Dear Sir,

Having read this morning's (November 30) Gazette regarding Troy Douglas, I am sure that there are a number of people in Bermuda who are upset at his comments and especially his unfortunate remarks regarding Shaun Goater.

Personally I am not upset. Not that I am not a fan of Shaun Goater, no, I'm not upset, because having witnessed many years of 'Douglas diatribe' I am just not surprised at his latest outburst.

If TheGazette were to check back throughout the years, I am sure that in just about every article about Douglas he has run his mouth, uncontrollably, loudly, and as we see today with a lack respect for the readers.

He has clearly learned nothing about dealing with the media or the public. His running ability, which is not questioned, has always been overshadowed by his unbelievable self-praise and promotion which totally switches most people off reading about his athletic achievements.

He clearly has a good running coach. He should have invested in a 'personality coach' at the same time. I would like to give him some free advice, although knowing him which I do, he will dismiss it with one of his usual angry tongue lashings.

However, as a last effort to try and help him finish his career other than being remembered for a 'drug scandal' and a big mouth, I would ask him to consider the following, "Self praise is no recommendation", "Command respect, don't demand it", "Put your brain into gear before you open your mouth" and finally, never, never demean another person's achievements to promote your own.

Finally to Shaun Goater. I am not a football fan by any stretch of the imagination, but to you Sir, I read every article you write, and that is written about you because you are clearly a gentleman, an ambassador for Bermuda, a true role model to young and old, and someone who not only takes from your sport but gives back.

You deserve all the respect and recognition you are getting and Bermuda is justifiably proud of you.

NOT IMPRESSED!

Dear Sir,

Adrian Robson's interpretation of the BTFA's successful CAC Cross Country Championships (Friday Forum, November 23) was bias and full of lies.

As usual his personal vendetta against the BTFA led him to assume they are wrong for Bermuda not having a senior women's cross country team.

Did it ever occur to Adrian may be the elite senior women lacked real commitment or chose not to compete in this particular event. Why assume the BTFA are anti-women.

A simple bit of research would have led Adrian to conclude that the BTFA have documented evidence such as invitations to all the athletes Adrian mentioned and more. They also have e-mails etc. to prove efforts were made to include all the Island's elite senior women in the same democratic way our senior men, junior men and women were included.

If Adrian had written an article titled "What happen (sic) to our senior women's team?" and given an accurate account portraying both sides of the story . . . we could sympathise with him. Instead he has chosen to publish the idiotic, insensitive statements of an obviously unqualified coach who has the ordassity (sic) to compare the BTFA to the Taliban.

Seeing Adrian supports this type of sports governing body assassination, may be he should be renamed Adrian Bin Laden.

MIKE WATSON

Past Olympian and

qualified IAAF coach

Dear Sir,

Please allow me some space in your newspaper to extend my congratulations to newly crowned Martonmere Cup champions, Devonshire Cougars.

Success for the Cougars has been a long time coming but this I am sure only served to make their victory that much sweeter. The fact that it came against nearby neighbours and arch rivals North Village, who over the years have collected numerous honours while the Cougars' trophy cabinet remained bare, had to be the icing on the cake.

As I watched the Cougars' marvellous motorcade gloriously drive through the streets of Hamilton I could not help but wonder three things.

1) Whether this is the beginning of a shift in balance of footballing power in the North Village/Devonshire Rec area?

2) Are we in fact witnessing the ascent of a mighty Cougar dynasty while the once powerful North Village that produced such outstanding footballers as Wendell (Joe) Trott, Ralph (Gumbo) Bean, Andrew Bascome and Shaun Goater are in decline?

3) Will the next Clyde Best, Goater or Kyle Lightbourne develop into a fully fledged professional having first worn the green and gold colours of the Cougars?

Only time will tell! Well done Cougars - nuff respect!

RECMAN