DATE: Saturday, May 31, 1997                TAG: 9705310015

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  110 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR -THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

SPORTS

Not all parents

are bored with soccer

I read Kerry Dougherty's May 24 column on the horror of soccer with no small measure of concern. As the parents of young athletes, my husband and I have also spent hours on sidelines, on bleachers, in the rain, in the cold, at remote fields and gymnasia.

Somehow, we found ways to make these into family adventures rather than the tortures Ms. Dougherty experienced. Our sons were pitting themselves against the real world and learning about what they could do and where they would eventually fit into the greater scheme of things.

I know this was valuable to them because, as young adults, they have thanked us for it. And this, I believe, is the whole point: what it meant for them, not the inconvenience it meant for us.

It seems inappropriate for Ms. Dougherty to suppose that all the parents present were bored.

Susan K. Eilberg

Virginia Beach, May 26, 1997

I strongly disagree with the statement Ms. Dougherty made in her May 24 column about soccer being ``boring.'' I play on an under-12 Virginia Beach Soccer Club team, and my parents enjoy coming to my soccer games to watch my brother and me play soccer.

I think that the soccer complex is a good idea. Ms. Dougherty mentioned that there are about 30,000 children in Virginia Beach who play soccer. That makes approximately 60,000 parents who need some place to sit so that they can watch their children play soccer. I don't believe City Council will regret building a soccer complex either now or later for the children of Virginia Beach.

Jared Laser

Virginia Beach, May 26, 1997

I was truly offended to read the May 24 column by Kerry Dougherty, which I can only describe as a soccer hate letter.

My son has played soccer for over 10 years. It's wonderful to watch this fascinating game within a game - the one-on-one battles, the skills and the quick decisions that must be made on their feet.

Ms. Dougherty doesn't appreciate any of this. So who cares what a person who would rather ``drink espresso and listen to classical music'' thinks about soccer? If she hates the game so much, she should leave soccer alone.

Paula J. Bryan

Chesapeake, May 25, 1997

Having spent time in Ireland, Ms. Dougherty should know that in Europe, the professional soccer players are regarded the same way we regard football, baseball and basketball players here. Soccer is definitely not a boring sport in Europe.

I think it is great that we will have a soccer stadium that will allow us to host professional teams. I, for one, will be in the stands with my children, watching the professionals do their magic with the soccer ball.

To me, it would be a small reward if one of my children gets to play a championship game in a proper stadium built for that purpose, and would make all those weekends of games and weeknights of practice, in rain or shine, heat or cold, worth every minute.

Anna Woodworth

Virginia Beach, May 26, 1997

Since 40 percent to 50 percent of all youths are either unfit, overweight or lack essential skills to play an adequate game of soccer, I feel that we as parents, coaches and physical educators must emphasize soccer at a young age. Children may burn off 200 to 600 calories a game depending on how vigorously the child plays.

In addition, soccer teaches the young child teamwork.

I am thrilled that my three sons decided to choose soccer, and I wholeheartedly support a pro soccer stadium.

Sharon Z. Weeks

Virginia Beach, May 25, 1997

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Earley is running

on the issues

I was very pleased to read your May 24 editorial, ``Stolle vs. Earley.'' It was right on the mark questioning Mr. Stolle's character.

As a longtime resident, I have been very impressed with the dedicated service Sen. Mark Earley has provided not only to Chesapeake but also to Hampton Roads and the commonwealth of Virginia. There is no more principled individual serving this fine state and its people.

Senator Earley is running an issues-based campaign for attorney general, not kowtowing to the interest groups, as are the other three candidates, as evidenced by the levels of contributions pouring into their coffers.

You are to be applauded for setting the record straight before this obvious distortion confused the voters of Virginia. Senator Earley is the best choice for attorney general.

James H. B. Morton

Chesapeake, May 26, 1997

Earley's in ``debt''

to the unions

In response to your May 19 article about the attorney general race, ``Earley's union views become issue'': It appears that candidate Mark Earley is expecting Virginians to believe that he did not understand different pieces of legislation that he has sponsored. The public might be able to accept that an attorney and state senator does not read everything he puts his signature on, but the article discloses yet another side to the story - money; large sums of money from unions.

Mr. Earley accepted money from unions, he sponsored bills for unions and he didn't read all of these pro-labor bills before he signed them. Is he selling out or incompetent? There are two sides to everything; in this case, bad and worse.

Karen C. Starnes

Chesapeake, May 24, 1997

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