Throw a Flag on Poll

As an avid reader of The Times’ sports page, I’d like to compliment your staff on its thorough coverage of Valley area sports this season.

At the same time, let me express my disappointment in Mike Hiserman’s Oct. 20 column, which included his “Down in the Valley” poll, listing 10 Valley high school football teams struggling through poor seasons. This kind of poll serves no useful purpose.

How ironic that at the beginning of the very same column, Mr. Hiserman chided coaches in the Valley for allowing their players to taunt opponents. He cited several examples, including the recent Kennedy-San Fernando game, in which numerous flags were thrown for personal fouls and unsportsmanlike conduct.

Mr. Hiserman rightfully points out the problem of bad sportsmanship at the high school level, yet contributes to this problem himself, by poking fun at 10 football teams with losing records. Perhaps an official from your sports department should penalize Mr. Hiserman for unsportsmanlike conduct.

R.J. LO CURTO

Program Director, KZLA

Burbank