[Mark T. DeNucci, Sr.]

I am having trouble trying to figure out why Piniella and his assistant coach would have to drive on two lane roads to get to Cincinnati once they reached Columbus. Here is why:

1) They left Chicago on Interstates 80/90 which joins the Indiana Turnpike at the Illinois/Indiana state line.

2) At the Indiana/Ohio state line, the Indiana Turnpike becomes the Ohio Turnpike.

3) Southwest of Cleveland I-90 leaves the Ohio Turnpike and heads for Cleveland and travels along Lake Erie on its way to New York, while I-80 continues east on the Ohio Turnpike.

4) It is safe to say that Piniella and his fellow traveler discovered somewhere around Youngstown, Ohio, that they were near the Ohio/Pennsylvania state line. At Youngstown I-80 leaves the Ohio Turnpike on its way to Pennsylvania while I-76 joins the Ohio Turnpike on its way from Akron to Pennsylvania.

5a) If Piniella and his fellow traveler were on the Ohio Turnpike/I-80, all they had to do was turnaround and head west on the Turnpike until they came to I-71 and take I-71 south through Columbus onto Cincinnati.

5b) If Piniella and his fellow traveler were on the Ohio Turnpike/I-76, all they had to do was turnaround and head west on the Turnpike until I-76 leaves the Turnpike and then stay on I-76 until they came to I-71 and take I-71 south through Columbus onto Cincinnati.

5c) If Piniella and his fellow traveler were on I-80 after it left the Turnpike, all they had to do was turnaround and head west on I-80 until it the came to I-76 and then take I-76 to I-71 and take I-71 south through Columbus onto Cincinnati.

As one can see I-71 travels the entire length of Ohio from Cleveland (northeast Oho) thru Columbus (central Ohio) all of the way to Cincinnati (southwest Ohio) and then on into Kentucky. I-71's northern trailhead is in Cleveland at I-90 on Lake Erie, and as it heads southwest; it crosses in order I-77's northern terminal, the Ohio Turnpike/I-80, the western terminal of I-76, and I-70. When I-71 gets to Cincinnati, it will take one right to the front enterance of The Great American Ball Park before going on to join I-75 on its way to Kentucky.

In other words, while Piniella and his assistant had a long trip, he is full of horse manure about traveling on two lane highways. It ain't so. By the way, they wanted to turn south off of the Ohio Turnpike in Toledo and take I-75, south to Cincinnati.

MTD, Sr.