Penguins owner Mario Lemieux has threatened to move the team out of Pittsburgh unless he receives a new arena, courtesy of the ever-more-beleaguered taxpayers. What a joyous and glorious moment it would be for western Pennsylvania if we were to say to him, "Your actions are shameful. We do not acquiesce to blackmail. It has been nice knowing you." This optimal solution is a tall order because Lemieux has been ridiculously elevated to the status of a God in this region. Many have confused his athletic prowess and vast wealth with heroism and character. As much as many local taxpayers will state their outrage over finding money for another sports franchise where everyone involved is a multi-millionaire, we remember how a bipartisan band of pickpockets told us about years ago that our feelings were inconsequential when -- over our dead bodies -- they forced us to pay for two new sports stadiums. If only we had those tens of millions of dollars now, as our city, county and state cry 'poor'. I call on any elected official nutty enough to advocate public funding of a Penguins arena to explain why this is an extremely compelling "need" and how funding can be devoted to hockey when services provided by libraries and public transit are being slashed because of a fiscal crises. May I remind those on the pro-public hockey funding bandwagon that contrary to popular belief, sports contributes nothing positive to society. In hockey, thousands of voyeurs find great attraction in a lust for violence on the ice, a rotten example for impressionable children. Would our founding fathers ever have dreamed that the public would be told that the police powers of government would be harnessed to take money from taxpayers to enable hockey players and "King Mario" to remain fabulously wealthy and to subsidize the cost of hockey tickets?

Oren M. SpieglerUpper St. Clair

WHY EVEN BOTHER? Why does the Tribune-Review spend money by having a member of the sports staff travel with the "Triple-A" Pirates• (Manager Lloyd) McClendon's inane postgame comments can be obtained by phone for far less money.

D.L. Rutter Irwin

THANKS FOR NOTHING I chose to volunteer for this year's Mario Lemieux Celebrity Golf Invitational not only because I am a fan of Mario Lemieux but also a proponent of his quest for cancer research. As a senior who attends Mercyhurst College and resides in Natrona Heights, I have learned that those who are more fortunate than others should be civic-minded and give back to their community. My definition of a volunteer is "one who gives their time freely to assist another for no monetary reward, only to be appreciated for ones services." That was precisely the intention that I had coming into the tournament. I wanted no monetary gains for my services but to simply donate my time for a good cause and somehow be acknowledged for my donation of time and effort. I heard from other volunteers that Mr. Lemieux offered a token of his appreciation by offering one autograph to each of the volunteers. Hearing this, I began to work even harder and was motivated knowing that I would receive a notion of thanks from a hockey legend whose life was affected by the disease the tournament is raising funding for. On Sunday, the final day of the tournament, the rumor was true, and Mr. Lemieux had arrived at the volunteer compound to thank the volunteers, for without them the event could not take place. Mr. Lemieux began to sign for the volunteers, and I was patiently waiting in line to receive the autograph that I could proudly display on my mantle. Deep inside only I know the hard work and dedication that I put into the event to receive such acknowledgment. I was roughly five people away from getting my hockey jersey signed, when Mr. Lemieux got up and left the table. I was shocked that he would just leave and not acknowledge the volunteers that were waiting in line. Mr. Lemieux left because individuals who were not volunteers had entered the volunteer compound. I do not blame Mr. Lemieux for his actions, although the security should have been a bit tighter. The intent of this letter is in not meant to be a disservice to Mr. Lemieux in any way. This letter is a wake-up call to the individuals who intend on making monetary gains off of a tournament that is associated with working toward a recognizable cause. I want to thank a few people for their contributions to the tournament. Thank you, Mr. Lemieux, for putting on a wonderful event that works to acquire funding for cancer research and draws together sports fans from all areas. Thank you to all the autograph hounds that try to make a "quick buck" off this event. You not only disgrace yourself, but you also crush the opportunity for those "true" collectors who have only good intentions. I have lost the opportunity to meet a hockey legend because people like yourselves have lost civility. If you do not have caring ideas in your heart, then you do not belong at such an event. Thank you for crushing the dream of a true sports memorabilia collector because all you could think about was hocking your autographs on ebay. True sports memorabilia collectors cannot put a price on an autograph like you counterfeit collectors do. The intrinsic rewards far outweigh the monetary benefits that you hypocritical collectors are out to attain. A true autograph connoisseur has an emotional attachment to any autograph he or she may receive. True collectors treat these individuals that many have deemed celebrities, as real people. I have a message to all you deceptive collectors out there; give these celebrities the respect they deserve, and you just might get some respect in return.

Justin Farione

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