More on Orono-Bapst

Normally, I speak highly about the BDN – I enjoy your features, your major stories, and your editorials. But on Monday evening (Oct. 29) when I sat down to read the sports page, I was very disappointed: I had difficulty finding the write-up of a rival game. Your limited coverage of the Orono-John Bapst game was a disgrace.

I realize this game had no play-off implications and neither team was undefeated. However, they are two local, hometown teams playing on a Saturday night when many of the playoff field hockey, soccer and other teams had ended competition.

Your Monday coverage of female sports, including pictures, was extensive; I applaud your coverage of volleyball and cross country, two sports that traditionally get the short end of the stick.

But here was a chance to cover two local river teams in action with one camera. How many people in Pennsylvania have subscriptions to the BDN? Certainly not Joe Paterno. Couldn’t this photo had run one Tuesday or Wednesday with the explanatory caption?

Bangor football, I must add, receives a disproportionate amount of ink and photos, but maybe they can be excused because they are undefeated. To give other teams – some completely out of state – some completely out of New England – more coverage, including pictures, is a disservice to the citizens of your reading areas and especially to the 19 Orono-John Bapst seniors and their teammates, their families, and their friends who participated in their final game.

I would hope that your newspaper and your staff would be more considerate and more equitable to teams who work just as hard but also get shortchanged.

Donald Joseph

Orono

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