So long, Mavericks and Stars. Now it’s time for Fort Worth to step up | Opinion
Our backyard
Over a 24-hour period, the world learned that the Dallas Mavericks and Stars will be leaving their shared home, served as it is by the Trinity Railway Express, to far north Dallas and Plano, respectively. (June 3, 1B, “Mavericks arena move would hollow out downtown Dallas”) This will make their home games inaccessible for many fans in Fort Worth, the 10th-largest city in the United States.
It is time for city leaders to bring major pro sports to Fort Worth. We cannot rely on our neighbors to the east for our entertainment anymore.
- Chris Bellomy, Fort Worth
No more
I implore all of my fellow Tarrant County residents to boycott the Dallas Mavericks and Stars now that the teams have announced they are leaving downtown Dallas. How is it possible for us to travel to Plano and North Dallas in a reasonable amount of time?
These decisions smack of placing money before fans’ needs. These teams have effectively told us we are not important.
- David Jones, Arlington
Old news
Fort Worth city staff has discovered that the building the city hoped to use for a downtown library branch is unfit. (June 4, star-telegram.com, “A new library. An arts incubator. Game plan changes in downtown Fort Worth”) It would require the library to be spread over six floors, with too small a lobby, inadequate space for security and a single entrance, according to the Fort Worth Report.
They just now thought of this? It’s been more than a year since the city bought the building.
- Lee Rogers, Fort Worth
Priced out
The Charles Schwab Challenge at Colonial Country Club is a special event that is a big part of Fort Worth’s history. But since the redesign of the course two years ago, it has changed. This is now strictly an event for corporate schmoozing and the monied crowd.
A $100 general-admission ticket doesn’t even get you a bleacher seat, because all the seating for regular people has been replaced by seats, shade and food and drinks available only to those who pony up for a $450 pass. And because everyone is sequestered in these private clubs, no one is paying attention to the golf, and the course looks like a ghost town.
It’s an embarrassing spectacle in person and on TV. If changes aren’t made, we might not have a tournament in a few years.
- Marc York, Fort Worth
No comparison
I was with the Star-Telegram Editorial Board’s summation of what happened in the recent Republican runoffs and what’s to come — until it started comparing attacks on Islam to policies barring transgender treatments for children. (June 3, 12A, “How voter choices fueled nativist Texas GOP primary wins”)
The two issues should not be included in the same sentence. One is obvious hatred and bigotry, and the other is a matter of life and death and the pursuit of happiness for innocent children, rather than mutilation and sterilization.
- Carolyn B. Bryant, Bellaire
Not ladylike
Las Vegas Aces coach Becky Hammon threw a profane rant at officials after her WNBA team lost to the Dallas Wings. (May 28, star-telegram.com, “Aces coach rips officiating in profane rant after loss to Wings: ‘Gimme my fine’”) It doesn’t take a brain scientist to discern which foul words she used in the news story’s sanitized version. It was not only not ladylike, but also unsportsmanlike, and she should have her filthy mouth washed clean with lye soap.
When will people learn that outrageous cussing (especially in public) does no good? Watch the language.
- James A. Marples, Longview