Editor's note: Following Monday night's 82-72 loss to Duke, the Arizona Daily Wildcat's sports desk was inundated with letters supporting the team, criticizing the post-game riots and slamming the UA fans' complaints about refereeing.
I echo the Terrapin fan's comments. I also am a Terrapin and have witnessed this kind of favoritism for over 20 years. Maryland thoroughly outplayed Duke three out of four games this year, but with the officials' assistance, Duke won those three games. The ACC semifinal was a fair game won by Duke with a tip-in in the last seconds.
True, the Terps still should have won the game in College Park with perhaps an additional field goal or free throw made in those now infamous "54 seconds." But, that game should have never come down to that, given fair officiating. Perhaps others will now understand that Terrapin fans are not just sore losers.
The championship should have been a battle between the two best teams in the country: Arizona and Maryland. Take heart Arizona, you have many fans in Maryland that "feel your pain."
Brian Cox
Maryland fan
I just read (Ryan Finley's) commentary in the Wildcat about the riots that ensued after last night's game and wanted to thank you. I was thinking about just such an article after hearing about last night's events, about the lack of sportsmanship and maturity, and was glad to see that someone had already beat me to the punch.
Andrea Litt
UA Department of Renewable Natural Resources
To Lute Olson:
Sir,
For one brief shining moment, Duke will have their victory shout.
For one brief shining moment, Duke will have the spotlight.
They deserve their one brief shining moment.
And you have had your darkest season. It has come with your darkest of losses. After this final loss an interview was granted. The interview was dark and quiet and lonely. But a voice came out of that darkness. It was a voice that was most gracious.
It was a strong voice that was struggling to find the proper words. It was a voice that was once again battling grief. But what was seen was brighter and will last longer than anything that any opponent will ever have - ANY opponent.
One can only imagine the thoughts that were going through the mind that was speaking those words.
As I sit here and write this, I am alone, but I am not alone in what I say.
Sir, you are loved and you are honored.
Duke can have their brief shining moment. They deserve it. But here in Tucson is where the heart of the champions reside...
And that is forever.
Tim Beeker
Tucsonan
When it came right down to it, the Wildcats just couldn't make the shots that they needed to make near the end of the game. Duke did make their shots. Stop whining and be proud that Arizona made it down to the final. You only disparage the sport by blaming the loss on the officials!
Dave Dillard
Tucsonan
I must say that after reading (Bryan Rosenbaum's) opposing viewpoint to that of Mr. Kevin Caufield, the alleged Sports Editor of the rag that MSU refers to as the "State News" (last Thursday), I was very proud of the way you put across your opinion regarding the upcoming game on Saturday.
Being what you might call a "Life-Long, Hereditary Cat Fan" (although my father is an proud Arizona alum, I never took advantage of the chance to attend the finest institution of higher learning in all the land, or for that matter, any institution of higher learning), and an "Arizona Native," I must say you represented the U of A very well.
In a battle of intellects, Mr. Caufield would be well advised to "sharpen his weapon" the next time he decides to do battle with you. His name-calling and braggadocio are more suited for a grade school playground than the Final Four. Besides, he couldn't touch the stuff I've heard from fans of "Tempe Normal" over the years. He's way out of his league if he thinks he knows how to insult a Cat fan. I hope the Cats have used his little column for locker-room bulletin board fodder.
MSU fans would be well advised to speak with any fans of the "Fighting Ilini" who thought the Cats were a joke last weekend. If they do speak with them, I am sure they would learn that they find nothing funny about the Cats now.
Anyway, in closing, I'd just like to say that you have done your school proud, and as far as this native of the state is concerned, you're one of us now.
Kelly Damon
Tucsonan
