Major soccer disgrace

The coverage of the Blast is a disgrace. It seems that if not for negative coverage, there would be no coverage at all. When the Blast made the playoffs, every other sport was mentioned before the Blast. The Blast was finally mentioned on page 7. A negative letter concerning the Blast was on page 2.

Many are wondering why the Blast, and the MSL in general, do not receive the exposure they deserve. It is because of the lack rTC of media coverage that the MSL is struggling to become more popular. You guys seem to forget that the "M" in MSL stands for "Major" Soccer League. You never see all the positive things that are happening throughout the league, but as soon as something negative happens, that is all that we read about.

Credit should be given to the Blast players for their service to the community. In no other sport are the players as willing to do public appearances at schools, libraries, businesses, or any other community function as the Blast and other MSL players. Where others are demanding outrageous fees for public appearances and autographs, the MSL players are doing their appearances for nothing other than a simple "thank you."

We would really appreciate anything that you could do to help us rectify this disappointing situation.

Cathy Borkman

Baltimore

Be positive on Blast

The Blast deserves better coverage. Too often it has been relegated to the back pages. The Sun does soccer fans a disservice. Many of the stories printed have been negative. How about some positive (increased attendance), the hat-trick performance of Mark Mattrick (a defensive player), Domenic Mobilio's record-breaking performances (game-winning goals, fourth season in a row 40-plus goals) and rookie Doug Miller's two-goal-outburst game?

Nancy E. Neukam

Baltimore

Opener a bummer

I am writing to express disappointment, objection and anger in regard to the first game at Oriole Park at Camden yards.

Disappointment: that the honor of performing the national anthem was given to the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Morgan State University Choir, instead of someone with a big name, as other teams have done with the first games in their new stadium.

Objection: that the honor of throwing out the ceremonial first ball was given to President Bush. Under "equal time" rules, the Orioles should have been forced to invite all other Republican, Democratic and independent candidates to each throw out a ceremonial first ball.

Anger: that Channel 2 televised the first game and allowed Brooks Robinson to ruin it just as he ruined the last game at Memorial Stadium.

George W. Schruefer

Abingdon

No lottery for Cal

This is in response to Kenny Flahavean's letter, "A Lottery for Cal?"

His was the most absurd, idiotic suggestion I have heard yet.

First, the team is not state owned. The stadium on the other hand is. As for having a lottery to pay someone's salary, where will it end?

Second, Eli Jacobs is well aware of the situation. How many premier players do we have signed to multi-year contracts? I believe he would address the situation on a positive note, but first Cal Jr. is top priority. Cal did not file for free agency yet, so why panic?

Finally, addressing the word "lottery," how many seats were available to the general public for Opening Day '92? Four thousand seats, which were selected by "lottery."

The Orioles sold 26,000 full season (81-game) tickets. There should have been 22,000 seats for sale to the general public on a first-come, first-serve, limit-4 basis. This way the average fan

could have participated in a treat.

Tom Houck, Jr.

Baltimore

Most valuable Milligan

Randy Milligan is the Rodney Dangerfield of the Orioles. He just gets no respect. While the Orioles are paying Glenn Davis millions to produce nothing but injuries, Randy Milligan steps back into his role of a good producing first baseman, only to have it taken away from him when Davis feels up to playing again. For Milligan's compensation, they should give him Davis' paycheck until he returns to the lineup.

Greg Holley

Essex

Boo for Channel 2

They're at it again! The baseball announcers are so enamored of their own voices, or their knowledge of the game, that they miss vital plays on the field. Take the 2-0 win over Cleveland. While some non-essential commentary was taking place in the booth, Bill Ripken laid down a successful suicide squeeze. The TV cameras were trained elsewhere since the play-by-play boys were talking about things other than action on the field. Belatedly, they awoke to what was occurring. Unfortunately, the cameras also missed the play and the TV viewers lost out on one of the game's most exciting actions.

Abner Kaplan

Baltimore

Maryland Colts?

Baltimore does not need or deserve an expansion football team. Maryland does, and it should be located in Baltimore. Baltimore alone will not support our new team. If taxes or lottery funds are used to build a new stadium, that stadium will be financed by Marylanders, not Baltimoreans uniquely. It is vain and greedy for the city to claim the sports teams that the entire state supports. For this reason, Marylanders should have a team carrying their name. No matter what name the team is given (Colts or otherwise), Maryland should precede it in the title, not Baltimore. There is a large population in Eastern Maryland, Western Maryland and elsewhere that is being ignored and taken for granted.

It is depressing to see Baltimore get tremendous national attention for Camden Yards as if the rest of the state does not matter. Our state bought the lottery tickets that funded it. Our state pays for the light rail and other transportation renovations tailored to the new ballpark. Yet Baltimore gets all the credit.

I'm asking all Maryland sports fans to speak out.If we speak out early, we might make a difference. There are precedents: The new expansion baseball team called the Florida Marlins, the California Angels, the Texas Rangers, the Minnesota Vikings, the Utah Jazz. Let's make sure that Baltimore knows that we want our due recognition.

Craig McGinnes

Chestertown