I’d like to know if our readers think we run too much sports.

We’ve made an effort to print in the newspapers information on games because neither of our competitors do. But do they know something we don’t? Don’t locals care about high school sports anymore?

We run tons of photos online after sporting events. We run pictures of many players, hoping they will share them on Instagram with friends and families. But I don’t know how much that is happening. When I look to see our top five stories I very seldom see one is sports.

I would like to know your opinion. We no longer have a sports reporter, but we are doing our best to have a quality sports section. Sometimes almost half of our published paper is devoted to sports. If the players, coaches, families and friends don’t want it, we could use that time and space for other stories, such as crime news, which we know is popular.

Please email me your thoughts at spowell@marysvilleglobe.com.

Selfish is as selfish does

Speaking of sports, selfishness has reached a new high when college football players won’t play in bowl games because they are afraid they might get hurt.

More people are starting to think that is OK. They are just looking out for themselves and their futures.

Exactly. They don’t care about their teammates, coaches, the schools that put them through college, the alumni who’ve donated millions of dollars to their schools so they can get an education.

This is a fairly new phenomenon. A lot of football was played before someone came up with this idea. I don’t begrudge the desire to make money, but just a reminder – people can get hurt anywhere. And their chances of making the NFL aren’t guaranteed even if they don’t get hurt. If this continues to be allowed, where does it end? If a freshman has an outstanding year, should he be allowed not to play until he is eligible for the draft? I can remember many times when great freshman were hurt in later years, hurting their draft position or maybe not even being able to play at all.

As soon as players find out their team won’t make a bowl, should they be allowed to quit mid-season?

At the pro level, does Russell Wilson stop playing quarterback as soon as they qualify for the playoffs? I know if I paid big money to go to one of their games, and he sat out I’d be upset.

Another example, this one local. What if RaeQuan Battle decided to quit playing for Marysville-Pilchuck because he’s already signed to play for the University of Washington? Where does it end?

The NCAA should come up with some kind of rule so players can’t sit out. Maybe each school could buy an insurance policy for the player just in case he is hurt.

On the other side of this, why would anyone draft a player who didn’t live up to his commitment? Doesn’t sound like a team player. Do they really want him on their team?

Rude is still crude

With this last Backseat Coach column of 2018 I’m hoping it’s out with the old, in with the new – a new attitude that is.

I noticed a lot of rude attitudes in 2018, especially in December, when we are are supposed to be all warm and fuzzy with Christmas and the New Year and everything.

It started when I commented on Facebook that President Trump would be more popular if he wasn’t so rude. Some of the things he’s done have actually been good for the country. But he will never get credit for them as long as he treats others so badly.

That comment received a number of likes – 56 the last I looked, probably my most ever. It also received some agreeable comments.

However, there were some downright mean comments, too – I pointed out that they complain about how mean the media treats Trump, but then they turned around and did the same thing to me.

Anyway, those comments surprised me since I really was trying to compliment Trump, albeit in a backhanded tone.

Some people read things into my comment – such as I’m a liberal (I’m an Independent), that I support political correctness (I don’t) and that President Obama and Hillary Clinton are worse (my post was only about our current president).

What shocked me the most was how many people aren’t bothered by his rudeness. They actually like it.

And the rudeness is not just on Facebook. I felt it in real life just the other day at a high school basketball game.

I’m more proud than ever to be an Independent. Democrats and Republicans blame each other for everything, won’t work together and actually work against anything getting done when the other is in power. And it’s not just the lawmakers. Their constituents who identify with the parties do the same thing. Online it’s a verbal civil war.

We need to give credit where credit is do and get back to working together for the good of the country.

As a Christian I believe in, “Do unto others…” I hope that mantra returns in 2019.