Festival delivers positive message

My dad sent me the Bangor Daily News article “Mother critical of safety plans for Belfast race (BDN, Sept. 28).” He knows how much my kids and I love cross country and how much we have enjoyed participating in and attending the Festival of Champions.

We also have deep empathy for Maura DiPrete, her family and her loss of a son who died on that same course four years ago because of cardiac arrhythmia.

Cross country is a sport that promotes lifelong fitness, camaraderie and team work. The sport itself has a direct impact on preventing heart disease.

During this year’s Festival of Champions, I witnessed an abundance of camaraderie and teamwork on a beautiful day with a lot of smiling kids, coaches and parents. The amount of work and preparation for the festival is immense and the care that is taken to make sure each child is safe and their needs are taken care of is outstanding.

As a parent, this is the type of event that I would like to have my child involved with every weekend. Thank you to the organizers of the Festival of Champions and SAD 34 for putting in the time and caring enough for the kids to make the sacrifices to host this festival.

I know that my kids will use the positive energy and experience of this race to push themselves to get out the door and exercise. We can all learn from their experience.

Cameron Bonsey

Falmouth

Use of eye goggles is smart choice

I was interested to read the article “Eye Goggles Unpopular with Field Hockey Teams” (BDN, Sept. 25).

The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends that all youths involved in organized sports be encouraged to wear appropriate eye protection.

Field hockey is classified as a high-risk sport because it involves a hard projectile, a stick, and close contact among players. Other sports considered high risk include baseball, softball, basketball, lacrosse, ice hockey, squash, racquetball and fencing.

A sports goggle properly fitted by an eye care professional will not fog or slide, will not hinder performance and will prevent most sports eye injuries.

As an athlete who played college basketball without sports goggles, I received an eye injury. I wish our team had worn eye protection! My three children are required to wear sports goggles while playing soccer; I have treated too many blinding injuries to do otherwise. The goggles have never interfered with play and in fact have allowed them to be more active because they know they are protected.

Wearing sports eye protection is an investment in a child’s future. Mouthguards are routinely worn to protect teeth, but false teeth can still chew. False eyes never see.

Jean H. Tibbetts, M.D.

Bangor

Players shouldn’t spit

I am an avid fan of baseball and specifically the Red Sox. I am, however, thoroughly disgusted with the spitting performance of the players and manager.

Ballplayers are the idols of young boys all over America. This filthy habit of spitting simply demonstrates a lack of responsibility. It certainly does not make them any more of a man. Let’s clean up the act and stand high, guys!

When they come out to bat, they spout great streams of juices all around home plate; even the umpires join in. Can you imagine sliding home in the sixth or seventh inning after everyone has expectorated at will?

The owners have also allowed their players to appear with long hair and unshaven. A neat beard and haircut lends to the players’ charisma.

Robert Scott

Presque Isle

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