It was amazing how much support the Lyford Lady Bulldog softball team had this playoff series. There were people from Raymondville, Weslaco, Harlingen, La Feria that traveled afar to support these young athletes. No matter which direction you turned there followed of sea of green t-shirts or signs of support for their fellow athlete. Play after play were chants of support from the stands and quite often you heard cell phones ringing with questions about the game. I can’t express how much support these girls had the whole playoff run. However, it is just as amazing to know that although these girls had so much support following them they also had just as many enemies wishing that they would lose. It was our own fellow citizens of Willacy County pleading with the softball Gods for a loss for the Lady Bulldogs. These feelings of hatred and envy engulfed some of the people in Willacy County so much that they forget the true meaning of victory. All of this is due to the Lyford and Raymondville rivalry that has been around for so many years. It is the rivalry that causes households to fall apart and to argue over a game. My question to the residents of Willacy county is: When will this rivalry end? When will we support Lyford and Raymondville in whichever endeavors come forth for the two cities? When can I wear a Bearkat shirt and not be ridiculed because I am a Lyford graduate and viceversa for a Bearkat graduate? Lastly, when can you just be happy that a team from Willacy County made it to the “Sweet 16.” Residents of Willacy County, the RIVALRY IS OLD, we need to learn to support our people and not bring them down.
Jessica Martinez
Sebastian, Tx

Ms. Martinez,

Rivalries are interesting things.

I was in Chicago recently and attended a Cubs baseball game. While I was in the restroom a guy wearing a White Sox ball cap walked in. A Cubs fan said to him,

“Hey, gimme that ball cap, I want to wipe my a-- on it.” The White Sox fan didn’t say a word, because he was in a room full of Cubs fans. AND, both teams are from the same city.

The Editor