Ticket idea poor

In response to Jody Therberge’s letter to the editor [BDN Oct. 14], I too was in line for Maine hockey tickets on Oct. 6. I traveled from Calais (100 miles away) to Orono, like I have done for many years, only to find that tickets were not available for the UNH, BC, and BU games unless you bought the men’s and women’s basketball tickets as well. Not only were they not available for the aforementioned reason, they were not on sale until Oct. 27.

Before heading to Orono, I had called the ticket office and asked about ticket availability as there were over 300 new season tickets sold this year. I was not informed of any restrictions, so I drove down from Calais.

Much to my dismay, some educated, stuffed shirt made an asinine decision to sell these tickets as a “rival” package. Not only do I not have time to go watch basketball at UMaine, I do not feel they should tie these programs together. In order to have a successful program, you need successful people running the everyday operation behind the scenes. UMaine is failing badly if you think this type of deal is going to work. If there isn’t enough support for basketball, don’t send hockey fans down with a sinking ship because basketball doesn’t pay the bills.

Bob Gillis

Calais

A Sox fan in New York

Life isn’t easy for a Boston Red Sox fan, especially if he lives in New York.

I was born in Maine and went to college in Boston, yet I now live in the land of the enemy. The valley of the shadow of death, you might say.

The other night I considered pulling out my Red Sox cap and dusting it off and wearing it again. I wanted to show my pride for the team I’ve believed in for over 30 years. However, experience has taught me that isn’t a good idea. Back in ’99, when the Sox were last in the playoffs (against the Yankees, no less), I wore the thing for all of two days – until the taunting became too much to handle and I was spat upon from above by a construction worker. The hat went into storage.

Symbols of the Yankees are everywhere here, a scant two miles from Yankee Stadium. You see a nice-looking polo shirt and think it’s an Izod Lacoste, but you’re wrong – it’s a Yankees shirt. Car windows carry the team emblem, declaring, “Warning: Yankees fan inside.” You go to a delicatessen and there’s a Derek Jeter “bobblehead” on the counter. You go to a urinal in Grand Central Terminal and there’s a rubberized mat on the bottom advertising Yankees tickets.

Red Sox fans like me are the quintessence of faith. Unlike fans of the Yankees, who have to see their team win year after year, believers in the Sox are steadfast. We’re not going anywhere. Sure, like Job in the Bible, we have our moments of doubt, but every spring we keep coming back.

Chris Orcutt

Mount Vernon, N.Y.

‘Y’ decision wrong

I am a Barracuda parent writing in support of the Hurricane swim club. My daughter still swims for the YMCA program, at the YWCA pool, because she prefers the Y program format. The YWCA and YMCA were unfair to the Hurricane swim club. The Y board should have heard the presentation from the Hurricane swim club.

So while our program struggles with 20 kids, the Hurricanes are thriving with 70-80 kids. There is plenty of room at the Y for both programs to swim at the same time. The Y’s tried to force the teams to combine last year.

When that effort failed they kicked the Hurricanes out of the Y.

The Y should stick to community service. Because instead of 100 kids paying to swim in their pool, there are 20. Several years ago I was in a group of adult swimmers that swam at the Y. We moved to Husson as well. We now have 20 swimmers.

I can’t wait to hear the Y’s next bright idea on losing money!

Paul R. Nichols

Bangor

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