I am retired high school and college basketball coach in the state of Indiana, and I just read with interest the article about Saint Francis dropping to D-III.

I must say, I am very disheartened at what is going on with college athletics in terms of the NIL and transfer portal issues.

I don’t like any of it, and I am very disappointed to see that the people in the so-called “ivory towers” making the decisions could be so foolish.

Both the transfer portal and NIL are ruining what once was a crown jewel of amateur athletics, and now consequently schools such as Saint Francis and surely many more to follow with be biting the dust.

It is very sad.

It goes against the well known axiom, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and they have certainly broken something that didn’t need fixing.

As a retired coach, and now fan, I am appalled.

Soon I may not even be a fan anymore. I used to live for college basketball and would stay up day and night and watch games, but my interest level has definitely declined since all of this stuff started taking place.

Established coaches have already prematurely left the game, and undoubtedly there will be many more to follow.

Brian Vukadinovich

Wheatfield, Indiana

Haselrig’s place in history still intact

There is no debating that the recent, record-setting five-time Division I national champion Carter Starocci of Penn State has etched his name in the NCAA records book.

But few people remember the only six-time NCAA wrestling champion was Carlton Haselrig from the University of Pitt at Johnstown.

Haselrig is the only person to ever win six NCAA titles in wrestling — three times in Division II and three times in Division I.

His three-peat of Division II and Division I national championships were won in 1987, 1988 and 1989. He also was the 1985 Junior Greco-Roman world champion, and the 1986 Junior Freestyle world champion, while competing for the United States in the heavyweight division.

Before 1990, the Divisions II and III individual champions earned bids to the Division I championships, allowing Haselrig the chance to win both titles. Haselrig was particularly successful in March.

From 1987-89, Haselrig won three NCAA Division II championships at heavyweight. Two weeks after winning those titles, Haselrig went to the NCAA Division I championships, where he also won three heavyweight titles.

He went 15-0 at the Division I championships.

After Haselrig’s run of NCAA titles, the Division I Wrestling Committee voted to rescind the bids to the Division II and III champions. As a result, Haselrig’s feat can never be matched unless the rule is changed again.

The rule was named the Haselrig amendment.

Haselrig then moved on to professional football, where he played five seasons in the NFL for the Pittsburgh Steelers — becoming a Pro Bowl offensive guard in 1993.

In 2008, he made his mixed martial arts debut in Atlantic City. In 2016, Haselrig was inducted into the National Wrestling Hall of Fame.

Haselrig died in 2020 at age 54. His record will stand forever.

Greg Sirb

Harrisburg

NBA could use some changes

Watching any basketball lately?

With March Madness here, maybe they should include NIL per game to go along with points and rebounds.

How about the NBA? Not so much? Maybe you are tired of the highlight reels showing guys who are 6-foot-8 and can palm the ball like I can a softball dunking the game away?

Maybe you remember Johnny Most crooning, “Cousy shoots…. Cousy scores!”And Red, Russ, the Big O, Jerry, Elgin and Wilt, and of course, “The Doctor!” Later on, there were the battles of Magic vs. Larry.

Then the 3-point line came, and well, the game changed. So let the pro game evolve again. Let’s put in a 4-point line, say 30-feet out.

But here’s the game changer: Put in a 1-point circle maybe 10 feet out. Dunks and bunnies are 1 point now. No more slamma jamma and acting like you just won Olympic gold.

Crazy idea? So was the 3-point line at first.

Joseph Maschue

Altoona

Recalling call with sportswriting great

I recently, sadly, learned of the passing of the famous sportswriter, author and sports talk show host, John Feinstein, while listening to Steve Jones’ podcast.

About 20 years ago, I was very fortunate to speak to Feinstein, who was hosting the Jim Rome show that was broadcast, back then, by WVAM-AM radio, an ESPN affiliate in Altoona.

As a caller from Huntingdon, I offered a short, sports-related comment. That enabled me to speak live to Feinstein, who was in the Los Angeles studio.

Thanks to WVAM-AM for the memorable opportunity to be a participant in that coast to coast, live radio program, decades ago.

And a special thanks to the great Steve Jones for the great podcast.

Ed Biddle Statham, Ga.