SPORTS SPEAK UP!

IN ALL THE hoorah about the sports budget deficit and issues at UNM, no one is taking about what should be the major issues — studentathletes’ health and welfare. Of all the sports at UNM, football is the most dangerous with the most injuries — all (too) many with permanent effects — and deaths. Why else does (football) need 10 times as many players on the team than are on the field? Shouldn’t we look to protect the students by reducing the risk of crippling injuries and cut football? — BadKnees RUDY THE ATTORNEY blames UNM’s Football troubles on women (Title IX), better organizations (Power 5 Conferences), and the NCAA. I haven’t seen legal analysis like that since Algonquin J. Calhoun, the disbarred lawyer character on Amos & Andy. — Larry the VOL

I RECENTLY gave up my Lobo season football tickets, perfect 50-yard line seats, after 35 years. It was impossible to park at big games on the west side with sold out parking on an ungraded third world parking lot. It became harder to walk from illegal hotel parking on Gibson. Also, the offense was boring for years. I agree with Coach Davie: Football is important to the university. It should help support other worthwhile sports, i.e., soccer! … — Aging lifelong Lobo fan and supporter invested in season B.B. tickets, Renoski in Tijeras

AN OBSERVATION about “student athletes”: Tuesday’s story about Emily Lines traveling abroad in the “offseason” — not “summer break” — certainly cleared things up about what comes first, “student” or “athlete” in LoboLand, if not college sports overall. Maybe UNM would not have to cut any sports if the pros started to ante up for those that are clearly minor-league teams in their world, and let the University pay for the rest. — Brian, Albuquerque

I AGREE WITH T.O. in that Hall of Fame inductions are very tricky and political. Danny Romero(World Champion boxer) not being a member of our own NM Hall of Fame, has me skeptical year after year. — NM bred