Don't jump through hoops
St. Louis' and Baltimore's drive to lure an expansion team sickens me. Why should two ideal cities with NFL traditions act like circus dogs jumping through rings of fire to impress an organization bent on hoarding millions? No doubt, the St. Louis media are critical of Baltimore's effort as we are of theirs. I believe the media in Memphis, Baltimore and St. Louis should channel their energy toward a four-team expansion instead of the proposed two.
With 32 teams in the NFL, two extra southern divisions, each with four teams, could be created. Teams such as Tampa Bay, Atlanta and New Orleans would combine with Charlotte, St. Louis and Memphis to make the new divisions.
Baltimore, hopefully, would be placed in the NFC East with the Eagles, Giants and Redskins. Just imagine the thrill of a Baltimore team squaring off against the Redskins twice a year.
Under the current plan, worthy cities such as Baltimore and Memphis will be more than just slighted.
Tim Evans
Towson
A winner needed
While many major-league baseball teams stockpile big-name free agents and make blockbuster trades in the off-season, Orioles owner Eli Jacobs remains counting the millions he has made off Baltimore fans.
Under Jacobs' reign as owner, the Orioles have indicated staying in the bottom fifth in team payroll is more crucial than producing a contending team. This frugality was exhibited through the minor-league free-agent signings of unknowns Darrell Sherman and Eric Hetzel and the retaining of players with inflated ERAs and sub-.200 batting averages, all to save a few dollars.
Kevin Behen
Jarrettsville
Hear the Thunder
I could not agree more with Maurice LaPointe's letter criticizing your lack of coverage on the Baltimore Thunder or the Major Indoor Lacrosse League. The state of Maryland always has been the hotbed for lacrosse, but, to read The Sun, I get a totally different picture.
Attendance at the Baltimore Arena (also known as the Thunderdome) averages 9,100. The Sun ought to pay more attention to what is happening in the Maryland area, not bowling, squash, etc.
Lou Orr
Earleville
Boogie booster
What a boost your profile of Malcolm Glazer (Jan. 19) gave to Leonard "Boogie" Weinglass' campaign to own an NFL expansion team. Any Baltimorean reading the profile of Glazer had to groan and say, "Not again." (Shades of Robert Irsay.)
Glazer, even though he could own a team with his $150 million check, doesn't come across as the kind of owner we want for our new football team. While being an intelligent man and a hard worker, he seems also to be stubborn and hard-nosed even when dealing with family matters.
Maybe Boogie couldn't produce a check for $150 million if he were granted ownership, but unless NFL owners have been hiding under a rock, they would know about his success as a founder of Merry-Go-Round and his other assets. Don't worry -- he's good for the money.
Ruth M. Fleishman
Baltimore
Ali, Ali
I've never seen Muhammad Ali in person, but I've long admired him as a man, the most fascinating boxer ever and as a truly outspoken athlete to whom others paled in comparison.
Mike Littwin and Alan Goldstein did a special job in honoring Ali's 50th birthday (Jan. 17).
Todd Holden
Bel Air
Madden maddening
I detest Mighty Mouth Madden's incessant, loud, bombastic and intrusive comments on my enjoyment of pro football games. I do not deny that Madden has tremendous knowledge of pro football and a great number of its participants. But does he need to comment at length on every play, no matter how simple (and obvious visually) the play may be?
It would be really neat if his toy, the Coach's Clicker, would get stuck so he couldn't keep repeating the same play three or four times.
I hope CBS Radio broadcasts the Super Bowl. Then I can listen to the wit and candor of Hank Stram.
George B. Gammie
Timonium
Stop the clock
The Baltimore area twice has lost major-league sports teams. First, when the Bullets commuted to Washington and later, during the midnight flight of the Colts to Indianapolis. Today, Baltimore is waging a battle for the return of pro football.
The Bullets play a few games each year at the Arena, dangerously marred by the shot clock joke. To say this this city's image is "minor league" is an understatement.
Dennis R. Conroy
Randallstown
jTC