Muni could raise funds

Golf has had a big impact in Bangor since our Muni opened over 30 years ago. Wouldn’t it be a great idea to have some celebrities grace our city with a charity golf match for the National AIDS campaign. Then, we perhaps could have the Tiger and others grace our city for a good turnout. 2002 would be a banner year.

Jim Koritzky

Bangor

Coach says thanks

As I prepare to move to a warmer climate, I have continuously been asking myself what I will miss about living in Eastern Maine. I know I will not miss the long winters, short days, and baseball practices held in small gymnasiums late into April. I also know, however, that there is much I will miss about high school sports here in the state.

High school teams in the area get exposure that is not there in other parts of the country, as we are passionate about our local teams. We also have no professional basketball, hockey or football teams to cheer for and, with the exception of hockey (no offense to the baseball and basketball programs in Orono), we do not have major college teams that gain national exposure. No, in Maine, 15-year-olds get the opportunity to be heroes to other kids across the state. The Bangor Daily News and WZON do a terrific job of promoting high school athletics and fans of high school sports are without a doubt the best in the nation. If you question this, just ask a storeowner in Millinocket, Van Buren, Calais or any other town in the state in February when the local team is playing at the Mecca.

While the media coverage and the fans are both exceptional, I will especially miss all the fine young people I have had the fortune to coach. Every player is special to me. Often fans are quick to criticize our youth, but if one wants to find what is right with today’s children, he need not go any farther than the local gym on a cold winter night. There is something special about a group of teenagers sweating and bleeding for each other; giving their all to work for a common cause. At the same time these players are studying tests, worrying about who to take to the semi-formal, writing college essays, and dealing with any number of issues that affect teens.

I believe it starts and ends with the students, but I am not sure many of us give enough recognition to the coaches who give up so much time for these students. Why is it in this world that we only recognize champions or those who do something wrong. What about the guy who goes to work every day and just gets his job done? I know that may not be as newsworthy as the other stiff, but some coaches set fine examples as leaders for our youth on a day to day basis year in and year out (for little pay I might add) and hardly get noticed. There are so many wonderful people who coach our youth, such as Roger Reed and his noble professionalism; Dave Gonyar and his fiery competitiveness; Dennis Kiah and Mike Thomas-two of the nicest men I have ever met; Clayton Blood and my father, Lenny Miragliuolo-similar in ther competitiveness and their ability to keep sports in perspective in life; Cid Dyjak-a tremendous teacher of the game of soccer; Jeff Ingalls-who never failed to make me laugh on the sideline… and always wanted to kick my butt on the field; Dan Clifford-a college-level coach; Marty Clark and Gabby Price-passionate coaches for whom anyone would love to play; Jamie Russell and Tom Tennant-both true professionals; and Bob Kelley-has there ever been a better coach?

These are just a handful of the coaches who are the true heroes. They do what they do not for money or fame, but for the young men and women they lead. More than anything they, and hundreds of others in Eastern Maine high school sports, do what they do with a passion and conviction. These are the people, along with the athletes they coach, who make high school sports so special. It is all of these people who so many of us owe so much. I thank each of them for setting examples of excellence both in and outside the playing arena.

Michael Miragliuolo

Morrisville, N.C.

Note to readers: The NEWS asks that letters be kept brief and 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