James Jones, shown taking flight as he rounds third in a game last week, deserves a suitable nickname, according to a Seattle Times reader.
Dean Rutz / Seattle Times staff

Mariners

Letting fly with
nickname for Jones

It’s obvious that James Jones has earned a starting job in center field with the Mariners due to his energy, speed and bat control. He’s a very exciting player to watch, and I think he is fast becoming a fan favorite.

Now he needs a nickname. How about “Jet” Jones? I think it would fit him well as an extremely fast player representing the city of Seattle.

— Don Rogers, Camano Island

Stop whining
about umpires

I have grown frustrated with the Mariners’ TV broadcasters and their constant whining. Their complaints include long road trips, long games and, of course, umpires.

Dave Sims is the worst. His complaints about the home-plate umpire not giving “The King” (Felix Hernandez) the calls last week continued for two days. This despite the pitch tracer showing the umpire’s calls were correct. Either Sims was wrong or the tracer was off. Personally, I would bet on the tracer.

— Lloyd Stevens, Seattle

NHL

What’s wrong

with hockey first?

Why would it be a priority for Seattle Mayor Ed Murray to consider an NBA franchise first, before an NHL team (“Potential Owners for NHL Seattle franchise emerge,” Friday)? The NBA left Seattle, when Clayton Bennett moved the Sonics to Oklahoma City eight years ago. If there is solid interest in ownership of a NHL franchise for Seattle, the city of Seattle should open its arms to it and not give the NBA priority.

Chris Hansen can build the arena for whichever league comes first. The idea is to give Seattle more of a major-league image, and an NHL team is a start. Either team brings more dollars into downtown Seattle.

— Ed Kobak, Enumclaw

Seahawks

Draft criticism
is ludicrous

I don’t get it. All the grades are in, even if they don’t matter, but to be so harsh on the picks by Seahawks general manager John Schneider and Company this year is ludicrous. We won the Super Bowl. We picked last! How are we supposed to grade out like Houston, which picked No. 1? Or with St. Louis, which picked No. 2.

The Seahawks have a plan and they also have a proven ability to pan for gold, after all 31 other teams panned first, and still garner a few nuggets. I trust Seattle’s management more than the so-called experts.

— Keith Brown, Seattle

Donald Sterling

Recasner didn’t
back up opinions

It pains me to say this, but I must take issue with some of what Eldridge Recasner wrote in his Take 2 column (“Years ago, one player could foundation for racism,” Tuesday) on the subject of Donald Sterling. My personal opinion of Sterling, based on everything I have been able to discover, is that he is a disgusting racist bigot and the lowest of the low. I’d leap off a building before I would defend him.

When I first noticed Recasner’s column, I had high hopes of seeing this man further torn down by a knowledgeable insider. But Recasner failed to make this point. Here are a few of the things he said: Sterling was profoundly cheap. He did not enter the locker room to address the team. He did not interact with the players who helped make him rich. He missed an opportunity to get to know a race of people. He hung onto the idea that black people are “less than others.”

These statements are unsubstantiated opinions not supported by facts, although I do not doubt Recasner’s premise for a second.

— Tom Likai, Shoreline

Sam Bridgman

Inspirational
comeback story

Thank you for publishing the Take 2 post and article (“Sam’s crazy dream comes true at Safeco Field,” Friday) by Sam Bridgman. That was the most inspirational article (sports or otherwise) that I have read.
As the mother of an elite athlete, who not only fulfilled his childhood athletic ambitions, but was able to continue through college and on into adulthood, my heart goes out to Sam and his entire family. I only wish I could have been at that Mariners game to witness his ceremonial first pitch “comeback”.

— Kathleen Braymer Shepard, Seattle

Send us your backtalk

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sports@seattletimes.com

Want to be a reader contributor to The Seattle Times’ Take 2 blog? Email your original, previously unpublished work or proposal to Sports Editor Don Shelton at dshelton@seattletimes.com or sports@seattletimes.com. Not all submissions can be published. Opinions expressed are those of authors, and The Times reserves the right to edit and publish any submissions online and/or in print.