Don't blame Redskins

Having sat by with much patience and tolerance amid the constant downpour of Redskins bashing on this page for several weeks now, I can hold back no longer.

Baltimore is on an important mission right now -- acquiring an NFL expansion team -- and by all accounts and appearances, that mission seems headed toward a successful resolution, with this area likely earning one of the two expansion slots slated for a "former" NFL city.

There is not, at this time, any need to drain from that mission the energy giving it momentum by taking unneeded potshots at the nearby Redskins' unanticipated 14-1 success, and by showing signs of misplaced paranoia when the Baltimore print and non-print media, like most of the media throughout America, recognize that 14-1 success and the attendant status it delivers. Good Redskins coverage does not harm Baltimore's expansion chances.

Joe Gibbs, Art Monk, Joe Jacoby, Monte Coleman and Darrell Green did not sneak the tradition-rich Baltimore Colts franchise out of the famous outdoor insane asylum. Robert Irsay did. Do not blame the team in burgundy and gold down the parkway for the disgraceful midnight move.

To those area Redskins bashers, show some tradition-rich Colts class to the NFL expansion committee by supporting the team that quietly goes about earning playoff berths year after year in football's toughest division. To those same bashers, show some tradition-rich Colts knowledge to the committee by recognizing that NBC, and not CBS, had doubleheader rights on Dec. 8, that as a result, only one CBS game could be shown, and that Maryland graduate Stan Gelbaugh leading the Cardinals against the streaking Redskins had significantly more regional interest than watching Rich Kotite and his Eagles "battle" Ray Handley and his Giants in a matchup of coaching wizards.

Finally, to those Redskins bashers, if you feel sick to death about lacking an NFL team here, write a letter to Paul Tagliabue telling him your love of former Colts success. Do not write a letter to this paper telling us your hate of current Redskins success.

Chris Kennedy

Fells Point

Don't glorify Redskins, either

I wholeheartedly agree with those Baltimore fans who are sick and tired of having The Sun glorify the Redskins as if they were our team. Why can't The Sun give press to the Skipjacks and Blast instead of front-page coverage to not only the Redskins but also the Washington Bullets and the Washington Capitals? Maybe The Sun supports that good-for-nothing Abe Pollin, but that traitor gave up any right to expect Baltimore fan support when he moved to D.C.

What gives The Sun the right to force teams representing another city down our throats week after week? You ought to rearrange your loyalties and priorities.

John S. Patti

Towson

7/8

Supports Redskins coverage

This is in answer to all the letters from the "bum sports" complaining about coverage in The Sun and on TV of the Washington Redskins. Do they honestly believe The Sun is printed only for the city of Baltimore and that TV coverage is the same? TV coverage is dictated by the contract between the NFL and the networks. If you don't want to watch the Redskins, there are other games broadcast. I would think that you would be glad to have a good team (the Redskins) to follow.

I am a Redskins fan and have been since the days of Sammy Baugh, long before the Colts came into being. I am sorry Baltimore lost its beloved Colts, but those of us who are not Colts fans are entitled to news of other teams.

Why is it that Baltimore "sports fans" hate the Washington Redskins so passionately but expect Washington to support their Orioles?

Grace Wise

Baltimore

Dallas fan feels trapped

I just got done reading Vito Stellino's top 10 football teams [Dec. 15]. I couldn't believe he ranked New Orleans (9-5) ahead of Dallas (9-5), a team that beat the Saints soundly, beat the Redskins and is having its first winning season since 1985. It seems like every Sunday, I look at his predictions for the week and there are the Cowboys picked to lose. The only teams they are picked to beat are Phoenix, Cincinnati and Green Bay. Come on, Mr. Stellino, give the Cowboys more credit. I could understand if Babe Laufenberg were still in Dallas, but now it's Steve Beuerlein.

I don't know; maybe I'm just a Dallas fan trapped in Redskins territory.

