Readers Write: Cheryl Reeve and the Lynx, the Vikings' Stephen Weatherly, dementia care, sex abuse settlements, Super Bowl pomp and circumstance, cold weather

Congratulations to the outstanding Cheryl Reeve on her promotion to dual roles as head coach and now general manager of the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA ("Reeve's résumé now has GM title," Dec. 29). I would point out that Brian Agler was hired as both head coach and general manager of the Lynx in 1999 after winning two American Basketball League championships as head coach of the Columbus Quest. His record was 48-67 with the Lynx. Reeve was hired as head coach of the Lynx in 2010 after winning two WNBA championships as an assistant coach of the Detroit Shock. I can see hiring Reeve as head coach only at that time because of her lack of head coaching experience at the professional level, but does anyone else question why it took seven years and four WNBA championships to elevate her?

The Dec. 26 article about Minnesota Vikings defensive end Stephen Weatherly was so impressive ("Stephen Weatherly's non-football skill résumé runs deep"). So many times we hear negative things about sports figures — rightly so — and I commend Weatherly's mother for raising him to have ambition and for doing so without his father being in the picture.

Charles Taylor, the youth baseball coach who took Weatherly under his wing and was a male role model, is my hero. What a difference you made in this young man.

And what a talented young man is Stephen himself — such a role model for others to follow.

Hats off to dementia-care specialist Joyce Simard and Lake Winona Manor in Winona, Minn., for creating (Simard) and implementing (Lake Winona Manor) the Namaste care program, which nurtures dementia patients through use of music, massage, foot soakings and nail care ("Program helping end-of-life dementia patients," Dec. 26). What gentle, loving ways to help and serve such a vulnerable group of people, with the wonderful use of human touch for healing.

My beloved dad died of dementia one year ago, and I recall that the simple acts of holding his hands or rubbing his shoulders brought him so much comfort and relief during the most trying years he ever experienced in the 87 years of his life. And what a joy it brought me to have that loving contact with him! And even though he did receive wonderful care at his assisted-living facility, it would have been the frosting on the cake were that facility to have had the Namaste care program in place to provide that type of touch when family was unavailable.

To people like Simard, caregivers like those at Lake Winona Manor and caregivers everywhere who are caring for people afflicted with dementia: You are the angels here on Earth. Keep up the good work!

It seems the judge eventually will need to "King Solomonize" the outcome.

I'm still puzzled about why individual parishes are involved in this litigation. The parishes committed no crime — a few priests and some bishops are apparently involved, but as long as no trial will ever be held, all we can do is speculate.

Interestingly, the current onslaught of abuse allegations against people other than Catholic priests — such as entertainment, political and sports figures — will open up untold opportunities for the legal profession. (President Donald Trump did promise more employment.) Because, it appears, others in these industries were aware of the misbehavior of the few before the outing, major entertainment studios, the U.S. House and Senate, and sport teams and leagues are all ripe for the picking. Pandora's box is open.

As our Minnesota cities prepare for the Super Bowl, they are spending an inordinate amount of money to make themselves more than what they previously were for all the visitors coming in. Meanwhile, we have an opioid epidemic going on in our country. There are thousands of small groups trying to increase awareness, but obviously only making a very small impact. These people work tirelessly coming up with awareness events, purchasing Narcan kits, giving out funds to a small few for treatment, trying to get a bill passed so we can better educate our children in our schools, etc. I am a part of some of those small groups, and it is rewarding but also frustrating that the attendances at the awareness events are so small.

We hear blurbs on the news about the ongoing epidemic — usually about an increase in overdoses and deaths due to a bad batch of heroin — but no news about stomping out the problem. I was watching a news magazine program and a person said we won't make an impact on the epidemic unless we go big with fighting it, similarly to the way Hollywood went big with the AIDS epidemic and the "We are the World" song for starving children in Africa. I totally agree with this assessment. So to all of you who are contributing to the Super Bowl, please consider giving some pomp and circumstance to fighting the opioid epidemic. Our country — your country — needs your help!

Regarding the Dec. 26 letter "Volunteers, you know, volunteer," defending Super Bowl volunteers against charges that the NFL is exploiting their goodwill (Readers Write, Dec. 16) — serious dilemma for the volunteers: Help the homeless with food/shelter, or help the wealthy through the skyway system for the Super Bowl?

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On a recent front page ("Hyundai's Super Bowl fleet wheels into Canterbury," Dec. 26) was one more reason fans are turning away from the NFL: "Hyundai, official auto sponsor of the NFL … ."

Dripping with sweat, you get into the boiling-hot car with flat, lifeless hair. Sleepless, humid nights keep you groggy all day, and constant showering to prevent moist, odorous skin is a losing battle. Yuck! Summer? Bah, humbug! Thank you, Mother Nature, for the free air conditioning!