Pavlink snubbed by Ah-nuld

BOXING

Pavlik snubbed
by Ah-nold

Fanfare:

On March 1 at the Arnold (Schwarzenegger) Sports Festival in Columbus, the California governor was supposed to present to Youngstown’s Kelly Pavlik the “Outside The Ring award.”

He made himself unavailable and pushed the event back 2 1/2 hours. He made flimsy excuses of low blood sugar. He had to eat first, finish smoking a cigar, review the cheerleaders, after which he would get to Kelly.

Pretty much lets you know what numerous slaps in the face will do to you, even to a real hero and true gentleman that Kelly Pavlik is. Schwarzenegger didn’t just snub and insult Pavlik, he made all Youngstowners fell righteous indignation.

I further believe that Pavlik appearing and supporting Hillary Clinton and her campaign for the Democratic nomination for the presidency had a lot to do with it, being in fact that he is the Republican governor of California.

In a democracy, you have the right to vote for whomever you choose, don’t you?

Kelly Pavlik is my new hero. His posters and pictures will adorn the walls of my gym now and in the future.

Lastly, Schwarzenegger, you’re not welcome in Youngstown. You have ‘terminated’ yourself with your ego and lack of manners.

Bob Sine

Austintown

PREP BASKETBALL

Tournament scuffle
disgusts area fan

Fanfare:

On Feb. 29, I attended the Campbell Memorial-Ursuline district final in Salem. Ursuline deservingly won a fine game in which they dominated every aspect of the game. Unfortunately, I witnessed one of the most disgusting events I have ever seen during a high school basketball game.

In the second quarter, a small scuffle took place between two of the opposing players resulting in one of Ursuline’s players being ejected. I understand that during a competitive basketball game the emotions and even tempers are going to run high.

The scuffle is not what bothered me the most, it is what occurred next that really sickens me. The Campbell player that was involved in the scuffle was not ejected because he did not throw a punch but the Ursuline fans did not see it that way.

Throughout the rest of the game, every time the player even touched the ball, defended a player with the ball or even was sitting at the scorer’s table to check into the game, he was met with the loudest range of boos and heckling I have ever heard.

Now I am a big fan of high school and college sports mostly because the fans are a major part of adding excitement to the game but this was unlike anything I was ever apart of.

The thing that bothered me the most was that the majority of this attack was not coming from the Ursuline student section. These were the adults, the parents and even grandparents booing and heckling a 15 year-old sophomore. He was being called names that couldn’t even be published in this letter.

As the game went on, it obviously had an effect on the player and the Ursuline adults continued their attack on this child. The adults were even encouraging the young people around them to get involved so that their chants and attacks would be louder.

Is this the kind of example we are setting for our kids? Did any one of those adults in the stands think that the player might have his parents and siblings in the gymnasium? Is it OK to use curse and use vulgar language at 15-year-old kid because you think you got a raw deal on the basketball court?

The thing that struck me most surprising is that these parents and fans are supporting a religious/scholastic institution in Ursuline High School. For the people that were there, is that how we are to view Ursuline High School?

We must remember that these are kids on the court and there are children all around the arena. I want top reiterate that you should definitely support your team but there is a line that shouldn’t be crossed and attacking a 15-year-old kid on the court definitely crosses that line.

For all you adults that took part in this, I want you to know that this was the most classless thing I have ever seen at a high school sporting event and you are setting a horrible example for our youth and you should be ashamed.

For all of the kids in that Salem gymnasium that night, I want to apologize for what you had to witness.

George Samonas

Campbell