Red Sox fans’ treatment of Damon disappointing

I hope I’m not the only one embarrassed and disappointed by the way the crowd treated Johnny Damon on his return to Fenway Park.

1. This is baseball, not national security;

2. He has the right to sell his services where and to whom he wants, just like the rest of us, and;

3. Children in the stands and watching TV should never be taught that it’s OK to boo any athlete.

Brent Slater

Bangor

Rams’ Hodge was great coach

Thanks for a great article about one of Bangor’s and Maine’s greatest coaches, Gerry Hodge. Heck, he is Ram football (along with Nick, Gabby, and Ronnie G.). One day in the spring of 1969 when we were talking about basketball, he handed me a football and a pair of cleats and asked me to come out for football. I was completely floored. It was one of the greatest moments and honors of my life. I was a part-time “Minute Man” Ram starter. I was injury prone but enjoyed the game and playing for our staff.

Ron Brown, back to your senior year (1969). The 30-minute run, well I don’t know if this is a typographical error, but I took that run. It was the four-mile club, not five miles. It was a run I’ll never forget in 1969.

Rick Cosmos

Bangor

Players 8, 9 not ready for LL

I happened to read the letter written by Shawn Mott of Millinocket regarding his views on Little League and inclusion of all players. I happen to agree with his central theme that all players who wish to participate should be allowed to play. The difference of opinion I have with Mr. Mott’s letter is that 8- and 9-year-olds do not belong in Little League, they belong in Farm League or a similar Coach Pitch League. Little League is predominantly 10-, 11-, and 12-year-olds. You may have the occasional 9-year-old who is talented enough to be able to make a Little League team, but that would be rare in my opinion. I have been coaching youth baseball for the past four years, two years of T-ball with my oldest son, and now we are into his second year of Farm League and he is 8 years old. I can state from practical experience that not only are most 8- and 9-year-olds not yet ready for competition against players up to four years older than they are, not only are they not as big or as strong; most 8- and 9-year-olds do not understand the game of baseball well enough to play Little League. As a youngster progresses in baseball and moves on to each new level, he or she is expected to need less instruction on the most basic principles of playing baseball. Baseball is a game meant to be learned through playing it, and to have children on a team just to sit on the bench and play sparingly so “everybody makes the team” is not the right approach. If no such Farm League or Coach Pitch League exists, I suggest they start one for players ages 7, 8 and 9. This will enable all children to actually play the game, in order to be able to learn the game and to be ready to play Little League as soon as they are old enough.

Andrew Boudreau

Holden, Maine

Note to readers: The BDN 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@bangor

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