Letters to the Editor 03-27-2006
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By -
- Supports Coach - Illegals - Tiger Potential - Immigration - WCHS Athletics
Supports Coach
Editor, Times-Union:After reading the recent article in the paper, "What's wrong with Tiger Basketball?," I was, to say the least, both offended and disappointed. The accusations and negative portrayals of Coach Ogle were not only unfair, but also very inaccurate. After contacting a few of my close friends who had the wonderful opportunity to play for Coach Ogle, the response was very much the same - disappointed.
My experiences under Coach Ogle were very much positive ones. The lessons I learned from Coach and the rest of the coaching staff under him like hard work, dedication and teamwork are all skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I would have never been the basketball player I was, let alone the person that I am today, without the great influence that I had under Coach Ogle. This became very clear to me my first year of college.
Upon graduating, I had the opportunity to play basketball at the college level. After a negative experience with basketball in college, it became very evident to me that the quality of instruction I had received at Warsaw under Coach Ogle was unparallel to any other instruction I had ever received about the game of basketball. The fundamentals, knowledge and love for the game that Coach Ogle and his coaching staff bring each and every day are still among the best in the state. I consider myself both lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to work under such a great man who I consider a great coach, but more importantly a genuine, caring and hardworking person.
So, in answering the question "What is wrong with Tiger Basketball?," the answer is clear to me and many other former Warsaw Tiger basketball players. Nothing. If we in the community truly love Tiger basketball and its deep tradition, then we must embrace Coach Ogle, the program, and be supportive of the team through both good times and bad. If we can do these things, then Tiger basketball will always set itself far apart from other programs among the state.
I am proud to say that I played under a great coach who truly understands what Tiger Basketball really means - a man who understands that Warsaw Tiger Basketball represents far more than winning seasons and state titles; a man who was my coach, and is now my very close friend; a gentleman that has helped me get the most out of what Tiger Basketball truly represents, but most importantly a friend whose time and contributions has had such a profound impact on my life - Doug Ogle.
Todd Braddock, via e-mail
2004 Warsaw High School Graduate
Former Tiger Basketball Player
Current student at Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion
Illegals
Editor, Times-Union:Say "no" to the Lingo Lynx program, say "yes" to the return of the 12 million illegals from Mexico that we know about.
Mr. Mayor, I keep reading and rereading the article published on the front page of the Weekend (March 25 & 26) addition of the Times-Union and I can not believe that you said, "I think that Warsaw needs to learn the Spanish language to be able to immerse everyone into the community."
This proposal only encourages the continuation of the breaking of federal, state and local laws pertaining to illegal immigration. I, like everyone that I have spoken to about this issue for years, now feel that Mexicans are welcome to come to the USA to better their lives, if they do it lawfully. The vast majority don't enter legally, and once here, will not go back. They just stay here and snub their noses at our legal system and protest that they are entitled to their rights to stay (there are no such rights for non-citizen illegals).
Mr. Mayor, why do people like you take a stand with law breakers instead of long-rooted Americans that deserve your voice and actions to reflect their wishes about this issue? Why don't you take a straw poll and see how many citizens want to be made to speak Spanish, so we can maybe understand the words of criminals. Illegals are criminals, and the proposed laws would make the crime of being a illegal alien a felony level crime. I say it's about time. Build a barrier from the pacific to the gulf and man it with armed patriots, not killers. After all, it is our sworn duty to protect the USA from all enemies, and I think the illegals being criminals fall into that category.
Mr. Mayor and all American elected officials, I say that all Mexicans legally entering the USA should be required to write, read, and speak the American English language fluently to meet entry requirements into our great nation. If they legally become citizens, great! If it comes time for them to go back to Mexico, see that they go! One more thing, Mr Mayor, have you any idea how many local, state and federal dollars are mailed to Texas via USPS money orders en route to Mexico, and how many U.S. dollars are sent directly to Mexico each month via international money orders? Check it out, it runs into the billions, most is untaxed and used to finance the effort to bring in more illegals.
Voting citizens, please take note of who is backing crime instead of you and get them out of office at the earliest possible election. If you are afraid to speak your mind, don't be afraid to vote it.
Jonathan R Mauk, via e-mail
Warsaw
Tiger Potential
Editor, Times-Union:I know I had big expectations for this past basketball season. More importantly, I know that group of seniors had big expectations also. It was sad to see them all walk off the court that final time at Marion, more so because they were seniors and because of how the season went. Knowing the kind of kids and competitors they are, I bet they aren't taking the easy way out and blaming it on Ogle. Some people think the "solution is simple," but are they being fair?
