PAGE  19    THE CATS'  PAUSE, APRIL 8,  1978
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VIEWPOINT
Letters To The Editor
Mail All  Letters To:  VIEWPOINT, The Cats'  Pause, Box 7297    Lexinaton    Kv Zn;n?
Impressed With Jay
Dear Sir:
It is certainly not my intention to take anything away from the tremendous accomplishments of Coach Joe Hall and the entire Wildcat team, but I feel it's time some of the proper credit and publicity was given to the "forgotten man" of this year's team. I speak of sophomore guard Jay Shidler. He has to be the best "7th man" in college basketball.
After a great freshman season in the limelight as a crowd-pleasing starter, it would have been easy for Shidler to have reacted to his substitute role by losing his enthusiasm, becoming dejected, and possibly even throwing in the towel and quitting. Exactly the opposite has occurred; he kept his head up and has always been ready when called on to come off the bench to play with the spirit, hustle, and unselfishness which demonstrate his willingness to place the team's success ahead of his own pride and statistics. Even when not playing he has been the inspirational leader on the bench, leading the cheers for his teammates.
In short, it seems to me that Jay Shidler has shown this season what sacrificing personal glory and attention to become a proud member of a Kentucky Wildcats basketball team is all about. I feel he is to be commended for both his attitude and fine play.
Sincerely, . Tom Jarvis Lexington, Kentucky
Amen
Dear Sir:
Tell Joe B. & Company: AMEN!
And one more thing: We'd still love them if they couldn't even win the L.I.T.!
You did it, Cats -- and did it right!
Theirs very truly, Mary Mattingly Sharon Taylor Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Gowdyism
Dear Sir:
We have received the second edition of your paper which our son Kenny Rollins gave us for our birthdays.
We really have enjoyed reading them. So glad, too, to see the names of the Fabulous Five in this last edition. In the first paper we received one of
your writers, Dewey Bentley, in his column named Joe Holland as one. True, he did go with the team but was not listed as one of the five. Also, heard Curt Gowdy try to name them and he said one was "Barksdale."
Respectfully yours, W.E. Rollins Wickliffe, Kentucky
Resents
Dear Sir:
Ignorance is a terrible thing, as the adage goes. Ignorance of the issues that beset women's sports is also a terrible thing, but ignorance in the guise of "expert commentary" (i.e., Terrence Tucker's attempt at journalism in the March 4 issue of The Cats' Pause) is at best inexcusable and at worst despicable.
I am not taking exception to Mr. Tucker's remarks that "Coach Debbie Yow is yelping" about attendance at the Lady Kats games, although I am puzzled how Mr. Tucker can write a column about Coach Yow's "yelping" when Coach Yow has told me she has never granted Mr. Tucker an interview. I am not even taking exception to Mr. Tucker's inane suggestion that men and women play basketball on the same team (although I do submit to Mr. Tucker that if he is so anxious to share equal rights and responsibilities, he should assume his responsibility of child-bearing. Physiologically, that makes as much sense as men and women competing on the same team.)
However, that is not the point of this letter  I resent the fact that Mr. Tucker is using the privileges accorded to him as a journalist for reasons other than those purported in his article. Mr. Tucker is guilty of using his forum not to talk about the lack of spectators at Lady Kats games, but instead to denigrate the women who have chosen to participate in sports, and while his column may not of itself amount to much, it seeks to perpetuate the myth of (to use Mr. Tucker's own words) "rockhard . . . lady wrestler" types. Prejudices exist because of people like Mr. Tucker, and I deplore the fact that he is in the position to influence others to his way of thinking, since obviously he has no qualms about taking advantage of his journalistic privileges to expound his prejudices.
I also resent the fact that Mr. Tucker is attempting to cloud the real issue here by injecting his chauvinistic mutterings into the question. Ther real issue is that women athletes are not treated fairly. The women's program at UK has improved greatly in the last few years mainly due to the increase in funding. A full-time women's basketball coach was hired and scholarships are now given. However, the women's
coach has no office of her own (a few months ago I believe Coach Yow was headquartered in a closet), and she has no paid assistance (contrast the myriads of paid assistants and graduate assistants which aid Coach Hall), and there is a wide disparity between the amount given to women for a "full" scholarship and the amount given to men. Women athletes do not expect to be treated like queens even though their male counterparts are treated like kings (or dare I suggest, demi-gods?). Women do, however, expect to be treated with the respect given to any human being, and they expect their choice of participation in sports to be accorded with respect (or in Mr. Tucker's case, silence) and not with taunting remarks about amazons. They do NOT deserve the shabby treatment that Mr. Tucker has meted out in his column.
Sincerely, Sammie Lambert Lexington, Kentucky
Rod Stewart Info
Dear Sir:
Enclosed please find my check for $14.50. I have received The Cats' Pause for one year and am looking forward to receiving your fine paper for another year.
I would like to know if Rod Stewart will be back this year as a running back. Sure do hope Fran Curci has another good year. The basketball team was outstanding.
Sincerely, Hubert Huffman Middlesboro, Kentucky
JEditor's Note: Stewart's knee recovery in going slowly, and he is not participating in spring practice. But Coach Fran Curci hopes he'll be ready by fall.]
Phillips Great
Dear Sir:
I am definitely a Mike Phillips fan. I have watched him since he has been playing, and I have always been a center fan, but Mike has really showed how important a center is to his team. I love to watch him and the rest of the super Wildcats. I come from a family of Wildcat fans, and a town of Cats fans (Owensboro). I have watched UK since I can remember them being on TV, one day I want to go and see them in person. A few years ago a group of super Cats came to Owensboro and put on an exhibition game -- Jimmy Dan Conner, Kevin Grevey, Bob Guyette,
Dan Issel, and the rest of the guys of that year and preceeding years participated. All the loyal fans here came and welcomed them.
I want to wish the Seniors of this year the best of luck in their futures, and say congratulations for a job well done this year. Good luck to next year's team. We will be there to see you again.
P.S. Please put something about the Lady Kats in here. We have an all American from Owensboro (Liz Luk-shu) who plays on the team.
Sincerely, Sandy Ebelhar Owensboro, Kentucky
Kyle Is The Best
Dear Sir:
I enjoy your Cats' Pause. I'm not pleased that Kyle Macy hasn't been to an All-Star team. Who can average 12 points, 6 assists, 55 percent for a guard, ninety percent at the line, two steals and only a sophomore? Macy goes to Dayton and St. Louis and makes A's in college! I think Robey, Aleksinas and Lee and Big Mike and "Goose" are excellent, but Kyle is the best.
Sincerely,
Rhett Baker, age 8
Frankfort, Kentucky
Today's Obituary
Dear Sir:
This letter is to inform you of the death of a well-known basketball coach. The person that could coach better than Joe B. Hall is dead.
He was well known in these parts as the guy you work with, that you had to listen to the day after the game. He had no equal when it came to coaching after the game was over.
It was ironic that he started dying just moments after what he thought was going to be his high point as a coach, the second half of the UK-Florida State game. He was too ill to discuss the second half line-up. He got progressively worse and died late' Monday night March 27.
An autopsy was performed on the head, which consisted almost entirely of mouth. Nothing was found there.
It's too late now, but if only he had lived, he could've been a St. Louis sportswriter.
Some day, his children will carry on in his footsteps, and they will complain that our new coach is nowhere near the coach that the great Joe B. Hall was.
Mournfully yours, Steve Demaree Lexington, Kentucky