There are many valuable lessons that can be learned from team sports, if coaches and players are willing to teach and learn them. Things like sportsmanship and teamwork, and working together toward a goal.

With that in mind, the New York Lottery is sponsoring a statewide Winter Achievers essay contest for 6th, 7th and 8th graders, asking students to write about the positive impact that athletics or athletic competition has had on their lives, on and off the field.

The contest challenges students to express what role sports plays in their lives and how participating in sports at any level helps to make them a better person.

We think local schools should take part in the contest, both to see how youngsters view sports and what is important to them about sports. Hopefully, philosophies like teamwork and sportsmanship are the main topics.

Each winning student's school will receive a computer technology package and will be eligible to host an individual press event and winter sports clinic, staged in cooperation with the Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA).

Each winning student will receive a laptop computer and printer, a trip to the Empire State Winter Games, including involvement in Opening Celebration on Feb. 23, 2001 a commemorative Winter Achievers sweatsuit, medal and plaque.

But, more importantly, everyone who takes part in the contest and learns lessons from sports which help them achieve success in life, is already a winner.

Raspberries to village attorney Gar Gozigan, who was in village court last week to try and get out of paying hundreds of dollars in parking tickets after his car was booted by village police. Gozigian, whose job includes upholding village law, sets a poor example for those he is paid to represent. Certainly no one likes receiving parking tickets, but working downtown in Cooperstown almost guarantees that sooner or later you will be caught. No one is exempt. Trustees and the mayor have all received and paid tickets. It is time for the village attorney to do the same.

Roses to Cooperstown fall sports teams, almost all of whom gained scholar/athlete status by having members of their teams combine for an average at or better than 90 percent. In all six teams, including the swimming, field hockey, boys and girls soccer, and boys and girls cross country, earned scholar/athlete status. This is pretty much the status quo at Cooperstown, but still worth pointing out. Well done.