Poly High’s Team

Re “We Are Not Losers,” Oct. 17.

I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed your article about the football team at Poly High. What a terrific article. It moved me to where I felt as if I wanted or needed to do something, even if it was so small an act as to go out to one of their games and give them some support. The way you wrote the story just about brought me to tears, and I even shared it with some of my co-workers. They also were very moved.

It’s always great when we can read something in the paper that is inspirational, as opposed to just the regular depressing news that we get bombarded with, not only in the paper but on radio and TV as well. I thank you for such an emotional and inspiring article.

JOANNE GUERRERO

Walnut

* Granted, it may have been a slow news day on Oct. 17; still I would like to praise The Times editors for making the plight of the football fortunes of Poly High the centerpiece of your front page.

In a day when sports figures are making tremendous bucks and sports stars, even in the college ranks, are being arrested for intoxication, rape and physical assault, I enjoyed reading about a team that is striving to achieve pride in participation in a losing football season. We have so many “winners” acting like maniacs--playing just for themselves and their own aggrandizement. Poly is a team taking it on the chin, but it is able to encourage players to look up, keep striving and to express pride by wearing a tie to school.

I’m in my 70s, but I remember playing on a team as a teenager that never won a game. However, we had great camaraderie, we practiced diligently and kept doing our best in very trying circumstances. As I look back, it was a great learning experience for life.

DENIS J. RYAN

Canoga Park