Peds rights not 'silly'
Congratulations to the Madison Police Department for cracking down on careless drivers ("You Stopped Me for That?" 5/21/10)! Joshua A. Gaines (Letters, 5/28/10) must not be a pedestrian, or he would know that law-abiding people routinely have their lives threatened when they cross the street.
Not only do drivers in this city not yield to pedestrians in crosswalks, as the law says they should, but they frequently don't even look in the direction they're turning. Pedestrian safety is not "silly," and I am grateful that our city's police are protecting and serving all of its people, not just the ones with cars.
Robert Sundquist
The ultimate insult
There was a big hole in Jason Joyce's article on ultimate Frisbee in Madison ("Frisbee Town," 5/29/10). The local women's team, Bella Donna, was relegated to a short mention in the sidebar and only as part of a highlight of its star player, Georgia Bosscher.
Why did this happen? Bella Donna, the UW-Madison's women's team, was ranked second in the country with a chance for a national title, compared to the men's team, the Hodags, ranked eight. What actually happened in the tournament? Bella Donna lost in the semifinals. The Hodags didn't make it out of pool play.
It boggles my mind that in an article spotlighting the talent and competitiveness of our local teams, Isthmus focused primarily on the men's team, which wasn't the most competitive of the two in town.
What kind of one-sided reporting is happening at Isthmus? Do women's sports rank so low on your interest list that when they are one of the best in the country you grudgingly give them some sidebar space?
Mo Kappes
The images used for your recent cover story "Frisbee Town" left me concerned. Given that half of the teams competing in the event were women's teams, but only one of the eight images published showed women, this suggests a certain insensitivity on your part. You seem intent on celebrating the maleness of the sport over the sport itself.
Dana Freiburger
Jason Joyce replies: Isthmus has written two previous stories on Bella Donna (by David Medaris on 5/24/07 and myself on 5/15/08). The Hodags have won three national championships since 2003, an unprecedented accomplishment in the sport, yet we've had very little to say about that team.
Inquiring mind
Over the years, I've noticed Bill Lueders is fascinated by Madison Newspapers, particularly the Wisconsin State Journal: any mistakes they make, headline faux pas, their employment numbers, and their paid circulation [the focus of a Watchdog item, 5/28/10]. What's the paid circulation for Isthmus?
Jim Bach
