19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER
OFF THE MARK
Sirs:
In the past I have been opposed to the interference of the Federal Government in sports such as baseball and boxing. However, because of the present unfortunate, ridiculous and confusing feud between the AAU and NCAA regarding track and field, I feel that action by an outside agency is necessary. Because of this feud, one of the world's finest distance runners, Gerry Lindgren, who is now competing abroad, faces possible loss of a college scholarship and may even be giving up a position on the 1968 Olympic team (Fast Teen-agers in Grown-up Time, July 5).
For years the amateur regulations pertaining to track and field athletes in this country have been outdated. An amateur golfer is permitted to compete among professionals without endangering his amateur status. The New York Yankees play an annual exhibition game of baseball with the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, yet none of the cadets is declared a professional. An Olympic hurdler who is married on a daytime television program, on the other hand, is stripped of his amateur status.
Cheers for Gerry Lindgren! His courage to place his country above the possible loss of a scholarship because of the silly quarreling of two groups should be praised by all sports fans. If he is deprived of his scholarship, the members of the group should hang their heads in shame.
EDWARD G. CURRALL
Pacific Grove, Calif.
Sirs:
As one of a great number of young American distance-running fans, I read with great interest and pleasure your article on the AAU meet in San Diego. But I was appalled at the statement that Jimmy Ryun runs 20 quarters in 50 (fifty!) seconds each. Even the freshmen on the champion Monte Vista cross-country team know that means he should be able to run a 3:30 mile or a 1:40 half. Cancel my subscription and call me a golf fan if I'm wrong.
RON LARE
La Mesa, Calif.
•Ryun's quarters suffered from typographical inflation; they actually were worth 59 seconds.—ED.
COVER BOYS
Sirs:
In your June 3, 1963 issue you stated that Mickey Mantle was the most exciting, explosive figure in baseball. In your September 30 issue of the same year you said there was no better baseball player in the world. Now your latest boast is that he has been on your cover seven times—more than any other baseball player (LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER, June 21). With no disrespect intended toward Mantle, I think that Willie Mays is the greatest ballplayer around. So how many times has he been on your cover?
RICHARD O'CONNOR
Washburn, Iowa
•Four. Twice by himself, once with Leo Durocher and Laraine Day (below), and once with Mantle and six other members of the 1958 All-Stars.—ED.
MIXED DOUBLE
Sirs:
As a lifelong amateur weekend tennis player, a father of three boys, a pediatrician and a reader of your magazine, I feel qualified and even compelled to comment on two stories in your July 5 issue, the one by Bill Talbert and the one about the Richeys.
Mr. Talbert obviously takes to the court with the objective of defeating his opponent, as his record shows. But the purpose of his game, as he mentions in the last sentence of his article, How to Serve and Win, is to have fun. Talbert—like many others—was able to become a nationally ranked tennis player and still retain a sense of proportion and balance in his life. A blinding desire to defeat his opponent apparently did not warp his character so as to make him entirely useless off the tennis court.
But what of Cliff Richey, the high school dropout described in the following article. The Highest-ranking Family in Tennis? What will he be when he can no longer walk over everyone on the other side of the net? Will his collection of tin cups make up for his total inability to do anything more constructive than hit a tennis ball? What about the thousands of others like him, tragic youths so caught up in the whirl of competitive athletics and driven by parents and coaches who are unwilling to settle for second best? The status of families, schools, universities, cities and now even nations has been placed upon the thin shoulders of these kids who no doubt want to win but probably want even more to have fun. What will be the price we will be asked to pay for our indiscretions?
ALYIN H. FILM AN, M.D.
Media, Pa.
Sirs:
I thoroughly enjoyed Bill Talbert's article on serving and Frank Deford's fine story about the Richey family. However, concerning the Richey article, I am not certain what impression the majority of your readers came away with. On one hand, Mr. Deford lauds the Richeys for their united passion to become the best players in the world but, on the other, he leaves me with the feeling that George Richey may be too much of a dictator in his attempt to gain a No. I ranking for Cliff and Nancy.
Having known the Richeys during the time that Cliff and Nancy were just starting to play the game and having been fortunate enough to be a pupil of George's, I can say without reservation that he is the finest teacher of the game that I have ever known. His dedication to excellence should not be used as an indictment against him. In fact, if all of us, regardless of our professions, were willing to give 200% all of the time, this world would be a little better place to live in.
J. S. PARKE
Cincinnati
Sirs:
Thank you very much for the section on tennis. I especially liked the story by Frank Deford concerning the Richey family. I think Cliff Richey will soon be the No. 1 tennis player in the U.S. I had the privilege of seeing him play in the Sugar Bowl tennis tournament in New Orleans, which he won. He plays terrifically, but he has a terrible temper. I know, I was a ball boy at the tournament.
ROBERT CISNEROS
New Orleans
DAYLIGHT SAVING
Sirs:
I must take issue with you on your editorial, "Test Case" (SCORECARD, July 5). The USGA is led by dedicated men who do not like to see traditions halted. I am sure that in their hearts these men who donate their time for the benefit of organized golf did not want to alter the format of the U.S. Open. However, you have approached the problem from the wrong side. Television has increased the amount of money now being awarded: consequently, the men playing for this money are being more deliberate—and slower—in their play. Thus, it becomes a physical impossibility to have the entire Open field play 36 holes in one day. There is just not enough daylight.
J. DAVID BIMESTEFER, D.D.S.
Baltimore
Sirs:
How can you write such an article on the U.S. Open without considering the perfectly logical explanation for the change in format? It took Gary Player and Kel Nagle more than four hours to play off 18 holes, with no other competitors on the course. In past years we saw that players like Ben Hogan and Ken Venturi were barely able to finish the 36 holes in one day. Who wants to witness more of that?
MARIAN HARPER
Stockton, Calif.
•The USGA has a perfectly simple remedy for slow play. It has the power to tell dawdlers to hurry up—and to penalize them if they do not.—ED.
LAISSEZ-FAIRE
Sirs:
I can't help but disagree with your ideas concerning the National Hockey League's expansion plans (SCORECARD, July 5). It is very obvious that there are not enough good hockey players to go around for even six teams. Look at Boston and New York, which always finish last. I suggest that, until the quality of the present six-team league has become "big league," Mr. Campbell do nothing to upset the situation.
BILL MARKWORTH
Des Plaines, Ill.
THREE PHOTOS
