What readers are saying

Seahawks

Hasselbeck gem of Emerald City

The negative stories that are reported daily regarding out-of-control athletes can make one assume that the ranks are full of loose cannons. We really need to appreciate the numerous moral-character professionals who represent the great Pacific Northwest.

One who comes to mind is Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck. Anyone who follows him through the local news and has listened to him on national-sports radio/television knows he understands his roots. He is a humble family man who praises those around him for making him a better person. He certainly is a gem in the Emerald City.

— Kenyon Lyle, Elma

Good citizens, bad draft

The consensus among sports-media gurus is the Seahawks draft rates a "D." It reminds me of the year Seahawks management patted themselves on the back for drafting Joe Tofflemire in the second round. However, I'm sure these new rookies are all high-character citizens.

— Paul J. Madden, SeaTac

Mariners

Wait to pronounce season lost

Despite all the very valid reasons for the Mariners' slow start this season that Larry Stone noted in his column ("Lost Cause?" on April 24), I'm in complete agreement that they're a team "on the verge of being a lost cause." Oh, wait, they won six of their next seven without any significant change in their lineup and Felix Hernandez still on the DL? Never mind.

Gosh, Larry, I'm not saying that the Mariners are a shoo-in to win the World Series this year, but 15 games into a 162-game season seems a tad early to be sticking a fork into any team. Could you please save the doom and gloom until at least the All-Star break?

— John Lalonde, Seattle

Don't mess with success

I'm getting a little concerned because I'm starting to believe this Mariners team could be pretty good in the next couple of seasons. Concerned because I know the M's ownership/management will blow the whole thing to pieces by their ineptitude to hold on to players or get the right ones (i.e. Jeff Weaver).

— Curt Boettcher, Atlanta

Ex-M's look good

I am looking at statistics and see Joel Pineiro at 2.79 ERA and Gil Meche at 2.19 ERA. These are the same guys that were booed in Seattle so much over the last few years.

The list goes on — Rich Aurilia, Jeff Cirillo and Scott Spiezio all went on for success after playing here. We thought Carlos Guillen and Freddy Garcia were not good enough, and they both ended up playing in a World Series.

What is the problem?

Manik Ahuja, Seattle

Edo Vanni

Colorful characters made Rainiers fun

My dad and his friends started taking me to Sicks' Stadium around 1946 when I was 5 or 6 years old, and I swear that I can still hear the peanut vendors and smell the strangely intoxicating mixture of hot dogs, mustard and cigarette smoke. We weren't rich, so I thought that if you could afford a program you were really lucky. After the game you could find copies laying around in the bleachers.

Today's kids have the Mariners and wonderful Safeco field, but somehow it's just not the same. I feel sorry that kids today will never know the stories about Edo Vanni and all the other characters who made life in Seattle during the 1940s and 1950s something fun and special.

— Bob Tierney, Arlington

Brandon Roy

Ex-Garfield star perfect model

I am a past football coach at Garfield High School, and know many of the past Garfield student-athletes that have gone through that institution.

I am writing on behalf of Brandon Roy and his winning NBA Rookie of the Year last week. I really believe that Brandon's story should be told to all inner-city athletes who are striving to use their athletic prowess as a means for college or professional venues.

Brandon almost made a critical mistake by entering the NBA draft out of high school (insert Sebastian Telfair here). Then Brandon stayed all four years, and made the Huskies basketball program what it is today. Not only did he go to two Sweet Sixteens, he made himself a top lottery pick (insert Spencer Hawes' name here). I believe Brandon made some great choices, and those choices helped him become a mature, well-schooled professional basketball player.

The underlying story is that Brandon had a great college experience, was set up well financially as a top draft pick (sixth overall), then he won Rookie of the Year, which will help send him on the way to what we all believe will be an All-Star career.

Kudos to the Roy family for guiding Brandon on great choices that will set him up for the rest of his life.

— Scott Laigo, Mukilteo

UW women's crew

Measure coach on more than titles

A job well done cannot always be measured in NCAA championships or Pac-10 titles. As a 2006 graduate of the Washington women's varsity-crew program, I was disappointed with Craig Smith's spin on coach Eleanor McElvaine's leadership abilities ("UW crew coach on hot seat," May 1).

I walked on to the Washington crew team in the autumn of 2002 during coach McElvaine's final year as the novice coach under Jan Harville. I had not rowed before college, so I thought my chances of making the team as a walk-on were slim. Yet by the end of that year I was racing in the top novice boat at the Pac-10 championships, thanks to the coaching I received from McElvaine.

Over the next three years, I went from being a true novice with no prior rowing experience to becoming a three-time letter winner, rowing in three NCAA championships, representing the United States and winning a World Championship in 2005 (also coached by McElvaine), and being named team captain and an All-American in 2006. I am currently training with the U.S. Olympic Team.

Job well done? I'd say so. Thanks, Coach.

— Megan Kalmoe,

Princeton, N.J.