Letters to the Editor

No wonder Don Larsen was perfect Not really, but the rebroadcast of his 1956 gem showed that hitters back then were a different, lesser breed than today's sluggers. King Kaufman [2009-01-07]

• Players are much better today -- and fans are much dumber

  PLAYERS ARE MUCH BETTER TODAY

  King, you might be the first person to ever agree with my conclusion that athletes today are far, far better than the athletes of years ago.

  There are two ways of rating athletes (or anyone else) -- subjective opinions and objective facts. The facts show that athletes are bigger, stronger, faster, are trained for far longer and at much earlier ages, and the supply comes from all over the world as opposed to just from the USA. And that's just for starters.

  Yet, if you talk to sports fans, most will tell you that today's athletes are far worse. They base their conclusions on opinions -- what they see or they think they see.

  Frankly, my conclusion about this dichotomy is that sports fans are just plain stupid. There, I said it.

  To listen to talk radio and hear hosts and callers ramble on and on about how in their day players never did this or that just confirms my conclusion. I keep thinking "yes they did."

  I'm the same age you are and I also recall swinging bats at age 7 that were designed for grown men.

  There was a lot of stupid thinking by those in charge. The dramatically higher potential revenues -- and losses -- in sports has led to more analysis, better techniques, better training, better conditioning, etc.

  But the Neanderthals will respond that you're crazy, as one already has.

  Thanks for your insightful commentary.

  Shalom,

  ZWrite

  -- zwrite
  [Read zwrite's other letters]
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