Sports Letters

Immelman deserves praise

I was appalled at [Associated Press writer Tim Dahlberg's] insensitive "commentary" following the Masters. It was obvious from the outset that Mr. Dahlberg had eyes only for Tiger Woods. He could not give positive representation to anything Trevor Immelman accomplished.

Woods may have skills and flair, but in my estimation his sportsmanship could use a great deal of polishing.

The entire "commentary" was a put-down of Immelman: bemoaning Tiger's defeat, belittling this newcomer's win, and undermining the praise Immelman rightly deserves for winning.

Be happy for a hard-working young man from another part of the world who now owns a prestigious green jacket. After all, Tiger can wear only one green jacket at a time!

Missy Brown

Southern Pines

Tar Heels deserve better than Roy

I am outraged and disgusted with [UNC coach] Roy Williams.

He showed where his heart is through poor coaching, tasteless remarks after a disappointing performance in the Final Four, and to top off his weekend of true confessions, wore a Jayhawks badge over his heart.

Williams needs to understand where he gets his paycheck and understand no Carolina player wants to play for a guy who really wants to be back in Kansas.

Shelby Moorman

Durham

Beach access debate goes on

The Coastal Conservation Association North Carolina believes anglers should have reasonable access to public waters and public lands.

The Cape Hatteras National Seashore Recreation Area was established more than 50 years ago with the expressed intent of the Congress and the National Park Service to allow the citizens to walk and drive on the beaches of the CHNSRA.

Now a few well-financed organizations, namely the Audubon Society, the Defenders of Wildlife and the Southern Environmental Law Center, are poised to take away the privileges and rights of the users of the CHNSRA.

They are doing this not through an open legislative process but through legal action.

They maintain that [off-road vehicles do] harm to the wildlife. There exists no scientific study or independent data that asserts such is the case.

Tell Senators [Elizabeth] Dole and [Richard] Burr and our U.S. Representatives to support our rights and privileges by passing specific legislation reaffirming them.

Bill Mandulak

Raleigh (Chairman, Coastal Conservation Association North Carolina)

Time Warner Cable denies us O's, Nats

Because I am a transplant from New York, I ordered Major League Baseball's Extra Innings package [from Time Warner Cable].

The problem is the Baltimore Orioles and the Washington Nationals are blacked out because the Triangle is considered their market.

Time Warner does not carry MASN (Mid-Atlantic Sports Network) because of an ongoing dispute regarding a carriage agreement between TWC and MASN.

This dispute affects my ability to watch the Orioles play the Yankees (18 games) and the Mets play the Nationals (18 games) [or any other game involving the Nationals or the Orioles].

I pay approximately $200 per month for my services with Time Warner Cable, and I believe I should be able to watch this programming that TWC is denying its customers.

Currently, DirecTV and Dish Network carry MASN and the NFL Network.

I am stuck for this baseball season because I can't get a refund on my MLB package. If I could, I would cancel Time Warner Cable and have DirecTV installed.

I would prefer TWC to just find a resolution to this situation.

Tom Hartigan

Cary

Why not Lady Vols instead of Canes?

I am a Tar Heel fan, but I also love women's basketball.

So I expect to open the sports section Wednesday morning [after Tennessee's NCAA championship victory] and see those ladies jumping in jubilation.

But no, there's a hockey player who looks worse than I felt after the Heels lost.

Can someone tell me why? Yes, I know they are the Carolina Hurricanes, but where was the national champion for the second year in a row and a program that has won eight [national championships] and a coach [Pat Summitt] with 893 wins?

I was disappointed again, as I have been many times before. Unfortunately, women's sports seem to take the back seat to the men.

Angie Creech

Smithfield