By Staff
High school bowling is no joke
To the editor:
My son and I were glad to see in Monday's paper that the MHSAA has approved bowling as a high school sport, but I was very disappointed to see the negative comment made by one of our own local athletic directors. He said that when it was announced "we thought it was a joke." Let me tell you, sir, that to my son and many others, bowling is no joke. Football, baseball, and basketball are not the only true sports.
My son competes locally at the bowling center each week and one to two times monthly on a scholarship tournament circuit known as the Southern Scratch Junior Bowling Association.
These young men and women travel the Southeast two weekends a month to compete for scholarship awards, including a "Super Bowl" at season's end each year in Fort Walton Beach, Fla.
It's a great way to earn money for college and even go on to bowl in college.
The state of Tennessee has had bowling as a high school sport for a few years now and it's a serious sport to the young bowlers who compete.
It is a game of skill and concentration and has all the makings of any other sport as a character builder. These young people are all wonderful athletes and many times the scores rival professionals accomplishments. I have seen more than one 300 game and numerous other high scores in SSJBA.
My point is this. High school athletics will be better for the inclusion of this civilized sport and it doesn't speak well of those who would make it a "joke."
Billie Coleman
Josh Coleman
Meridian
Humane care essential for horses
To the editor:
Marlene Williams' letter ("Our equine friends need our help," The Meridian Star, Aug. 10) makes some interesting points in her letter commenting on columnist Bonnie Erbe's Seabiscuit column. While she may love horses, she doesn't appear to be familiar with their ownership and breeding. My wife and I have shared our lives with cats and dogs for our 34 years of marriage. We've also had a few equines in the fold, and currently have four in residence (her passion, I just lend a hand and moral support).
Unlike cats and dogs, the horse population is not subject to runaway growth. Unintentional pregnancies are not very common. A "spay and neutering" effort is not required. Mares are seldom treated. Stallions are often gelded. The remaining stallions rarely breed freely.
Horses are not pets in the classical sense, but we firmly believe that their ownership includes a responsibility to care for them humanely. (More than a few individuals have remarked that their hope for reincarnation is to come back as one of my wife's horses). Whether the relationship is for life (25 years give or take, not 30 to 40) is debatable, but it certainly shouldn't terminate with the slaughterhouse.
John Carrier
Bailey