I guess for my first article I should state my opinion on some sports issues, and show where my loyalty's lie.

If you looked in the rest of my web site you will realize that I am from the Philadelphia area. I consider myself an average Philadelphia sports fan. Passionate. I support my team with all my passion. BUT if the team does not give 100% or really deserves to be booed, I will boo. Typical Philly Fan. Hey, we snow balled Santa Claus. When I watch a Philly game on TV I am very loud at times. Other times I am very quiet. Depends on the game situation and if the officials are doing a good job. I will freely admit when the officials screw up for AND against my team. A rarity for many sports fans especially, when their team is losing. A recent example of this is the entire Islander Rich Pilon going after John LeClair's knees and the stuff that occured afterwards. I think Pilon should have been suspended, I think he should have been suspended for what he did to LeClair in Philly in January. I also think that Lacroix should have been suspended for his hit on Pilon in the March incident. No one should use his stick in that manner. Of course part of me still hopes that Pilon does not get back up after he gets hit. But that is the Philly in me. I do love rough play. BUT only if the roughness is LEGAL. Kasperitius's send off to Lindros, as much as I hate it, was a good clean play. The S.O.B. that was laughing, from the Pittsburgh bench, at Lindros's inability to stand up after the hit shot be strung up from Independence Hall during his next stay in Philly. But now I am off the subject a little bit. I will support my team but I also believe that the rules of the league should be followed. I think I get this because my dad is the commisioner for CYO soccer, Region 19 CYO track, and has held many other posts in the CYO program. My dad is also a high school soccer and basketball referee. I support the Flyers, Phillies, Eagles, and will occassionally make an effort to sit through half of a basketball game pro, college, or other level. My sport of first love is whichever sport is in season. Summer baseball, Winter hockey, Fall pro football, Spring baseball and hockey. Some intermingling of other sports are thrown in for flavor, but are never primary sport. Well I have told you what I like, now for the dislikes.

I hate Nike. Nike. Examine that word. Four letters. It is a curse. The chairman of Nike during the World Cup states, "I am not routing for the United States team, because they wear Adidas." He is an American. His corporations primary sales market: U.S.A. Hey Mr. Knight CEO of Nike: Swoosh This. Nike made average players get swelled heads of how good they think they are. You what this causes: GREED. I hate greed. I hate greedy athletes. They want a pay raise, they want to get paid their worth. Your worth!!!!! Get a REAL job. Everyone says that todays sport stars are so great. No they are not. Back in the 50's only the stars were paid enough so they would not have to work a regular job in the off season. Todays BOTTOM rung athletes do not have to work a regular job in the off season. These athletes can spend the entire off season working out and getting ready for their up coming season. So why do they come into training camp out of shape??????? They have the entire off season to work out a little bit, at least. Training camp should be when you are meeting your teammates, getting use to going up against other athletes, and preparing for the season to come. It should NOT be when you are starting to get into shape. That is when you see the real quality player versus the greddy athlete. Greedy athletes come into camp in shape when their contract is in its final year. Good athletes come into camp EVERY year in top shape. Quality players are the ones that don't cause trouble on the field or off the field, in or out of the locker room. Ricky Watters is NOT a quality athlete. He did good on the field when he shut up. He was an S.O.B. in the locker room, except last year. Of course that is because his contract was up last year.

Some of my other hates. I hate college football Division 1, if playoffs are good enough for Division 2, then they are good enough for Division 1a. I hate the NBA. I hate cheap shot artist. I hate frontrunners. I hate people who know NOTHING about sports but will try to talk to me about sports. If you do not know what you are talking about then SHUT UP.

There is probably more but I hate long columns and this one I think is much to long already.

D.A.TATER

I wrote a rant!