No Easy Answers to These Beefs

Did you know Americans spent, on average, $190.86 per person on beef last year? Did you know fresh beef represents more than 7% of all grocery store sales? Did you know there’s a cattlewoman in Iowa who keeps track of her cows from her bedroom via closed circuit TV?

Well, I didn’t either. Not until the National Cattlemen’s Assn., for some inexplicable reason, put me on its mailing list.

Just another example of the strange correspondence that hits my mailbox these days . . .

Dear Ms. Ludovise:

As an officer of the Canyon High School Football Boosters, I must report the damage you have done to our program as a result of the lack of concern and indifference to our efforts at Canyon High School by publishing the article, “Being an Assistant Keeps Shumer From Fuming.” (Sept. 22)

The Orange Unified School District as well as most school districts are requiring the parents to produce more and more financial support so that the extracurricular student programs can continue. The Football Booster program at Canyon raises approximately $50,000 to offset funds that the school district cannot allocate.

By printing Mr. (Loren) Shumers’ interview, you have irreparably damaged . . .

* Mr. Shumers’ image in our boys’ eyes (Right or wrong?)

* Our booster club’s reputation in the community (Whose support we need.)

* Our ability to raise funds to support the youth activity at Canyon (Which is necessary!)

* You have humiliated our school in Orange County’s sports community (Which is embarrassing!)

Obviously, Mr. Shumer does not like Canyon High School’s administration, the players, the parents, or the booster organization. Why is he continuing to coach? Why did he use the Times as a sounding board? Why does he hold those feelings he voiced to you? Is there another side that you have not heard?

You slanted the article to make Mr. Shumer look bad, including the photo of him sitting in a lawn chair with our boys looking down on him. Unfortunately, your article made us all look bad. Your article was in extremely poor taste. You could have found positive things to say about us. We believe in the freedom on the press. When the press elects to quote defiant people, the press becomes irresponsible and defiant also.

You should be ashamed of yourself to allow such a good program to be hurt so badly by one individual who offered to step down as head coach and whose whole resignation was accepted by all concerned. Please, get a point of view on both sides before you self-appoint yourself to vindicate an individual at the expense of an entire program.

Ronald D. Mills

Vice President,

Canyon Football Booster Club

Whew, Mr. Mills. That’s some letter. As I recall, the column was simply about a head coach who, after developing two ulcers, decided to step down to avoid further stress, pressure from boosters included. If that’s enough to cause irreparable damage and humiliation, perhaps the program is more troubled than originally thought. *

Dear Ms. Ludovise:

Perhaps you contributed to the prep football rankings (“The Times Top 10,” Sept. 8). In any case, can you please explain the following:

The Times Top 10, Orange County:

Los Alamitos, No. 1

Huntington Beach, No. 2

Capistrano Valley, No. 3

Esperanza, No. 4

Mater Dei, No. 5

OK so far. But then in the “Southland Top 20 Poll” (also Sept. 8) Mater Dei jumps ahead of all the top four schools in Orange County to rank No. 5 in the Southland. Esperanza is placed before Los Alamitos, Capistrano Valley falls all the way back to No. 14 and Huntington Beach, No. 2 in Orange County, is not ranked at all!

Is this the new math? No wonder the country’s in trouble. I guess since Esperanza lost its opener, the whole universe is out of whack.

Harriet Ottaviano

Seal Beach

True, Harriet. It does seem a bit bewildering to see two different polls in the same newspaper on the same day. But in this case, The Times believes two perspectives are better than one. As for the universe being out of whack, well, my advice is the same as always: Eat more chocolate.

*

Dear Barbie:

In reading your article on quarterback Dov Herbstman (“Faith Comes First for This Player,” Sept. 24), a few things occurred to me. You seem to think, by your tone, that being invited to watch “Beverly Hills, 90210” indicates some sort of acceptance by your peers. I ask: Why would whether someone fits in or not depend on if they were asked to watch yet another episode of unrealistic pseudo-drama?

There are a few of us out here whom you, along with most of the media, simply choose to ignore. Our tastes run the gamut of decent poetry . . . classical music and most other arts that exude feeling, not worthless television programs that vomit ignorance and superficiality.

My friends and I would so much rather congregate somewhere homey, drink something warm and discuss life, philosophy or the existence of a higher power. These subjects are, adversely to “90210,” rather intriguing.

Eric Passchier

Los Angeles

Hey, Eric, lighten up there, dude. No one said watching those buds at Beverly Hills High was, like, the ultimate art form or anything. Personally, I agree with you. Shows like those totally spew! But hey--don’t tell Dylan, Donna, Brenda or Brandon I said that.

And please, write again soon. Barbie Ludovise’s column appears Wednesday, Friday and Sunday. Readers may reach Ludovise by writing her at The Times Orange County Edition, 1375 Sunflower Ave., Costa Mesa, 92626, by calling (714) 966-5847 or by fax at 966-5663.