Barry Temkin’s column (Sports, Oct. 19) was an insightful observation about high school athletics and whether to identify prep athletes who have had negative performances. I agree that names need not be separated from the facts, whether successful or unsuccessful efforts.
But high school athletic events, particularly football and basketball, seem to have grown disproportionately in importance in the education experience. Spectators, both adults and students, who loudly boo a missed kick, make anonymous phone calls or openly criticize a player after the game is completed have lost sight of the purpose of athletics within the educational context.
A single miscue by a player does not represent the effort or a lack of effort by the entire team. Separate names from deeds? No, but stop the angry, emotional followup that can affect an athlete long after the game and season is over.
