MMA isn’t military college

Recent media coverage of the decision by Husson College to launch a football program has included inaccurate and misleading references to Maine Maritime Academy.

We have read and heard commentary to the affect that “Maine Maritime is a military college and not for everyone.” To be precise, this is not a military college. We have a Regiment of Midshipmen, comprised of 400 of our 720 students. The Regiment is a leadership development program, in which young men and women learn principles of management applicable to the maritime industry and to a wide range of other professions.

Non-regimental students are in majors such as international business and logistics, marine science, and power engineering. Members of our men’s and women’s athletic teams represent both lifestyles.

As a great believer in the value of Division III football, we congratulate Husson on deciding to organize a program, and we wish them good luck in the future.

Leonard H. Tyler, MMA president

Castine

Three cheers for Calais

During the past week we have all rearranged our schedules, gone without meals and trekked to Bangor. We fought the lines and crowds, met friends from years ago and enjoyed the games.

Being displaced Calais fans, it was a pleasure to watch the girls and boys teams play. Prior to every game, the girls came out early to mingle with friends and families. Both teams always carry with them the pride they have in their town and school.

What wonderful entertainment they have given us this past week. We laughed, cried, thumped our feet and clapped our hands. Only one thing was missing, the playing of our school song: “Far above the St. Croix Valley where the tide makes in, stands our dear old CMHS honor bound to win. Field or platform, grid or diamond: we will do our best. Hail to thee, our Alma Mater. Hail CMHS.

Hail to all you kids of today, from two old kids from the Class of 1955. There are many like us in the standings cheering for you as you go for the gold ball.

Dick and Dee Gray

Ellsworth

Bangor team stands out

I want the public to know how truly wonderful the Bangor High football coaches and players are. My brother is a student and a football player at Bangor High. Our mom passed away on Jan. 27. On that day Bangor football coach Mark Hackett offered his condolences and offered to pick my brother up and take him for the day to watch the NFC and AFC Championship games. I agreed that it would be good for him to get away from the house for the day.

I think coach Hackett’s support that day made a world of difference in the way my brother handled our mom’s passing. I can’t thank him enough for that.

Every member of the coaching staff showed up at the funeral home during visiting hours to support my brother. At the funeral the coaching staff and whole team attended. They gave my brother the support and strength he needed to handle his loss. I am proud that my brother is a student at Bangor High and he is a proud member of the Bangor High football team. He feels he has around 70 brothers, some older, some younger.

I want to thank the students, athletes, coaches and teachers for supporting my brother. I would also like to thank the parents of these football players and coaches for raising wonderful men.

Ann Marie Day

Bangor

MSNBC made bad calls

I feel that all three commentators for MSNBC were out of line and extremely unprofessional when referring to the referee, Stacey Livingston (who lives in our area) and her penalty calls during the gold-medal Olympics game in women’s hockey between the U.S. and Canada.

They referred to some of her calls as “ridiculous” and one of the men stated that she was “ruining” a great game. There was also an inference that she perhaps was a biased U.S. ref who may have been purposefully making calls against Canada. I was completely appalled to hear these so-called “professional” people speaking in this manner and hurting Stacey’s personal and professional character.

As a friend, I know how hard that Stacey has worked in bringing her career to this Olympic level. She has officiated countless games, including the Worlds. She has been through rigorous training and competition to even be considered for the Olympics. To be selected to be a part of the 2002 Winter Games is a thrill and an honor for her, but to be chosen to officiate the gold-medal game is a dream come true. Stacey deserves a tremendous amount of credit for being in Salt Lake City in the first place. She made just calls and has been doing the job she has trained so hard for in the best way she knows how during the most important game of her life and career.

At the beginning of the Games, all of the judges, officials and referees took an oath at the opening ceremony to be fair and impartial. Stacey took this oath and carried it through while calling rightful penalties during the U.S.-Canada game. She was selected to be a part of this game due to her skill, accurate calls and experience on the ice.

She was being fair and impartial and made great judgments and the trio on the air wanted her to throw all of her training, knowledge of the game, hard work and values out the window to just, as they so eloquently put it, “Let ’em play.” To criticize her professionalism like that was just plain nasty.

Why should hockey be the only Olympic sport to not have rules? All of the other sports in the Winter Games are scrutinized and some have even gone under the microscope. Why should hockey be any different? The just “let ’em play” would be unfair and partial which totally goes against the Olympic tradition.

The three commentators for MSNBC owe Stacey Livingston an apology for not only criticizing her job, which is, by the way, to call penalties on the ice, but also for insulting her character which has damaged not only Stacey but also many members of her family and friends personally and professionally. The commentators should be ashamed.

Francyne St. Thomas

Brewer

Patriots stand tall

Thank you for running the article on the World Champions New England Patriots. My special thanks go out to Skip Chapelle and former coach Dick McPherson.

I have been a diehard fan for many years and a season-ticket holder. It gives me great pleasure to celebrate this year. It is great to a Patriot fan, being a underdog, and winning the pot of gold. Besides the pros picked us to finish 8-8 this year.

In closing I would like to ask a simple reminder to all Pats fans and all Americans across the country. We are all Patriots, even before the 9/11 tragedy. Let’s all stand tall and support each other and all that were and still are effected by the 9/11 tragedy. Let’s support our troops and remember the three most important words: God bless America!

Rene P. Morneault

Eddington