N.Y.’s footballers, tarnishing a great heritage
Nissequogue, L.I.: Another year and another train wreck of a season in which the Giants and Jets, with a combined record of 4-15, are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs before Veterans Day. This is beyond pathetic. It’s gotten so bad that U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick is referencing N.Y.’s “losing football teams” as a selling point to move to Pennsylvania, home of the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Last year, after the Giants were criticized by one of their own star rookie players as being “soft as f--k,” they at least addressed this toughness issue by drafting hard-nosed Cam Skattebo. But naturally, he ended up with a grotesque ankle injury that put the kibosh on any toughness out of the Giants this season, and the firing of head coach Brian Daboll. With another lost season and both N.Y. teams wandering in the NFL wilderness, management needs to get creative in getting fans to come out to the meaningless games during the brutal late fall/winter season. For the Giants, the best way to do this would be to honor one of their former Super Bowl heroes, Ottis Anderson, in an attempt to rejuvenate his Hall of Fame push, which until now the Giants ownership has been shamefully derelict to do.
Anderson was the epitome of Bill Parcells’ “smashmouth” football, and because of it, he won Super Bowl XXV honors in a hotly contested brawl of a game in which every yard gained or lost could’ve been the difference between winning and losing. In an effort to relive the Glory Days, Ottis Anderson Day at MetLife Stadium just might be the only reason to come anymore. Stephen Louro
A real writer
Manhattan: The tributes to the late hockey columnist Larry Brooks by Pat Leonard and Mike Lupica were heartfelt and made me more than a bit nostalgic. Although I’ve been a Daily News subscriber forever, back in the day I would read the sports section of my coworkers’ copies of the N.Y. Post to catch Brooks’ column. He was a wonderful writer, and I always appreciated his take on the NHL. The News had some great hockey writers back then too with Leonard and Sherry Ross. Sadly, nowadays, even with three local hockey teams, the only NHL coverage we get is Associated Press game recaps that read as dry as if Joe Friday wrote them. I understand the economic issues involved with covering three teams, but I’d like to believe there are workable solutions available. C’mon, do it for Larry. Bob Glasscock
Industrial main course
Manhattan: With Thanksgiving coming up, we should talk about yet another round of bird flu outbreak across the country. Since Sept. 1 of this year, outbreaks have wiped out 1.2 million turkeys from farms supplying meat for delis and dinner tables. That’s turkeys alone. We should ask ourselves: How many times will we repeat this cycle before we address its cause? These outbreaks aren’t accidents; they’re a predictable outcome of cramming animals into facilities where viruses spread like wildfire. Instead of normalizing mass slaughter as “biosecurity,” we should be rethinking our reliance on factory farms altogether. The safest, most ethical solution is to reduce our dependence on animal agriculture and invest in plant-based food systems that don’t incubate pandemics. Nico Young
Arming who?
Effort, Pa.: Are we serious? The U.S. is really selling 48 F-35s to Saudi Arabia? The same country that funded Al Qaeda and the 9/11 terrorists in particular? The ones who flew planes into the World Trade Center? Make it make sense! Kathleen Slattery
Party over
Brooklyn: I’m a born-and-raised NYC resident. I’m a Gen X Afro-American female Democrat. However, I’m sad to see that this mayoral election has ruined the Democratic Party. We complain about MAGA and the extremism of the Republican Party, yet we are no better when we’re supporting a democratic socialist. Shameful Bernie Sanders and AOC both have money. While I’ve gained respect for Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, I was disappointed with his decision to endorse Zohran Mamdani. Gov. Hochul is going to lose her reelection bid to the Republican challenger. Democrats in NYC will be powerless with a socialist who is inexperienced leading the most powerful city in the world to increased crime, filth (more rats) and lack of housing. Free stuff doesn’t lead to improved quality of life. I’m leaving the Democratic Party. Shameful and disgusting if you can’t see the hypocrisy in Mamdani taking from the poor to support his lavish lifestyle. Crystal Dougherty
Imprudent opulence
Staten Island: Re “We must make Penn Station great again” (op-ed, Oct. 28): How many billions does Nicolaus Mills want to waste on an elaborate rebuild? Passengers don’t need vaulted ceilings and Doric columns, nor do they need to be told they’re “important people and not just customers.” He whines that a simple refurb would make it a “subway station for train riders.” That’s exactly what it is! There are countless better uses for scarce transit funds. Most of my home borough, particularly the lower-income areas, has zero rail access. We rely on snail-paced buses for some of the longest commutes in the U.S. Tolls, fares and taxes continue to rise. Congestion pricing and scant street parking make a day in Manhattan an investment. Access-A-Ride is underfunded and lousy. There aren’t enough accessible stations. But sure, let’s tear down Madison Square Garden so commuters can “enter the city like a god.” John Colella
Superfluous rail
Elmhurst: As a resident, I must take exception to the notion of the Interborough Express proposal for a host of reasons. Two are primary. To begin with, the line is redundant. There isn’t enough employment in Brooklyn to justify sending people from Queens to fill the demand. The reverse is also true. There’s no economic return for NYC in general and Queens in particular. The proposal will cost $5.5 billion and won’t be supported by ridership. The bed is already dug and the track is laid. The Coney Island rail yard is loaded with trains not in use, and the only real expense might be to gauge the track and to clear the area of debris. Moreover, the governor claims she won’t raise taxes, and President Trump promises that he won’t cooperate with the communist new mayor. So, where is the money coming from? James League
Unexpected sympathy
Ozone Park: I now support Marjorie Taylor Greene, a position I never could have considered even two weeks ago. This country is on the brink of collapse when a representative has to get private protection because she vehemently disagrees on certain issues with the man she once adamantly supported. Ray Hackinson
Futile persecution
Bronx: New York City has a history of racism. It doesn’t surprise me that Black people are being fired at an accelerated rate for no reason other than the color of their skin. When Hitler came to power, Jews were fired from jobs simply for being Jewish. When Trump came to power, Blacks started being fired to appease his agenda. In both cases, employment opportunities became slim and none. Trump the Chump expected Black people to demonstrate so he could treat them as his idol Bull Connor did, but his targeted minority cities are not acting like he expected or hoped for. He underestimates the intelligence of Black people. His generalizations and stereotyping has not come to fruition. No good will come to those who hate and practice racism, bigotry and a lack of compassion and fairness. They will all rot in hell on judgment day. Alfred Williams
No pity
West Hempstead, L.I.: Re “Winter rains adding misery in Gaza Strip” (Nov. 16): Short and to the point — they started a war and are reaping what they sowed. They are all complicit. It wasn’t just Hamas that pillaged. Ask hostages, they’ll tell you there are no innocents in Gaza. Try writing about citizens in Israel regarding building what the terrorists burned with family members inside. Tired of the pity crap. You start the war? Too bad. Samuel J. Mark
Traitors to the tribe
Kew Gardens Hills: My mother, may she rest in peace, taught me that the most dangerous antisemite is a Jewish antisemite. People like Brad Lander (“What kind of Jewish community do we want to be?” op-ed, Nov. 16) and Bernie Sanders prove her right. Barry Koppel