Regarding the Braden River vs. Manatee high school football game on Oct. 16:
I have been to many football games in my life, from Pop Warner through professional games, and I go to various high school games weekly. Kudos to Braden River for a great game; however, never have I been so appalled by the actions of fans as I was with the Braden River parents Friday night.
I understand that referees don’t always make the correct calls, and the referees Friday were far from perfect. What was so upsetting was the fact that parents are supposed to set an example for their kids and unfortunately the parents of Braden River are setting an extremely poor one. Calls don’t always go your team’s way, that’s just football. It’s not because the refs are cheating, which are just a couple of the things repeatedly heard during the game.
I saw No. 85 for Braden River twice help up team members for Manatee (one of which a ref noticed and patted the kid on the back). This kid is a great example of good sportsmanship. Perhaps he could hold a class for his teammates’ parents.
Early in the first quarter, one mother was overheard saying her kid was on the ground because his opponent poked him in the eye intentionally. That turned out not to be the case, and I found it interesting that her immediate reaction was that the other team was “dirty.”
In the second half, I truly felt that if a key Manatee player had been hurt, the parents at Braden River would have cheered. I have never seen such a large group of sore losers in my life.
Again, an exciting and well played game by the Pirates, notwithstanding some of their fans’ poor behavior.
Diane Palladino
Bradenton
From double dippers to CEO ripoffs, end the boondoggles
With the front page of Sunday’s newspaper awash with headlines about Manatee County double dippers and nursing home CEOs living large at the cost of taxpayers, the question arises: Why do we the people keep raising cane when nobody listens? The term boondoggle comes to mind.
The double-dipping debacle goes way back and yet even with 67 people vying for the job of assistant director of human resources for the Manatee County Board of Education and a record high unemployment rate of 12.2 percent, the school board can’t find a better match than a retired Chuck Banks?
Even the new state law going into effect in July 2010 is a stretch. Putting a six-month ban on re-employment as opposed to the present 30 days will not provoke change. There should be a ban, period! This practice comfortably keeps everything on a status quo basis. It’s not what you know but who you know, “you scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours.” That’s the whole problem with Manatee County.
Taxpayer monies, e.g. property taxes, insurance fees (Citizens certainly knows which pockets to pick) go a long way in financing double dipping and are obviously well spent in financing BMW 325cis, Cadillac Escalades and Roman tub faucets for nursing home CEOs and their family members.
How absolutely convenient that the parties in question are never available for comment in these situations. A guilty conscience needs no accuser, right? People who act surreptitiously have their set agendas. But this untenable situation has to raise the ire of anyone with an inkling of common sense.
With “government” insidiously finagling taxpayer monies from pocket-to-pocket of given cronies, attempting to introduce a public health plan seems egregious. What a way to set a bad example!
Any more similar headlines and I’m canceling my subscription and sticking my head in the mud.
Gabriele Boecker
Bradenton
Double dipping in this time of record unemployment?
I am angry! Every time I read or hear of the double dipping that goes on in our state, I can’t help but think of the nearly 12 percent of people that are unemployed. How much money does a person need to live comfortably? Certainly not the amount that these “double dippers” are receiving! Double dipping is nothing more than greed.
If they want to go back to work, then they should give up their retirement pay ... perhaps to the welfare system for those who are unable to find work.
Don’t say that these “double dippers” are more qualified. How does one become qualified when not given the chance? That is just a big excuse to bring in favorite friends. Something must be done to stop this double dipping.
Jerri O’Leary
Bradenton
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