Pubdate: Thu, 07 Feb 2002
Source: Daily News (KY)
Copyright: 2002 News Publishing LLC
Contact:  http://www.bgdailynews.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1218
Author: Chuck Coppinger

OUT OF LEFT FIELD RIGHT TITLE FOR COLUMN

This letter is in response to O.J. Stapleton's Out of Left Field column in 
Friday's sports section.

I'm not sure a story has been more appropriately titled.

I attended the Western vs. FIU game with five friends, all Western fans; 
four are Western alums. No one in our section booed or heard anyone boo 
Raynardo Curry. In fact, several folks in Section 205 stood and cheered his 
return.

Those I spoke with were disappointed with Curry. They were upset that he 
made a poor choice and missed three games. No one thought he should have 
been kicked out of the program. He tested negative and was allowed to play 
because his coach made a decision.

The entire situation of being outside a dorm at 1 a.m. in someone else's 
clothing carrying someone else's dope was, at best, difficult to believe. 
Curry was not a victim; he made a poor choice and paid the consequences.

Your statement that this episode is "still not that big of a deal" is 
disgusting. In case you have been living your entire life under a tree on 
the banks of the Barren River, possession of marijuana is illegal, and 
using it is illegal.

Illegal, O.J., means breaking the law and that makes it a big deal.

A minor offense is still an offense because the act was illegal. Am I 
making a dent in the obvious ignorance your words were typed in? If you 
truly believe this, you really need some help; if you don't, then you are a 
master of bovine scatology.

Try to be a leader and a good example O.J. This means making responsible 
mature statements in a newspaper that is read by (law abiding) children and 
young men and women alike.

Chuck Coppinger

Bowling Green
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