Columnist Should Avoid Riding Un-American Wave

“What’s the Challenge? Picking a Winner,” Dave Distel’s Jan. 26 column, an America’s Cup update, is biased beyond belief. Few writers of any other country would lead off with a statement that the challengers (read: another country) will probably win the “ugly mug” (read: win one of sailing’s most coveted trophies).

Blasphemous! Un-American! Absurd! And so early in the game. Americans have achieved this victory all but once since the race began more than 100 years ago, and this year’s Cup race is no great exception.

Further, I don’t get Distel’s disdain of the defender’s trials. There’s little difference between this and any other preliminary matches in any other sport. Maybe he’s bored with preliminary matches, but they are part of the elimination process as with any other sport.

The trouble with Distel seems to be that he doesn’t like the America’s Cup race. That’s OK, but why is he given precious space to comment? Won’t some sailor tell him that there is a lot more to this than who has the fastest boat?

It’s early yet to be writing American obituaries. I want to read engaging articles of substance, intelligently written, like those written of other great sports, written by someone who knows more than a little of the sport to which he applies his wit. Let’s be fair to the sailing crowd this time and leave the negative and uninformed at the dock.

KELLY ROGERS, Carlsbad