Flashback to March 4, 1991: General manager Eddie Johnston of the Hartford Whalers trades fan favorite Ron Francis to the Pittsburgh Penguins, alienates fans, and the Penguins go on to win the Stanley Cup.

Brilliant.

It would appear that fools are bound to repeat history. Shortsighted, one-sided trades are the most damning legacy of this team.

Will we have to wait eight years and slog through a dearth of lousy replacements before we see Erik Cole in Raleigh again? And will Edmonton win the Stanley Cup this year?

Jennifer Fitts

Raleigh

Questions raised about NCHSAA

I found it interesting that I could not find the members of the NCHSAA board of directors on either the [organization's] Web site or in its spring bulletin.

Board members share a clear and responsible role in the operation of any organization. While Mr. [Charlie] Adams' priorities are clearly called to order in your article [Sunday, June 15], it seems to me that the board may have abdicated its responsibilities regarding compensation oversight and setting the priorities of this organization. I'd guess most board members are principals, athletic directors and coaches -- so that is puzzling unless something else is afoot here.

Chief executive officers, regardless of their actual title, have long used the tactic of stacking their boards to get things their way. Could that be going on here?

Could serving on the board be a resume-enhancing perquisite such that potential board members let Mr. Adams or his surrogates know they will follow his lead unswervingly?

Could board members' schools get priority funding or other benefits? The possibilities are endless.

Thanks again for a very informative article. Somehow I bet your work will be the catalyst for getting those defibrillators into all schools.

Pat Lane

Chocowinity

Use of alcohol illegal during celebration

Featured on the front page of the sports section on Monday, June 30, is a picture of Ji Young Oh pouring a beer over the head of Inbee Park, who became the youngest winner of the U.S. Women's Open golf tournament.

In the article about Park's victory, the author mentions Park is only 19 years of age.

Likewise, Ji Young Ho is also 19, two years younger than the necessary 21 years to possess alcoholic beverages.

This is in clear violation of the law of underage possession of alcohol. However, this is not the only obvious breach of law. Someone had to give this woman the beer, another criminal action.

If that someone was the Interlachen Country Club where the U.S. Women's Open was played, then appropriate measures should taken to ensure that this will never happen again.

Matthew Zipple

Hillsborough