Once again it looks like Penn State basketball will get to defend their title in the NIT. It is early, but every indication of their play has them heading towards a .500 season.
Having gone to the game last Saturday night against Virginia Tech, it was obvious Penn State could not compete on the boards. Yes, it is worth watching Talor Battle, who will probably end up being one of the best guards ever at Penn State, but a team can't win with guards alone.
Ed DeChellis has started his seventh year as coach and does a great job with what he recruits, but he still has not been able to get the real center or strong power forward. Why can other teams find these players? DeChellis gets some outstanding guards, but they are a dime a dozen. Just watch NCAA basketball on TV to see that.
What other school gives a basketball coach two contract extensions with a losing record and no NCAA Tournament bid? It seems that Penn State is content to go to the NIT.
Since football and basketball are the two sports that support the other sports financially, how much money could be generated with a winning basketball team by filling all those currently empty seats in the Bryce Jordan Center?
Just maybe it would not be necessary to raise the football ticket and donation rate as high.
Byron Lasser
Hollidaysburg
Giger, Rudel too negative
Whoever gave Cory Giger an award for his writing must be a Penn State hater.
It seems no matter what he writes about Penn State, it has to have a negative twist about PSU or Joe Paterno.
Neil Rudel is no better.
Harry Quarry
Tyrone
Sportsmanship goes both ways
Yes, our Tyrone Area High School cheerleaders were on the field cheering while the players were shaking hands, as they always do, win or lose. It's a cheer called "We Are Proud Of You."
My daughter is one of them. A "victory lap" is just that. They were just celebrating a big win and not disrespecting Central.
Respect and sportsmanship is something some Central fans, players and coaches don't abide by. Before both games, our cheerleaders were called names, spit on and had stuff thrown at them. Central players lined up across the 50-yard line and chanted toward our players. Central fans were venting on us because we were taking all the seats on the visitors' side.
My aunt was smacked on the back of the head and had her glasses knocked off by one of the students running by.
At our District 6 championship game, one of the Central players paraded in front of our student section with his medal from last year. Not sportsmanlike. We cheer for and support our area teams in the playoffs when we are no longer playing.
I am by no means saying every one of the Central fans, players and coaches are disrespectful or unsportsmanlike. I am sure you have a few bad apples, as everybody does.
Don't take away a celebration from our kids, though. They deserved it and were being respectful as they did it.
Terry L. McCaulley, Jr.
Tyrone
Mundy taints Steelers
I was a bit disappointed in one aspect of the coverage of the Steelers-Raiders game.
I was very upset by the play of Steelers' defensive back Ryan Mundy toward the end of the game and feel that something should have been said about it, somewhere.
Late in the game, Mundy played dirty by trying to spear an opponent with his helmet, and instead ended up nailing William Gay, his own teammate, who had completed the tackle.
It looked for a while like Gay may have been seriously injured, to the point that teammates joined in a prayer circle out on the field, before Gay eventually got up and slowly walked off the field.
Different articles this week have mentioned that Gay indeed suffered a concussion, but there has never been any mention that it was the result of his own teammate's dirty play.
Then in the last minute of the game, Mundy once again, playing dirty, speared an opponent, and this time was flagged for the infraction.
The penalty moved the Raiders even closer to the goal line. On the very next play, Mundy's inept coverage in the end zone allowed the Raiders' winning touchdown and sealed the Steelers' loss.
I feel that Mundy's propensity for playing dirty, even injuring his own teammate in the process and contributing directly to the loss, should result in his benching, and maybe even more.
I have always respected the Steelers teams and players, and feel that such nasty and dangerous antics do not belong on a Steelers team.
It all seemed obvious to me, so I felt that something should have been reported about it, and I hope the Steelers also react to this type of player.
Mike Odell
Duncansville
Goodman commentary right on
I am not a sports fan; except when I followed my grandson's sports career from Little League through high school football.
However, I have been married to a sports fan for 56 years, and I have learned perhaps more than I ever wanted to know about sports simply through osmosis!
I have not read everything, nor seen and heard everything about Tiger Woods' downfall; but I've been very aware of much of the commentary.
Kellie Goodman's piece in Tuesday's Mirror was the best I have seen or heard: It was right on the money and most insightful. The last line was pure literary genius, in my book.
I will save the article and show it to my family as they visit over Christmas where Tiger is bound to be discussed, probably heatedly.
Thanks to Kellie for providing a voice of reason in this whole mess.
Janet Shaffer
Hollidaysburg
Game Commission not to blame
It is time we quit blaming the Pennsylvania Game Commission for the lack of deer.
We must quit killing does. We are the ones that squeezing the trigger as does are shot from October until January.
Remember, man almost made the buffalo extinct.
D.W. Lidwell
Altoona
