Favre and the Vikings

What a perfect marriage it is between the Minnesota Vikings, a team with a history of choking in the playoffs, and The Purple Dinosaur, Brett Favre, who in his last 10 years with the Packers had a history of breaking the hearts of Packer Nation with stupid interceptions in playoff games against the Rams (a total of six), Eagles and Giants.

I heard on the radio on Oct. 21 that Favre said the 6-0 Vikings were the best team he's played on. I hope some Wisconsin sports reporter asks him before the next Packers-Vikings game whether he enjoys playing more at the empty Dome than on the frozen tundra at historic Lambeau Field and whether he plans to enter the NFL Hall of Fame as a Packer or a Viking.

No starting quarterback 40 years or older has ever won a Super Bowl and no NFL team whose logo wears pigtails, like the Viking warrior, has ever won the title.

Favre won one NFL championship in 16 years with the Packers; even then Packers General Manager Ron Wolf admitted that was a "fluke."

If Favre keeps mouthing off on how great it is to be a Viking, maybe Packer fans will remember who is the real best Packer quarterback of all time: Bart Starr, because he won five NFL championships, including three in a row. Maybe the Vikings can bring Starr back after Favre retires for the third and fourth times.

So Viking fans, don't count your Super Bowl trophies until after Favre throws his last interception.

Dennis A. Newman

Racine

Others clean up, too

I, too, applaud the fourth graders at Gifford and Goodland schools for their North Beach cleanup

efforts. Just a word to the wise, however: Many schools do participate in clean-ups all over the city every year, especially at North Beach, I lead a Cub Scout den and have children in it from three different schools. All of them participate in cleanup and beautifying projects for public areas every year, as well as Scout packs and troops around the country. It is part of the Scouting program.

In addition, Walden III, a green school, takes classes out at least once every year to rake leaves, pick up trash and trim bushes at various public places.

We may not read about all the environmentally sound programs going on in our community, but that does not mean it is not happening. The facilitators of these programs are truly heroes. They do it because it needs to be done, not for the recognition they may or may not receive.

Janis Paonessa

Racine

Spectacular 'Rent' at Horlick

I had the pleasure this week of attending a preview performance of "Rent: High School Edition," which is being presented this weekend at Horlick High School.

All I can say is, "Wow!" This cast of talented young people and their teacher, Ms. Amber Lamers, have done an awesome job presenting very compelling and mature subject matter.

Having seen the original production of "Rent" on Broadway several years ago, I believe the quality and energy of Horlick's production are every bit as spectacular. If you appreciate a high-caliber musical presented by some of this community's most talented singers, dancers and actors, I encourage you to see "Rent: High School Edition" this Friday, and Saturday evening at Horlick's Joseph L. Mooney Theatre.

Bethel E. Cager, Ph. D.

Area Superintendent

Racine Unified School District

Transit rebuttal

Jay Warner's commentary, "County needs regional transit" Oct. 27 cries out for rebuttal.

He claims that in Virginia, federal "Investment" (not cost) to build the Washington, D.C., Metro has been recovered in the form of development. That area is completely different from Caledonia, comprised of government employees, lobbyists and assorted hangers-on feeding at the public trough.

Cambridge Systematics, a research outfit, claims the transit projects generated 6,000 jobs. Correlation doesn't mean causation. What about an area like Wispark's development that added over 5,000 jobs in Pleasant Prairie that is next to two railroads, none of which brings commuters to jobs?

Warner claims Caledonia can't survive permanent gasoline prices of $4.50 per gallon, much less $6 or $8. He claims Wisconsin must get off the oil standard claiming natural gas is linked to the price of oil. Why then is the price of natural gas down? New supplies have been found in the Gulf of Mexico and the Rockies as these supplies are not imported and subject to the falling dollar. Fuel and diesel oil will go up if gasoline does, but that will affect commuter rail since those diesel multiple units on the KRM will burn plenty.

I have not heard the argument that KRM will bring people to Racine to fish. Will they bring their equipment with them and carry the fish back to Chicago on the train? Sounds like a fish story to me, like much about KRM.

John Valaske

Kenosha