Press was unfair in last story on hydros, Miller

Having read and reread the story appearing recently in The Press, I have to throw a penalty flag for unnecessary roughness. Whether the conclusions were misunderstandings of what Miller was trying to say, or sloppy reporting, it appears that the reporter had some sort of agenda of his own.

First, what should have taken six months to properly organize, was done by funding necessity in about seven weeks. It was known by everyone that the first outing was going to be a rough one, simply due to the time constraints and the fact that nobody associated with the race had done it before.

That the impression that Jeff Selle wrote regarding a doubt that there will be a race next year is preposterous. Perhaps Miller was trying to gently remind people that there is no free lunch and this isn't a free concert in the park. If there were 55,000 spectators, there were a majority of cheaters. People who believe in getting something for nothing. "Let the other guy pay."

It wasn't a surprise that it failed to break even but I wouldn't characterize it as losing money. Every dollar was spent carefully, not lost, but his board of directors were in no way required to give chapter and verse as to the statistical side. I know of no company in our area that would open their books publicly. He wants to know how much he received in salary? Ask Jerry Jaeger how much he makes.

To write such a slanted story, in and of itself went further toward prejudicing the continuation of the race annually than anything Miller said or wrote. If he said he would and then didn't give details it was because he is under the direction of a board of directors that decided to keep such details to themselves.

What wasn't possible in seven weeks, given six months of preparation and fundraising will be an entirely different story. A complex operation such as a hydroplane race is a huge undertaking. That there were mistakes made, issues overlooked was a given. The unofficial motto of the race organizers was, "We'll find out what we did wrong this year and fix it for next year." That still holds true.

Several changes have already taken place, again internally and not for dissemination. Many big money sponsors had already spent their community service budget by the time the race rolled around.

Miller erred in creating a doubt as to next year, but then that's what happens when you wing it verbally. I know most of the directors and I can positively state they are one in the intent to stage a race next year. While the office was only in operation for about five weeks, we anticipate much more coverage as well as phone access starting next spring.

I personally am disappointed with the hatchet job Jeff did on the race. He is a better writer than that. He not only knocked Doug Miller, but also the hundreds of volunteers that worked for free. I was one of them.

Herb Huseland is a Bayview resident.