Over the years of being involved with the program, Jack has made a lot of
friends around the country who are similarly involved.  Without exception,
their "hometown" newspapers report their college's athletics without the
negative bias that infects the BDN.  UMaine Athletics gets better coverage
from the Lewiston papers.
 
It's too bad.  It used to be a paper to be proud of.  That pride is gone as
the editorial policy is enforced, and tacitily approved by the inaction of
the staff and the tolerance of the public.  Maine fans don't want sugar
coating either, just the facts.  (Larry Mahoney used to do that regularly,
when we had a wilder bunch of players!!)  Now, I wouldn't even let the BDN on
campus.  They could make do with the generic press release.
 
And "Sounding Off" is not a forum for the readers to express their opposing
views.  It is just another place to read the same garbage shoveled out by the
same writers.  I know of and have read many, many letters dissenting with the
BDN that never get published, nor does a "representative sample" get
published.  Joe McLaughlin, the last time I bothered to send anything in,
called me and said they would publish it if I would agree to take out the
uncomplimentary reference I made to the BDN as the "Bangor Deadly"  I just
laughed and told him he could do as he wanted.
 
Hey Deron!  Want a job!?!
 
Cathy Hart