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
Letters bearing real names, addresses and telephone numbers for verification are considered for publication. Please limit letters to 125 words or less. They are subject to editing and become the property of The Times. Fax them to 206-493-0934, or mail to: Backtalk, Seattle Times Sports, P.O. Box 70, Seattle, WA 98111. Or email to:
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.