You Make The Call

Friday, June 14, 1996

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Ron Waltz, Waikiki: "I don't like the woman, but putting your foot in your mouth is no reason to be thrown out of baseball. Period. She did nothing illegal, as did George Steinbrenner when he was convicted of what he did to Dave Winfield."

Bill Hemple, Alewa Heights: "No, I don't believe Schott should have to give up her rights to the team. This is a free country with free speech, and to be censured for it is just a matter of personal dislike by Bud Selig."

Tom Loomis, Kaimuki: "Forcing Marge Schott to give up control of her team is something I would expect to happen in a country like China, where freedom of speech is routinely squelched. Sure, she makes outrageous statements. The rest of us need to develop thicker skins so that other people's foolish opinions aren't taken seriously."

Pat Wolfe, Hawaii Kai: I do not think Marge Schott should be giving up her rights to her team. She's the owner. The guys are just after her. And who knows? She could be right about Hitler. We were not born the way Hitler was. He grew that way. Anyway, I think it's very wrong. They could write her a letter and say they don't like it. But to make her give up something that she owns is wrong. This is supposed to be a free country, and people are supposed to have rights. It looks like she doesn't, with that group of guys."

Jack Zirkle, Waialae-Kahala: "The constitution guarantees freedom of speech. Marge Schott has the right to say what she thinks, no matter how misguided or asinine that thought might be. Her utterings might be embarrassing to baseball, but they don't appear to have hurt her team in the standings. And if the gate receipts are affected, that's her problem."

Bryan Min, Waimanalo: "She should give it up. She was hurting a lot of people out there, and she was also hurting her team. Now the Reds can concentrate on just playing baseball instead of worrying about people criticizing them because of Marge Schott."

Lynn Smith, Honolulu: "Marge Schott didn't have a choice and rightfully so. She should be banned from the human race, not just baseball."

Bob Speck, Hawaii Kai: "I don't think Marge Schott should have to give up control of her team. Whatever happened to free speech? She should be allowed to say anything she wants to say. I think the main reason the owners wanted to get her was that she spoke out against using taxpayer money for building a new stadium in Cincinnati. And I admire her for that."