The Olympics bring together the world's finest athletes to compete, and I have been rather astonished at how some athletes do not know how to either win or lose gracefully. Do we need a manners course taught on the soccer fields and running tracks? I think if we'd observe our own actions during sporting events, especially those our children participate in, we'd realize we all need a course on winning and losing gracefully.

Deanna Eppers
Milford

Double standards evidenced in cases

What a sad week for the Tristate area. First, the Fort Thomas police, and especially officer Adam Brown, can't perform their duties properly and arrest a fellow officer, Mark Crank, on suspicion of driving under the influence. Second, Mike Allen abuses his office by having a sexual affair with a subordinate and then admits to it only when learning about an announcement of a pending lawsuit.

Why can't our public and political figures do their jobs as prescribed, stand up for their actions and mistakes, and be held accountable like everyone else? Crank should have been arrested; Brown needs to be reprimanded; and Allen needs to resign or be fired.

No wonder there is frustration and anger in this community from the common man, because what we see when justice is being administered is definitely a double standard.

Robert Bozsan
Park Hills

Church will forgive Allen for his sins

Did Mike Allen go from the courtroom, where he was persecuting - I mean, prosecuting - priests, back to his office couch to commit adultery? Did he go so vigorously after priests because he saw his own sin and guilt reflected in them? Not only did he commit adultery, but now the taxpayers of Hamilton County will pay for his sins, stealing tax dollars needed elsewhere.

He should immediately take the same action he demanded of priests, and of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, and resign now. Then, go ask for the forgiveness he has denied others. By the way, he can come to the Catholic Church. Unlike others, we do forgive sinners.

Peter Freeman
Elsmere

Allen no help in defending marriage

I noted in the Enquirer's coverage of the Hamilton County Prosecutor Mike Allen controversy that he was local chairman of the Bush campaign. His problems aside, I'd like to thank him for his staunch moral backing of a Republican platform that aims to keep monogamous gay couples from destroying "the sanctity of marriage."

John C. Brennan
Clifton

Mall applauded for enforcing code

Congratulations to Cincinnati Mills for trying to enforce a conduct code in their mall ("Mall accused of bias over tilted cap," Aug. 27). They should continue to stop and advise everyone, black, white, whatever, who comes to their mall that the silly look may be cool to the ones who wear it, but it could also mean gang affiliation or other things. It would be nice to see a trend come back into style where the kids try to look as neat as possible, and save the sideways, droopy hat, the pants below the knees, and the T-shirts near the ankles for the Ringling Brothers clown tryouts in the spring.

Ray Roginski Sr.
Colerain Township

Candidate doing better than reported

In his Aug. 23 article "Battleground state? Not for House races," Carl Weiser misled readers when reporting the fund-raising efforts of congressional candidate Greg Harris. In basing his figures on a campaign finance report filed two months ago, Weiser chose to highlight Harris' cash on hand as of June 30 instead of what Harris has actually raised.

To set the record straight, by June 30, Harris had raised over three times the amount that the Enquirer reported - and he has raised a good deal more in the two months since that report was filed. In the early months of the campaign, Harris had to spend a considerable amount of his cash on hand to win a contested primary and raise his name recognition. Steve Chabot did not have a primary, nor did he need to spend money raising his name recognition.

Harris has new, fresh ideas and the integrity to lead the First Congressional District to a better future. While he has not raised a lot of money from special interests and Washington lobbyists, he has impressively raised money from individual donors - regular people he seeks to represent.

Bill Hatfield
Ttreasurer, Harris for Congress