Letters are an open forum for discussing issues in sports

We want letters. Controversial, funny, poignant, absurd. We’ll run ‘em.

We do have a few rules. Your name, hometown and phone number (for verification) must accompany the letter. We ask that you keep the letter to within 250 words and write just once a month. No kicking, scratching, eye gouging or lying. Opinions are fine. We want opinions, but don’t change the facts to make your point. Personal attacks on non-public figures is a no-no. Otherwise, it’s the reader’s forum. Knock yourself out.

Last Sunday we ran a Letter to the Editor regarding the East Valley soccer program that caused a bit of concern among supporters of East Valley players.

Today, we have responses to that letter.

It’s how it works. We offer an open forum and people respond.

Most of our letters are in response to something written by us. Sometimes they are nice, sometimes they are nasty. Either way we’re OK with it because we invite reader feedback. You get what you ask for and you grow a thick skin.

Several of today’s letters, however, are in response to a letter writer. It was a predictable response. You write something negative about a team, you are bound to hear from that team. I warned the letter writer that she would get a response and that she may not like it. She stuck to her guns and wanted the letter printed.

What I didn’t expect was to get so many calls from East Valley parents. The parents were very civil and listened to my defense for running the letter. That’s worth noting because I am used to really nasty responses when people are offended. If it’s phone mail, forget about it. I have saved some doozies that would make a sailor blush.

Anyway, the question most of the parents ask is why. Why would I run such a letter? Why do I allow someone to run down an entire team or group of parents?

It’s worth noting I was not enamored with the letter in question. I thought it was a bit naïve. It is soccer after all, not tiddlywinks. Contact is part of the sport. And fans rude? That’s fresh. We’re talking about parents rooting for their children and friends cheering on friends. It gets overheated sometimes. It’s not new and East Valley certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on it.

Still, my response was the same to all of them. Letters to the editor are offered up as an open forum for readers to sound off. As long as they follow the aforementioned rules it would not be right to deny access just because it may ruffle some feathers or because I don’t agree with the letter writer. That would pretty much negate the “open” part of open forum.

One parent suggested that policy allows for anyone to write something nasty. That he could say something mean about a team he knows nothing about.

That’s true, but the process is almost self-regulating. We usually don’t get really harsh letters because very few people have the gumption to put controversial thoughts to paper and have it published under their name. And when they do, you can almost guarantee a reply. The other side gets a crack at you and the last word. Today’s letters demonstrate that.

Let’s face it, some letters really inform and make you think. Some make you mad. Many, however, are just entertaining. They are really funny or just so absurd they make you laugh. We take them in all forms.

Just keep them coming.