Dear Steve Letters -- To play or not to play?

I must thank Steve Smith for single-handedly saving hundreds of

children from harm or possible death by stopping the soccer tournament in

Costa Mesa last weekend (“Parents need to get into muddy situations,”

Saturday). With 182 teams averaging 12 players each -- hopefully having

two parents each --that’s 4,367 uncaring, cowardly parents who had no

regard for their child’s safety and obviously only wished to see what

carnage would ensue.

I would also like to know why more than one official would let a game

continue and then express the safety issue only to one individual. How

did they know Smith was the only sane adult on the field? We also must

ask how 182 coaches can be so cold as to force young players to tempt

sure injury by continuing play?

I am happy Smith’s daughter was able to play at least one game of this

most exciting tournament.

Please keep in mind that historically men of superior character never

mention it or are even aware of it.

NEAL GASS

Costa Mesa

This is in response to Smith’s column regarding the unsafe conditions

during the recent soccer tournament.

What amount of rain creates an unsafe condition? We live in Southern

California and, for the most part, enjoy fair weather year-round. We

seldom get rain, only 14.81 inches per year.

According to the county’s rain gauges, the “storm” that Smith refers

to dumped a whopping 0.28 inches over a 24-hour period. Pour that amount

into a glass and drink it. Still thirsty? I thought you might be. Better

yet, I’ll give all three days --Saturday, Sunday and Monday’s worth of

rain. Hope you’re thirsty because you get a whole 0.43 inches. Let’s see

-- 72 hours worth of rain and less than an inch. OK, now I see the

danger.

What do you suppose other cities in the nation do when it rains? For

example, Florida, where it rains 54 inches per year. Do you think they

ever play in the rain? Yeah, I think they do.

Smith really missed the boat on this one. I think he should have

called Caltrans and had them shut down the roads. Talk about a safety

issue. How many more accidents occur on rainy days? I hope you had the

good sense not to load your family into your car and drive home in those

terrible conditions. Just because Southern Californians can’t drive in

wet conditions doesn’t mean we can’t play in them.

Listen, the care of thousands of children are entrusted to AYSO We

have an exemplary safety record. Did they stop the tournament because of

unsafe conditions? No, they stopped playing so the fields wouldn’t be

worn out.

Dangerous conditions? No, just slippery when wet.

CHRIS SARRIS

Costa Mesa