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19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER
SUBSTANDARD LARD
Sirs:
President John F. Kennedy's article (The Vigor We Need, July 16) gives to the public a sound, fundamental program for development of good, rugged individuals of all ages.
DAVID D. SPILLMAN
Bethlehem, Pa.
Sirs:
The standards Bud Wilkinson sets forth for physical fitness are nearly as shameful as the prevalent substandard body conditions he complains about. Three pull-ups are considered passing for 17-year-old boys. Fourteen sit-ups are supposedly sufficient for the same age. Four squat-thrusts set the standard also. These weak criteria are for barrel-bellied old folks, not young men.
At age 17 I was capable of at least eight pull-ups, 100 sit-ups, and six or seven squat-thrusts in 10 seconds; so was over half of my high school class. And it need not be said that this was without intensive training—just normal fitness.
EVAN Y. SEMERJIAN
Belmont, Mass.
Sirs:
Let no parent or school board be duped into believing that pull-ups, sit-ups and squat-thrusts will produce physically educated youth. We have a nutrition problem along with our exercise problem. The lard of our affluency will have to be melted off before we can do much for the muscles.
ANNE F. MILLAN
Worcester, Mass.
Sirs:
With the right kind of direction, the kids themselves will be only too willing to sell the idea of fitness to their schoolmates.
REV. ROLLAND L. STAIR, C.S.C.
Notre Dame, Ind.
POWER IN THE WIND
Sirs:
In regard to Arthur Zich's recent critical article on the Miami-Nassau powerboat race {Bloody Nose for a Boa! Race, May 14), I thought you might be interested to know what we are doing to improve this race.
Race Chairman Red Crise called a group of us together on July 7 to discuss rules for ocean powerboat racing. When you sit down and try to devise an intelligent set of specifications governing the eligibility of various types of boats for participation in this type of racing, the problem becomes complex to the point where solution by this route seems virtually impossible. The objective is to bar freaks that could only win in calm weather, but when you start writing definitions the task becomes hopeless. We finally hit upon a solution that was embraced enthusiastically by all hands and will bring the race back to what it was designed to be—"the most rugged ocean powerboat race in the world." It was decided that unless the anemometer on the weather bureau in Miami at 7 a.m. the morning of the race was reading 10 knots or better, the race would not be started. Ten knots of wind is enough to kick up a good sea in the Gulf Stream and the chances are, if it is blowing 10 at 7 o'clock in the morning, it will breeze up plenty as the day progresses. Of course, the race will be postponed if small-craft warnings are flying.
This rule emphasizes the objective of this race—a test of boats, power and equipment in rough water. And the beauty of this rule is that the sea and not man is the judge.
RICHARD BERTRAM
Miami
ANOTHER LOOK AT LUCAS
Sirs:
Mother Lucas' protestations on behalf of son Jerry (19TH HOLE, July 16) have an even more hollow ring in view of the latest manipulations, which landed Jerry, by his own consent, in the National Basketball Association, but not with the Cincinnati team. The real issue stands out boldly: Jerry Lucas would not play with Cincinnati under any circumstances.
This is certainly Jerry's prerogative and perhaps a very understandable one. Surely we would like to have had him, but in the final analysis Oscar Robertson will always be Cincinnati's first basketball love. We will welcome the opportunity to see Oscar and Jerry in competition with each other, and I think I speak for 99% of the Cincinnati fans when I say, "No hard feelings, Jerry. Good luck in your career."
A. E. HENDERSON
Cincinnati
PUTTING IS FOR THE BIRDIES
Sirs:
Lockwrist and Cage Cases by Dan Jenkins (July 16) is, in my opinion, the best light humor on a serious subject (and if you play golf you know just how serious putting is) in years. The depth of his insight into the problem suggests his personal experience as a cage case at one time or another, but his range of humor, anecdotes and tacit writing style get my appreciation and admiration.
ENSIGN R. E. MOULTRIE, USCG
Seattle
Sirs:
Dan Jenkins has made a major psychiatric contribution to millions of long-suffering putters.
A case in point is an old friend of mine who had a habit of backing away—the same distance as the length of the putt—while his putt was en route to the cup. He was cured of this strange affliction only when, after stroking a 20-foot putt and promptly going into the backup act, he wound up in a yawning sand trap with a broken collarbone. Now, at least he faces his putting problem in the right direction.
WADE H. RAMSEY
El Centro, Calif.
REVENGE IN MOSCOW
Sirs:
Regarding your article, The River Ran Red (July 16). You stated that the Russians defeated a University of Washington crew in 1958, and now another University of Washington crew was trying to "avenge" that 1958 defeat.
The truth is that the 1958 defeat at Henley, England by the Russians was avenged by that same University of Washington crew, just two weeks later, when they trounced that same Russian crew, plus four other Russian crews in a regatta in Moscow.
CHUCK ALM
San Francisco
•Reader Aim, captain and No. 5 oar on the 1958 Washington crew, is right. The Huskies outrowed the Russkies by one and a half lengths at Moscow in 1958, a quarter length more than the Russians gained on them at Henley.—ED.
THE MAN
Sirs:
I have noticed considerable correspondence in your 19th HOLE column concerning SPORTS ILLUSTRATED'S 1961 Man of the Year [Jerry Lucas]. I thought, therefore, you might be interested in a letter about an earlier Man that helps to confirm your good judgment in making these selections. I am referring to 1957's Sportsman of the Year Stan Musial.
Back in 1960, when I was in Korea, our unit received a batch of old magazines, one of which contained a picture of Stan surrounded by eight small cardinal birds. Our unit had with us at that time a Korean refugee who claimed some talent as an artist. I asked him to reproduce Stan's picture in oils. He did so, and the painting now hangs in the room of my 6-year-old son, whose respect for Stan Musial reflects my own.
Last week, on the night before the All-Star Game, when Musial was in Washington, I called him, as a perfect stranger, from my home in Virginia to tell him about the painting and about our admiration for him. Mrs. Musial answered the phone and, after asking my name, put Stan on. I told him my story and that I had always hoped someday to have the honor of taking a picture of him with my son Hal. Right away, Stan asked us both to come over to the stadium before the game and to ask the groundkeeper to take us to him. This we did and the accompanying picture was the result.
Although he is one of the greatest players in the history of baseball, Stan Musial's modesty was such that I became almost ashamed of my own forwardness. He left an impression on my son that I know will last through his life.
With all due respect to the many exciting things that happened during that All-Star Game of 1962, Stan Musial's simple kindness toward two strangers seemed to me the greatest play of the day. It was unknown to the thousands present, but for at least one father and son it explained why they call him The Man.
EUGENE H. BREITINBERG
Captain, USA
Springfield, Va.
PHOTO
THE MAN AND THE BOY
