Wes Jordan facility at UMaine within reach

So many times since our father died three years ago, we have heard about the positive effect he had on so many people. Wes Jordan, or dad, was the head athletic trainer at the University of Maine for 32 years. He was also an icon at the Eastern Maine high school basketball tournament for many years.

He had a wonderful career, through which he was able to touch the lives of innumerable people, including student-athletes, coaches, and people involved in sports at every level. Whether it was Mark McGwire or a high school athlete just starting out, every person was important to Dad, and it showed in his work.

His dream, a state-of-the-art athletic training educational facility at the University of Maine, is now within reach. The Wes Jordan Athletic Training Center at UMaine will provide a space for aspiring trainers to learn modern and effective training techniques, so that they can follow in the footsteps of our father and the dozens of trainers he mentored. Many have contributed generously to this project during the last three years, and it is our hope that the final fundraising goal can be met very soon so that this new facility can open in January.

For more information about the project or to make a donation, contact the University of Maine Foundation, P.O. Box 2220, Bangor, ME 04402

Teri (Jordan) Carr

Tracy (Jordan) Landeryou

John Wesley Jordan

Let Ingalls Coach!

After reading the article “Bangor coach gets support at Meeting” (BDN, March 1), I was disturbed to see that the Bangor School Department was even considering not renewing the contract of coach Jeffrey Ingalls. I have known coach Ingalls since first grade when I attended Fourteenth Street School in Bangor. I had him as a physical education teacher at Fairmount School, as well as having been coached by him in both varsity soccer and junior varsity basketball at Bangor High School.

I also know Jeff as a father, having been friends with his daughter and his family for a number of years. I know that I am not the only player and student of Jeff who believes that what he teaches his student-athletes goes way beyond the field or court. He treats every one of his student-athletes as though they are one of his daughters, instilling the confidence, pride, ethics and self- determination that it takes to succeed in life beyond sports.

After moving to Winterport my sophomore year of high school, it proved Jeff’s character that much more. Struggling with the increased competitiveness of playing Bangor after the move, coach Ingalls still came to me after each game to talk and ask how I was doing.

I think about “coach Ingalls” often as I have grown up and remember things that he has told me during those years. It is amazing how things change, and that you may think that sports is the important thing at the time in life, but in reality the importance is what you make of your life. I am graduating from Husson College in May, and it is no doubt that Jeff had an impact on what I have made of my life.

I have also coached the “A” softball team at Reeds Brook Middle School for two years and believe that whether or not you are a teacher within the school system, it should have no impact on your abilities to coach. I feel that not being a teacher has had no impact on my insight into the children’s educational lives or for them to have easy access to my availability.

I believe that Jeff has proven his coaching abilities over the years with his consistency, always having a team that can compete regardless of the students’ abilities.

I think that it should prove something, seeing the significant standout of student-athletes, both young and old, that attended the meeting. It is amazing to see the impact that one man has had on so many peoples’ lives. It would be a great loss for the Bangor school system and the student-athletes of Bangor to lose such a great mentor.

Jamie Wells

Winterport

Big neck, big check

So Major League Baseball is testing for steroids this spring! Well, you could have fooled this fan. As Billy Crystal says, “Second basemen are now larger than my garage.”

Jose Canseco and his book are just another product of our jeers or cheers, take your pick, measure by the sick society. In his case, the bigger neck earns a better check. The only problem is that he is underestimating the impact that his honesty will have in a dishonest world.

Play Ball!

Ronnie Wyman Sr.

Hermon

Upsets provide lessons

A thank you to Jessica Bloch on her research and history in her article on the “A” quarterfinal upsets (BDN, March 7).

Upsets that sports provide are of great value in life’s learning process from both winning and losing efforts.

The winning effort “we can do it” and the losing effort some “overconfidence.”

Joe McLaughlin wrote in the BDN a couple of years ago that it’s “the most wonderful time of year.”

How true.

Bill Sawtell

Brownville

Note to readers: The NEWS reserves the right to edit submissions for libel, taste, clarity, and to fit available space. Letters should include a signature, full name, address, and daytime phone number. Letters may be mailed to: P.O. Box 1329, Bangor, ME 04402, or e-mailed: bdnsports@bangordailynews.net