What a ride ("End of the Ride," March 29). I must confess that I do not consistently follow college basketball. Of course, I heard that the Muskies were struggling this year. Then they caught fire and it was so exciting to watch. But more than this, I learned a little bit about the individual players, their quality, spirit, tenacity and heart. I am glad that it was these young men who represented my alma mater and the city of Cincinnati at the highest levels of college basketball. You did yourselves and us proud.

Stephanie Schrimpf Thomson, Pleasant Ridge

---

XU, Matta are models for basketball

Xavier University - what a great tribute to our city. I was so proud to see a Midwestern, Jesuit school win some overdue attention in the world of men's NCAA basketball. I am equally proud of the graduation rate of Xavier and the success of Coach Thad Matta. It is refreshing to see a coach control his team without the sideline tirades associated with the sport.

We have much to be proud of in Cincinnati. The Musketeers are certainly a part of that pride.

Dan McKenna, Western Hills

---

Bush disrespectful with weapons joke

Wow, I thought the political ad President Bush is running using the flag-draped body was in poor taste and very disrespectful to the families and friends of the victims of 9-11. But his slide show of him looking for weapons of mass destruction in his office and his snide little comments such as "no weapons there" takes the cake.

If you swing voters out there that don't get it by now, what this guy is all about and how out of touch he really is, you probably never will. Why is no one in Congress calling for this man's impeachment? We need to send this deserter back to Texas, or better yet send him to Iraq.

George Case, Bethel

---

9-11 commission should guard secrets

I agree with President Bush for not allowing Condoleezza Rice to testify before the 9-11 commission under oath, publicly or privately ("Rice resists call from 9-11 inquiry," March 27).

Do you really want our enemies to know what we have and have not corrected? Do you actually believe that the 9-11 commission is interested in preventing another 9-11, or that they wouldn't leak information to the press?

A real intelligence failure would be to trust chameleons like Richard Clarke and the members of the 9-11 commission to protect us. Most of us remember what Jimmy Carter and Forrest Gump have taught us: "Stupid is what stupid does."

Charles Birkholtz, Cleves

---

Touch-screen voting also aids disabled

In the article on voting, the pros and cons, with regard to electronic touch screens ("No votes for chad," March 28), you failed to mention how this would benefit the elderly and people with various disabilities It is not always feasible for people to do absentee voting as an accommodation, and we should always honor the person's right to vote on the day everyone else does. And, people not being able to hold the device used to punch the card may have caused some of the hanging chads.

Meg Kane, Kenwood

---

Westwood community coming alive

In Peter Bronson's column "Lack of faith in City Council leads to Angels" (March 25), he says that Westwood First Presbyterian Church sits "at the end of Hope Street. How ironic. That's where Westwood lives."

That is very clever but outdated. Since Mary (Kuhl) and Melva (Gweyn) started their Westwood Concern meetings at that church, a long-dormant community has come alive. Their meetings are well-attended by citizens who go out in the community and get things done. It's getting harder to find graffiti and litter. Long-term issues such as crime and housing get more attention. I can't imagine a community with a better relationship with the Police Department. Community groups are being re-energized and new ones are starting. The Westwood First Presbyterian Church is one of the nearby churches that offered additional meeting space, while Westwood town hall is closed for renovation. The new Westwood Historical Society meets there. They are having a home tour April 25. If you haven't been to Westwood for a while, this would be a great day to come take a look around.

By the way, Hope Lane is a one-way street leading away from Westwood First Presbyterian Church. So, really, this church and this community are at the beginning of Hope Street.

Jim McNulty, Westwood