Show up, or show Friedgen the door
As a Maryland football season-ticket holder, I am tired of coach Ralph Friedgen's excuses that either he didn't prepare the team or it "didn't show up."
If the Terps can't "show up" with a packed house and the ACC's Atlantic Division title on the line along with a shot at the overall Atlantic Coast Conference title and a trip to the Orange Bowl, then the university needs to make sure the coach and his staff (the defensive coordinator in particular) don't "show up" in 2007.
Against Wake Forest, the Terps played a static vanilla defense that could have been blocked by a 9-10 Pop Warner team. The concept of "misdirection" (which Wake uses on nearly every play) appeared alien to the Terps.
Additionally, the Terps weren't dominated at the line of scrimmage - they were annihilated.
Let's face it: Maryland could have easily been 6-6 or worse had it not been lucky this season. The Terps were out-gained offensively in all but one game!
Nevertheless, they did have a good season, and most of the starters will return. But for success in 2007, the Terps need to "show up" every game.
Dennis Sirman
Long Neck, Del.
O's, Angelos again coming up short
Peter Angelos despises losing. He has stated it on many occasions.
That concept seems applicable to all aspects of his life, with the exception of his multimillion-dollar play toy, aka the ballclub of which he is the majority owner.
Granted, players such as Alfonso Soriano and Carlos Lee demanded more than the market expected. Both were offered contracts by their new teams that were rather mind-boggling.
Somewhere, behind closed doors, I can't help but think that Mr. Angelos let out a big sigh of relief, knowing those players priced themselves out of the realm of what the Orioles' offers were.
What does it mean to the long-suffering fans of this team? Sadly (or pathetically), it will be "more of the same" for the 2007 season. That you can undoubtedly bank on.
Currently, the organization is trying to stabilize the listing ship by bolstering the bullpen. That's a commendable move, but it's not going to add 20-plus wins for the coming season. It's a small part of the big puzzle. If Mr. Angelos believes he will appease the local fans with these acquisitions, he will be in for a rude awakening.
It's a somewhat hollow feeling knowing that with spring training about three months away, we already have a rather clear indication of the team's fate for '07. I'd have to say the crystal ball is looking more cloudy than crystal.
The free agency race this offseason has been rather lamentable. Despite Mr. Angelos' promises to make expenditures to improve the team, he has been caught in another "horsehide lie." What started out as a promising elephant safari has snared a few prairie dogs.
Such is the current state of affairs in the former baseball Camelot we know as the Orioles, the current-day kings of mediocrity.
Patrick R. Lynch
Baltimore
O's must be prudent about dealing pitchers
I really like the moves so far that the Orioles have made in this offseason.
They have signed a number of quality relievers and re-signed Kevin Millar. There is still a glaring weakness in needing a power-hitting left fielder. But there is still time to get that done.
But I don't think that the Orioles ought to trade one or more of their young starting pitchers to fill that void in left field. I believe the Orioles have a quality, young rotation as is and don't think they ought to mess with that right now for immediate gratification.
If these new relievers produce, there will be no problem with the pitching. I don't remember how many games I watched or attended last year in which the starters pitched extremely well only to see the bullpen blow their leads in the late innings.
If they can get a quality left fielder in free agency, that would be the best scenario. But, don't mortgage the pitching future in a trade for just one player.
Phil Bauer
Bel Air
Deer picture in poor taste
I found the gruesome picture of a dead deer plastered on the front page of your Thursday Sports section to be totally unnecessary and in very poor taste.
I have absolutely no problem whatsoever with the sport of hunting, although I do not participate for my own reasons, one of which is an extreme fear of firearms. I do understand that in many cases "culling the herd" is a critical and beneficial function of the sport.
However, proudly displaying the dead carcass of this beautiful animal on the front page of your Sports section is disgusting and appalling.
I certainly hope that you will consider the feelings of animal lovers in the future before displaying a picture of one of nature's most magnificent creatures in such a barbaric fashion.
Mike Ryan
Cockeysville