Jason Arrowood

Mount Airy

Murray has been forgiven

As a longtime Eddie Murray fan, I applaud the well-deserved welcome to Baltimore that he received from the fans and press. The crowds at Festival Hall during Cal Ripken's Winterfest in combination with the favorable articles written about him showed that the people of Baltimore forgave him for a minor personality clash and appreciated what he did for the city and the Orioles.

From 1982-85, he had four of the best seasons of any major-leaguer, offensively and defensively. I met Eddie in July 1984 before a game in the Orioles clubhouse as a 9-year-old and can recall that he was humorous and pleasant. This good-naturedness was extended in monetary form to the children of Baltimore through very generous contributions to charity.

Unfortunately, I can also recall the friction between Eddie and the press before the Orioles practically threw him across the country in an extremely weak trade. Even after a subpar year for the Dodgers through which he played with injuries, he is still one of the game's best players. Baltimore waited for him to return after a three-year hiatus with open arms. Hopefully, we can behave the same way, even if he is traded back to the American League, and he hits a home run to beat the Orioles at Camden Yards.

Kevin P. Koffenberger

Bel Air

Davis deal looks good

When I first heard of the Mickey Tettleton deal last January, it was on a Saturday night. Sunday morning, with pen in hand I was quickly writing a letter to The Sun expressing my displeasure with it. Well, unlike the Tettleton deal, this latest trade involving Storm Davis and Bob Melvin is one that I like very much.

Now, I know all you skeptics out there are saying that Davis isn't a proven pitcher and has terrible statistics. . . . You are right. But the advantages to making this trade as I see them are as follows: Any time you can trade a backup catcher with no power and a career batting average around .230 for a potential starting pitcher or long middle reliever, you do it. Storm Davis is happy. He is where he wants to be -- in Baltimore (unlike Jeff Robinson) -- and attitude means a lot. Storm will be teammates with Glenn Davis, which is certainly a positive. The last and most important advantage, which has been overlooked -- new pitching coach Dick Bosman. Bosman could possibly help develop Storm into a 12- to 15-game winner.

People who view this trade as one made only because Roland Hemond needed to make one are dead wrong. What Hemond did was make a minor deal that has the potential to become a major one in the Orioles' favor. Not bad when you consider that the Orioles gave up only a backup catcher. Thanks, Roland.

Chuck Friedel

Columbia I am writing in response to a letter in The Sun's sports section Sunday about Robert Irsay's moving the Colts to Indianapolis.

Irsay was a jerk. He did not deserve the support from our city, not only because he put a lousy football team on the field, but also because his attitude toward our ethnic and minority citizens was repulsive.

Anyone who thinks Irsay was OK should move to Indianapolis and root for a team that put a permanent scar on the fine residents of Baltimore and the great players that still live here.

Mel Mazer

Baltimore It's OK to root for the Indianapolis Colts? I'm sure several thousand Baltimore Colts fans would disagree. Just ask our therapists. Each win by the Indianapolis Irsays puts money into the pockets of the very man who yanked the heart out of an entire state.

The mood of my weekend hinges on the outcome of the Indy game on Sunday. True Baltimore Colts fans have no real loyalty to a team, so we at least have someone to root against. And the Irsays have only ruined one of my weekends thus far this year. So the next time you feel compelled to cheer for Indianapolis, close your eyes and envision one of the most horrible sights ever witnessed on local TV. I'll give you a hint. Can you say Mayflower?

Bill Hooper

Joppatowne

Buren a fine sportscaster

After reading the letter in The Sun on Dec. 8 concerning WJZ-TV's John Buren, I almost broke into hysterical laughter. How could anyone be so critical of a perfectly fine sportscaster? I find John Buren's comedy pretty amusing, and he does a good job of informing viewers on the latest sports news. So what if he happens to like Elvis? I, personally, don't care for Mr. Presley, but if John Buren likes him, then so be it.

Yes, I do admit that Scott Garceau, Keith Mills and Vince Bagli are very fine sportscasters, but in my opinion, I believe that John Buren should be in that category of names, also. John Buren and all TV newscasters are normal human beings and can't please everyone.

Phyllis Abe

Baltimore