To the editor:

I am shocked that the Journal-World is displaying negativity toward recent events between the football and basketball players. Rather, I think its sports staff would be proud and happy the teams are living up to its expectations and desires, or at least the football team. Over the last month the sports editor has been openly praising the violent and aggressive tendencies of past players and calling for more of the same by present ones.

I quote from the Journal-World:

Sept. 23 headline — “Fracas sends Taylor to hospital”

Sept. 21 — “Talib … played with a nasty, trash talking edge. McClinton, so at peace spiritually, rightly never saw that as a contradiction to his violent … style of playing football.”

Sept. 13 — “Defensive end Jeff Wheeler … sounded a little like a … fun-loving character … sure displayed a nastier demeanor playing.”

Sept. 9 — “Laptad brings peace (to … coaches) by consistently becoming a more violent football player.”

Aug. 29 headline — “Can Jayhawk defense invoke nastiness of teams past?” Content — “A hostile, mean, nasty, fang-bearing, ill-tempered, ornery, rotten, downright rude attitude represents the best chance for the defense to overachieve …”

Then, as if to bookend the month and to punctuate just how well players can achieve the desired results: Aug. 21, headline — “Buc’s CB Talib arrested for allegedly hitting cabbie.”

There is an adage, “Be careful of what you wish for, you might just get it.” Or should the sportswriter instead be happy that his wishes are finally coming true?