Letters to the Editor

[January 7th, 2004] YOU JUST DON'T GET IT

Seems that none of you have a sense of humor and are resigned to live boring lives listening to too much conspiracy radio. Choosing the Playhouse as the No. 2 "Rogue" ["Rogues of the Year," WW, Dec. 31, 2003] shows that you guys are lost and take life too seriously. Plus, it's obvious that none of the editors actually listen to the Playhouse, because if they did they would know that Jammin 95.5 runs disclaimers telling listeners that the show is designed for mature audiences--i.e., 18 years old or older. So your comment "on their website, which attracts plenty of teenage traffic" is nothing more than sensationalism.

Willamette Week has become nothing more than a publication dedicated to paranoia and conspiracy, and I really call into question the accuracy of your reporting.

And one more thing: You mentioned in your criticism of the Playhouse that they took "Special Jen" to a strip club and egged her into dropping her pants. What exactly is your problem with that--is it the strip club, is it dropping your pants or do you think that mentally disabled people can't engage in some wanton mayhem? This criticism from a publication that runs a serious number of pages each week advertising "call services" and other erotic services.

George Brandt
Southwest Ivy Lane

DON'T FORGET THE FUTBOL

I'm glad Willamette Week Cultural Editorial Assistant Kim Colton included Thirsty Thursday at PGE Park in the 2003 After-Dark Top 10 List for 2003 ['The 2003 Cultural Rewind," Dec. 31, 2003. However, I wish Colton knew and/or included that the "so-so" AAA Beavers weren't the only team last summer to cheer on at Piggy Park while enjoying a cup of two-dollar beer. The Portland Timbers of professional soccer's A-League (not to be confused with single-A, such as in baseball) attract nearly as many fans per game as the Beavers.

Admittedly, while the play of the Timbers was at times so-so last season, the atmosphere in the stands was not. Thanks in part to the energy and antics of Timbers Army, an independent supporters group, and the success of last fall's Women's World Cup in Portland, the Rose City is regaining its reputation as Soccer City, U.S.A.

Jail Blazers bigwigs may not have noticed the full stands at Piggy on Thursdays, but head honchos of the Western Hockey League's Portland Winter Hawks did. We can now enjoy cheap beer on ice on Hat Trick Thursdays.

Eric Berg
Self-Titled Keeper of the Faith & Sub-Commandant, Timbers Army
Northeast 79th Avenue