No, Ogle hasn't had Rhodes-like success or anything halfway close. You could easily say this year's team should have had a solid 7-8 man rotation and been very successful. All that said, let's take a closer look at this season. Ogle didn't tell those kids to play a solid three quarters and then commit turnovers and miss free throws in the fourth quarter. The majority of those losses were blown late in the game because they couldn't finish or due to their inability to guard the perimeter (remember NorthWood, Elkhart Memorial, etc.). What was the team's excuse not to be able to do that, with all that length and a starting lineup that consisted of three football players, they should of been all over the place. Defense is something that you have to have a passion to play, as an individual or team. It's easy to chuck a three. How about taking some pride in shutting somebody down?
Look at what happened in the sectional championship. Everybody accepted their role defensively and they won. I guarantee Ogle had a plan defensively every game, not just that one, and, by the way, they hit free throws in the fourth quarter. I bet they play defense at Tennessee. Everybody knows defense wins championships.
I'm sorry, but there's no way you can out-and-out blame Ogle. It's easy to because of prior seasons. Look, Plymouth minus four of their starters went out and beat Concord this year. Yes, I know Jack Edison is their coach, but whatever five guys were on the floor took it upon themselves to get the job done also. Point is they had a "no-excuse" mentality. The Tigers were up by so much against Whitko and barely beat them! No disrespect to Whitko, but that group of Tigers with two D-1 recruits shouldn't have needed a coach to win by 20.
Ogle made mistakes and I'm sure he knows that. Him, Wolfe and company want to turn this thing around just as bad as anyone else. I have no idea if Ogle will be around next year or not. No matter who the coach is or what kids are on the team, they will still need the ability to focus for the whole game and have a desire to play defense. How many turnovers did those seniors create their freshman year? Did anybody care to crunch those numbers? I do agree with Mr. Poe. Warsaw does have a special crop of players with state championship potential, but having the desire within themselves to fulfill that potential is another thing altogether.
Carlos Cabrera, via e-mail
Warsaw
Immigration
Editor, Times-Union:As I open the paper almost every day, I see the fluff pieces and letters exclaiming how lucky we are to have a growing Mexican/Latino population. Whether it comes from Social Marxists, liberal Christians or greedy businessmen always looking for a faster buck, it's still crap.
I watched a beautiful California village where I lived for 36 years within a few short years turn into a Third World nightmare. Don't take my word for it. Ask anyone from Southern California about the great blessings of the invasion. It's coming to a neighborhood near you.
I see all the same tell-tale marks here in Warsaw. I also see the same old party line from virtually the same sources that turned California into a Third World state that's going broke paying for this wonderful diverse blessing.
It looks, so far, like Indiana taxpayers are more than willing to pay the price tag for that "warm and fuzzy feeling of liberalism."
Tom Metzger, via e-mail
Warsaw
WCHS Athletics
Editor, Times-Union:I am writing to you in response to the letter you printed March 23 titled "Spoiled Kids."
It inflames me to read letters written by people removed from the town expounding on the "problems" of our team. How dare anyone make such hateful comments about players when their only frame of reference is the win-loss column printed in the local paper!
For the record, Tiger basketball is a "game" played by students. They are not recruited. Their victories are not predestined. They do have a strong tradition which can not be denied. However, that tradition is hard to continue in the seniors-first world of Warsaw Community High School athletics.
Justin Dwyer writes about "spoiled kids" that did not win. He singled out the Plumlee boys for not making a difference on the team and for wanting to expand their universe of opportunities. Neither Miles nor Mason were a starter for the Tigers. Why not direct your wrath at the seniors?
The spoiled ones are the seniors who the coaches play above talented underclassmen. This phenomenon is not limited to basketball, but is witnessed throughout the WCHS athletic program. Seniors expect to be there - it's their turn. To field teams that are the best they can be, players should be willing to win their position rather than have it given to them due to seniority.
As for the Plumlee boys, I do not know anyone who knows them that could call them spoiled. They are stellar examples of what we'd all like all student athletes to be - dedicated, hard working, studious and talented young men. These boys do not quit on anything. Rumors are just that, rumors. To think that WCHS basketball should take precedence over personal education and growth is a small-town vision.
Should the Plumlees, or anyone, have the opportunity to grow at a prep school, I say, "Congratulations!" To the Warsaw fans that feel cheated of the opportunity to see these fine athletes play, I say, "Thank the WCHS athletic department and their 'senior' priorities." To all, I say, "It's only a 'game' played by 'students.'"
