My wife Lois and I had a brush with hockey royalty running into Billy Guerin at the Marriott City Center across from the Mellon Arena last Saturday around 2 p.m.
He and his wife and two of his children were in the hotel bar visiting with some friends when we unknowingly came upon him and about 20 spectators surrounding him and the Cup. It was truly a chance meeting.
Away from the rush of media, Guerin was happy, relaxed and willing to share the moment with not only his friends at the bar but with all the faithful fans and onlookers who respectfully surrounded him with words of praise and much deserved congratulations.
The Stanley Cup belongs in Pittsburgh this year, and Guerin saw fit to not only allow the fans to take pictures with him and the Cup, he offered it to fans to touch, hold and hoist the 35-pound treasure overhead in celebration of its return to the city.
He even let a mom with a three-week-old place the baby in the Cup for pictures. We were blown away by being there in this 15-minute window to witness this magical moment with Pittsburgh Penguin Bill Guerin, some fans and his very proud family.
Jeff Scarangella
Bellwood
Cyclist appreciative
I am very pleased that the City of Altoona is committed to enhancing wellness by establishing specified routes for pedestrian/walkers and those of us on roadbikes.
For years, I was a runner; for the last 11 years, I register about 2500 miles on my bike. My route takes me along Juniata Gap, through Juniata, across the bridge there and into the city, across the 7th Street Bridge and back out via Chestnut Avenue.
I appreciate the courtesy and respect of the vast majority of motorists. I remain very concerned about safety: Namely, about 40 percent of the drivers who exceed the posted speed limits. A similar percentage of drivers do not use signals appropriately.
And the debris that I encounter, especially on the bridges are decided hazards to bikers.
I hope the respective police departments are willing to enforce these important traffic laws with greater vigor and rigor.
Let's keep wellness and safety pre-eminent in order to preserve enjoyment of the outdoor workouts.
Richard G. Kensinger
Altoona
Sell PNC to Pitt
Recently I took the time to sit down and watch the Pittsburgh Pirates on television.
I can remember back in a day listening to Bob Prince, Jim Woods and Nellie King do the play-by-play of Pirate baseball games. My first baseball game that I ever saw was at Forbes Field.
In those days, fans came to see Roberto Clemente, Willie Stargell and Bill Mazeroski along with many others.
Today, many years later, I don't know who they are coming to see. It certainly isn't the quality of baseball that I witnessed years ago.
The Pirate front office consistently talks about rebuilding, but actually the bottom line is saving money and unloading any ballplayer that might cost them too much money.
I believe management has settled for minor leaguers and castoffs to replace those stars of the past. They're facing a 17th consecutive losing season and then telling people to be patient for things will soon be better.
My advice is to sell beautiful PNC Park to the University of Pittsburgh for football, baseball and other outdoor sports.
Please let us have our memories of Forbes Field and Three Rivers Stadium and stop making the name of the Pittsburgh Pirates the laughingstock of Major League Baseball.
Paul M. Bottenfield Jr.
Altoona
Pittsburgh's priorities
Let me see if I have this right. In 2009, Pittsburgh:
1. won the Super Bowl
2. won the Stanley Cup
3. traded Nate McLouth
Okay. Got it.
Bill Camberg
Altoona
