Smells like team spirit
“Winning isn’t everything….” That’s a truism I’ll use as a counterpoint to Mark Saunders’ suggestion that UVA women’s basketball coach Debbie Ryan should move on [RePlay, February 25].
His focus is on the win-loss criterion. Mine isn’t. Winning is exhilarating. My wife an I were in New Orleans when the Lady Cavs lost in overtime to Pat Summitt’s University of Tennessee. Heady days with Dawn Staley, the Burges and Tammie Reiss. (Unfortunately, as with football and men’s basketball, seasons of natural prominence set up expectations of the “next level” that have plagued these UVA programs).
Of course, 10 years later, the league has caught up with UVA. Wins here have decreased, but the esprit de corps and sense of fun on Debbie’s teams haven’t. For me, that has been an important part of my appreciation of UVA women’s basketball. I have no doubt this is a reflection of the coach’s personality and the assistants and players she attracts.
There’s no doubt that when you see Tennessee and Connecticut play it’s basketball at a higher level. Those teams play so tight and tough, one can’t help wondering about coaching disparities. But, when I ask myself if I would trade for the frightening Pat Summitt and her fearsome style, it’s no contest.
When put to the test (the above or Saunders’ complaint), winning is not No. 1. Loyalty and other values mean much more to me.
Jim Barns
Charlottesville
Family planning
I want to thank you for your coverage of The Parent Center, Inc.’s recent developments and Family & School Connections initiative (“Raising awareness,” Kids, March 4). We have been pleased by the many opportunities to work collaboratively with schools, community and parent groups to strengthen the critical relationships between home and school.
I would like to note some minor corrections to the article and clarify a few points:
*This year, TPC has an ongoing relationship with Charlottesville’s Burnley-Moran Elementary School.
*We have deeply appreciated receiving early financial support from Charlottesville-Albemarle Community Foundation.
*We have been working with United Way’s Information and Referral to address parent and family needs for easily accessible and user-friendly information and resources. This working relationship has specifically addressed the development and feasibility of “Parent Wizards,” community-based computer kiosks.
*In April we look forward to partnering with Stone-Robinson PTO to provide parent and teacher workshops for the community.
In closing, I want to thank your newspaper for your ongoing coverage and support of the many diverse children, family and school initiatives in our area.
Miriam Rushfinn
Director, The Parent Center, Inc.
North Garden
Correction
Due to an unfortunate incident involving her broadcast-sensitive dental fillings, Kathryn E. Goodson misidentified the public radio station whose “Radio IQ” programming she mightily admired in last week’s InReview/Media. It is WVTF, not WVPT as reported. Additionally, Goodson stated that until WVTF began broadcasting it, “This American Life” could not be heard in Charlottesville. In fact, it is broadcast for two hours per week on NPR-affiliate WMRA. In light of these errors, we have endeavored to replace Goodson’s aluminum crown with real gold and expect no similar miscommunications to occur.