Lori McCutcheon, via e-mail
Winona Lake
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- Supports Coach - Illegals - Tiger Potential - Immigration - WCHS Athletics
Supports Coach
Editor, Times-Union:After reading the recent article in the paper, "What's wrong with Tiger Basketball?," I was, to say the least, both offended and disappointed. The accusations and negative portrayals of Coach Ogle were not only unfair, but also very inaccurate. After contacting a few of my close friends who had the wonderful opportunity to play for Coach Ogle, the response was very much the same - disappointed.
My experiences under Coach Ogle were very much positive ones. The lessons I learned from Coach and the rest of the coaching staff under him like hard work, dedication and teamwork are all skills that I will use for the rest of my life. I would have never been the basketball player I was, let alone the person that I am today, without the great influence that I had under Coach Ogle. This became very clear to me my first year of college.
Upon graduating, I had the opportunity to play basketball at the college level. After a negative experience with basketball in college, it became very evident to me that the quality of instruction I had received at Warsaw under Coach Ogle was unparallel to any other instruction I had ever received about the game of basketball. The fundamentals, knowledge and love for the game that Coach Ogle and his coaching staff bring each and every day are still among the best in the state. I consider myself both lucky and privileged to have had the opportunity to work under such a great man who I consider a great coach, but more importantly a genuine, caring and hardworking person.
So, in answering the question "What is wrong with Tiger Basketball?," the answer is clear to me and many other former Warsaw Tiger basketball players. Nothing. If we in the community truly love Tiger basketball and its deep tradition, then we must embrace Coach Ogle, the program, and be supportive of the team through both good times and bad. If we can do these things, then Tiger basketball will always set itself far apart from other programs among the state.
I am proud to say that I played under a great coach who truly understands what Tiger Basketball really means - a man who understands that Warsaw Tiger Basketball represents far more than winning seasons and state titles; a man who was my coach, and is now my very close friend; a gentleman that has helped me get the most out of what Tiger Basketball truly represents, but most importantly a friend whose time and contributions has had such a profound impact on my life - Doug Ogle.
Todd Braddock, via e-mail
2004 Warsaw High School Graduate
Former Tiger Basketball Player
Current student at Indiana Wesleyan University
Marion
Illegals
Editor, Times-Union:Say "no" to the Lingo Lynx program, say "yes" to the return of the 12 million illegals from Mexico that we know about.
Mr. Mayor, I keep reading and rereading the article published on the front page of the Weekend (March 25 & 26) addition of the Times-Union and I can not believe that you said, "I think that Warsaw needs to learn the Spanish language to be able to immerse everyone into the community."
This proposal only encourages the continuation of the breaking of federal, state and local laws pertaining to illegal immigration. I, like everyone that I have spoken to about this issue for years, now feel that Mexicans are welcome to come to the USA to better their lives, if they do it lawfully. The vast majority don't enter legally, and once here, will not go back. They just stay here and snub their noses at our legal system and protest that they are entitled to their rights to stay (there are no such rights for non-citizen illegals).
Mr. Mayor, why do people like you take a stand with law breakers instead of long-rooted Americans that deserve your voice and actions to reflect their wishes about this issue? Why don't you take a straw poll and see how many citizens want to be made to speak Spanish, so we can maybe understand the words of criminals. Illegals are criminals, and the proposed laws would make the crime of being a illegal alien a felony level crime. I say it's about time. Build a barrier from the pacific to the gulf and man it with armed patriots, not killers. After all, it is our sworn duty to protect the USA from all enemies, and I think the illegals being criminals fall into that category.
Mr. Mayor and all American elected officials, I say that all Mexicans legally entering the USA should be required to write, read, and speak the American English language fluently to meet entry requirements into our great nation. If they legally become citizens, great! If it comes time for them to go back to Mexico, see that they go! One more thing, Mr Mayor, have you any idea how many local, state and federal dollars are mailed to Texas via USPS money orders en route to Mexico, and how many U.S. dollars are sent directly to Mexico each month via international money orders? Check it out, it runs into the billions, most is untaxed and used to finance the effort to bring in more illegals.
Voting citizens, please take note of who is backing crime instead of you and get them out of office at the earliest possible election. If you are afraid to speak your mind, don't be afraid to vote it.
Jonathan R Mauk, via e-mail
Warsaw
Tiger Potential
Editor, Times-Union:I know I had big expectations for this past basketball season. More importantly, I know that group of seniors had big expectations also. It was sad to see them all walk off the court that final time at Marion, more so because they were seniors and because of how the season went. Knowing the kind of kids and competitors they are, I bet they aren't taking the easy way out and blaming it on Ogle. Some people think the "solution is simple," but are they being fair?
