support.

Liz Fritzinger

Bangor

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