Mailbag

June 12, 2021

Osaka deserves credit, not shame The ill treatment of 23-year-old Naomi Osaka, professional tennis player was shameful. Once again, as usual, an individual with mental health issues is chastised and shunned rather than shown compassion. Because I have battled mental illnesses for over 35 years, I laud the strength shown by Ms. Osaka in publicizing her plight. I know very well the stigma our country continues to engender in its attitude toward someone battling mental illness(es). The piece-meal efforts to address mental illness in our country are atrocious. Until a concerted ...

Mailbag

May 1, 2021

In Shrewsberry, PSU made a good choice During the years of Penn State basketball under previous head basketball coaches Jerry Dunn, Ed DeChellis and Pat Chambers, the Nittany Lion administration always hired class guys, but they lacked the experience to lead a Big Ten team. My opinion is reinforced by looking at their records at Penn State. Granted, the new coach, Micah Shrewsberry, has never been a head coach. Previous coaches had the experience of being head coaches, but that didn’t necessarily make them winners. Shrewsberry has had experience as an assistant in the Big ...

Mailbag: Gordon left huge legacy with sports in Claysburg

April 17, 2021

Bob Gordon of Claysburg passed away last week at the ripe old age of 88. If he was not the best athlete produced by Greenfield-Kimmel High School (later Claysburg-Kimmel HS), he is among the top 10, and he was a civic leader who worked for the betterment of his community. I first laid eyes on Gordon at Dysart Park in Hollidaysburg during the summer of 1947. He was only 15 years old but had gained a formidable reputation as a baseball pitcher for the Claysburg entry in the Blair County Baseball League. He was being subjected to some unfriendly razzing by some County Seat fans ...

Mailbag

April 10, 2021

Big Ten has overmatched Penn State basketball I have enjoyed reading Neil Rudel’s recent articles on the hiring of Micah Shrewsberry as new PSU men’s basketball coach. For sure, Shreweberry has been influenced by some great college basketball minds, e.g. Brad Stevens and Matt Painter. I delved into the PSU archives and found the following information on past Lion roundball coaches. Prior to PSU entering the Big Ten Conference in the 1992-93 season, all former coaches registered at least a .500 record. Since the 1992-93 inaugural Big Ten season, the five former coaches ...

Mailbag

March 27, 2021

Allow yourself a chance to smell the roses And just like that, a year is gone. It seems like yesterday Penn State was on its way to March Madness with a good team that had a chance to win a game or two. Today, a new coach, who may have the equipment guy as his starting point guard as the majority of the team is looking to jump ship in the transfer portal. This is truly the best sports time of the year. The greatest event on planet earth with the NCAA tourney, the collegiate wrestling championships and the Masters. So, let’s all take a moment to stop complaining ...

Mailbag

March 20, 2021

Barbour sold PSU search short Sandy Barbour is a politically pressured puppet. When would Penn State ever stand for hiring a head football coach with no head coaching experience? They wouldn’t. Men’s basketball at Penn State isn’t important to them. If it were, an experienced, successful head coach would have been hired. Why do athletes choose to go to a specific school? There are multiple secondary reasons. The primary reason, however, is the coach. Quality players want to play for a proven winner. Quality players aspire to make it to the next level. Quality ...