No, Ogle hasn't had Rhodes-like success or anything halfway close. You could easily say this year's team should have had a solid 7-8 man rotation and been very successful. All that said, let's take a closer look at this season. Ogle didn't tell those kids to play a solid three quarters and then commit turnovers and miss free throws in the fourth quarter. The majority of those losses were blown late in the game because they couldn't finish or due to their inability to guard the perimeter (remember NorthWood, Elkhart Memorial, etc.). What was the team's excuse not to be able to do that, with all that length and a starting lineup that consisted of three football players, they should of been all over the place. Defense is something that you have to have a passion to play, as an individual or team. It's easy to chuck a three. How about taking some pride in shutting somebody down?
Look at what happened in the sectional championship. Everybody accepted their role defensively and they won. I guarantee Ogle had a plan defensively every game, not just that one, and, by the way, they hit free throws in the fourth quarter. I bet they play defense at Tennessee. Everybody knows defense wins championships.
I'm sorry, but there's no way you can out-and-out blame Ogle. It's easy to because of prior seasons. Look, Plymouth minus four of their starters went out and beat Concord this year. Yes, I know Jack Edison is their coach, but whatever five guys were on the floor took it upon themselves to get the job done also. Point is they had a "no-excuse" mentality. The Tigers were up by so much against Whitko and barely beat them! No disrespect to Whitko, but that group of Tigers with two D-1 recruits shouldn't have needed a coach to win by 20.
Ogle made mistakes and I'm sure he knows that. Him, Wolfe and company want to turn this thing around just as bad as anyone else. I have no idea if Ogle will be around next year or not. No matter who the coach is or what kids are on the team, they will still need the ability to focus for the whole game and have a desire to play defense. How many turnovers did those seniors create their freshman year? Did anybody care to crunch those numbers? I do agree with Mr. Poe. Warsaw does have a special crop of players with state championship potential, but having the desire within themselves to fulfill that potential is another thing altogether.
Carlos Cabrera, via e-mail
Warsaw
Immigration
Editor, Times-Union:As I open the paper almost every day, I see the fluff pieces and letters exclaiming how lucky we are to have a growing Mexican/Latino population. Whether it comes from Social Marxists, liberal Christians or greedy businessmen always looking for a faster buck, it's still crap.
I watched a beautiful California village where I lived for 36 years within a few short years turn into a Third World nightmare. Don't take my word for it. Ask anyone from Southern California about the great blessings of the invasion. It's coming to a neighborhood near you.
I see all the same tell-tale marks here in Warsaw. I also see the same old party line from virtually the same sources that turned California into a Third World state that's going broke paying for this wonderful diverse blessing.
It looks, so far, like Indiana taxpayers are more than willing to pay the price tag for that "warm and fuzzy feeling of liberalism."
Tom Metzger, via e-mail
Warsaw
WCHS Athletics
Editor, Times-Union:I am writing to you in response to the letter you printed March 23 titled "Spoiled Kids."
It inflames me to read letters written by people removed from the town expounding on the "problems" of our team. How dare anyone make such hateful comments about players when their only frame of reference is the win-loss column printed in the local paper!
For the record, Tiger basketball is a "game" played by students. They are not recruited. Their victories are not predestined. They do have a strong tradition which can not be denied. However, that tradition is hard to continue in the seniors-first world of Warsaw Community High School athletics.
Justin Dwyer writes about "spoiled kids" that did not win. He singled out the Plumlee boys for not making a difference on the team and for wanting to expand their universe of opportunities. Neither Miles nor Mason were a starter for the Tigers. Why not direct your wrath at the seniors?
The spoiled ones are the seniors who the coaches play above talented underclassmen. This phenomenon is not limited to basketball, but is witnessed throughout the WCHS athletic program. Seniors expect to be there - it's their turn. To field teams that are the best they can be, players should be willing to win their position rather than have it given to them due to seniority.
As for the Plumlee boys, I do not know anyone who knows them that could call them spoiled. They are stellar examples of what we'd all like all student athletes to be - dedicated, hard working, studious and talented young men. These boys do not quit on anything. Rumors are just that, rumors. To think that WCHS basketball should take precedence over personal education and growth is a small-town vision.
Should the Plumlees, or anyone, have the opportunity to grow at a prep school, I say, "Congratulations!" To the Warsaw fans that feel cheated of the opportunity to see these fine athletes play, I say, "Thank the WCHS athletic department and their 'senior' priorities." To all, I say, "It's only a 'game' played by 'students.'"
Lori McCutcheon, via e-mail
Winona Lake
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