Big-league sports are all about money

Project: Reader Reaction

A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked about the Texas Rangers trading shortstop Alex Rodriguez to the New York Yankees. Some responses:

“Major league sports is first a business. As with any sport, if they do not have the team to entertain their fans it will show in the gate receipts. I am sure selling Rodriguez will have the same impact as the Braves (not signing) pitcher Greg Maddux.”

— Mac McDonald, Clovis

“Are the Texas Rangers looking for another ‘Curse of the Bambino’ by trading Alex Rodriguez to the Yankees? ... They might have the curse come down their way.”

— Gerald Majewski, Clovis

“Who really cares? Neither the teams nor the players are in it for the game anymore; it’s all about the money.”

— Charles F. Hemphill, Clovis

Hats off to kindness

Project: Reader Reaction applauds the Dora school students who donated their prom money to help pay for a classmate’s funeral. Participants were asked about other random acts of kindness they’ve heard about. One response:

“My son was hit by a truck on Llano last spring. Two people went out of their way to help him.

“My neighbor was getting gas when she saw the ambulance and a bike in the road. She went over to make sure it wasn’t my son. She was the first face he saw when he regained consciousness, and then she stayed with him until his dad could get there.

“The EMT who responded called us at home that night to make sure my son was recovering OK.

“Neither person HAD to do this, but we sure were glad they did!”

— Carol Singletary, Clovis

State lawmakers receive poor grades

A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked how New Mexico lawmakers performed this legislative session. Some responses:

“If you had to give them a grade, it would be a D-minus. Sure they passed some good bills — no-tax on food, supporting the four bases in New Mexico and providing monies for road improvements and stuff. However, they failed when it came to the DWI laws, New Mexico lottery for education (and) the bed tax on nursing homes, just to name a few.”

— Charles F. Hemphill, Clovis

“Lousy for the amount of money we pay in their salaries. They really delayed things on purpose and said that they had too much work to do. Well, I thought they were supposed to work for us and not gratify their own pleasures. ... We voters should think twice now about elections and who we really want in office to represent us. Taxation without representation is something to think about as did our forefathers back in Boston when they had a tea party.

— Gerald Majewski, Clovis

“The legislative session should be extended to 60 days every year — or more.”

— Harold Burris, Clovis

Roswell seems prepared for snow

A recent Project: Reader Reaction question asked how Clovis performed during a recent snowstorm. Some responses:

“For a city our size, I think things have been handled very well. The snowfall is not heavy and I think they have ample equipment to get us through. Of course people have to drive accordingly, considering street conditions.”

— Mac McDonald, Clovis

“While watching the news ... I found that Roswell has 18 snowplows that were running from 1 a.m. to make the streets of Roswell safe and drivable. So, I then began to wonder where were any snowplows in Clovis?

“When I went out early in the morning, two paths had been plowed up Norris Street. Other than that small evidence, I didn’t see any snow removal equipment at work at all, and the streets all the way downtown were a mess.

“Is Clovis dealing with icy weather? I would like to see a report of emergency response to weather or other emergency situations reported in the news. That would clarify what work Clovis is doing, what more needs to be done, and maybe what cannot be done because it needs to be funded.”

— Carolyn Spence, Clovis