19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER
HUMAN RELATIONS
Sirs:
Congratulations are in order to Pat Jordan for his fine article. The Man Who Was Cut Out for the Job (Oct. 11). As a native Tarheeler, I found special meaning in the reflections of what it is really like in the lives of teachers and students trying to make a go of complete integration of public schools in the South. I think Pat did an excellent job of portraying the problems of bringing together two races with such different cultures.
Pat tells how uncomfortable he felt while attending the all-black football game. At that ball game Pat was the minority, a situation whites seldom experience.
My hat is off to the teachers, coaches (especially Jerome Evans) and administrative officials who undertake such a difficult, uncomfortable and unglorious task. And thanks again to Pat who dug out and revealed the problems of integration so that progress can be made, because now we have a better understanding.
ROBERT RANDALL
Anchorage Alaska
Sirs:
I congratulate Pat Jordan for the tremendous insight into a difficult problem. He has shed some light on the human side of the racial issue His portrayal of Jerome Evans as a scared man who cannot reveal his true self is brought sharply into focus by Jordan's courageous and honest description of his own feelings at the North Carolina Central University game. But he could return to the white status quo. Where does a black man turn in a white world?
RANDY GUST
Lancaster, Ohio
Sirs:
"I don't even want them to like me. I'd be content if they just acknowledged me as a good coach and a man"—Jerome Evans. Judging by Pat Jordan's article, Mr. Evans is a good coach and a man. I would like to show him a little more of the world, however. It consists of people, real people, who want to live a life with depth and meaning. And a consummate part of such a life is friendship with other people, be they black, white, Jewish, English, old, young, Catholic, Methodist, rich, poor, attractive, unattractive, educated, uneducated or whatever. To quote Joan Oppenheimer: "Had he, too, built a wall to save himself from further hurt? Then found one day that he was a prisoner behind it?" I don't wish Jerome Evans further hurt—although perhaps it will come. I do wish him friendship that is rich in understanding and glorious in new-found hope mingled with joy. Perhaps it will come, too.
NOREEN WILSON
Cleveland
Sirs:
Great! Great! Great! Articles such as this can only reaffirm SI as the bes in its field. By capturing the sensitivities of the black man and so beautifully and subtly standing in his shoes at the all-black NCC game, Pat Jordan promotes intelligent and fair integration. I salute you for printing the story—and Jordan for writing it.
MACE FUHR
Los Angeles
CENTRAL ISSUE
Sirs:
First it was your prediction that Cleveland would finish last in the AFC Central Division (Scouting Reports, Sept. 20). Then came the article on Cincinnati (No One's Holding These Tigers, Sept. 27), after which the "tigers" did nothing but lose. And now you give us an article on Pittsburgh (No Paralysis Is the Analysis, Oct. 11). Well, the score was Cleveland 27, Pittsburgh 17, and the Browns are in first place.
TOM WILLIAMS
Barberton, Ohio
Sirs:
WOW! A feature article on the Pittsburgh Steelers. I am too amazed and stunned to say anything but thanks.
DAVE (DUFFY) BARTO
Slovan, Pa.
Sirs:
Thank you for your excellent article on the Pittsburgh Steelers. I'm glad that somebody gave Pittsburgh credit for having a fine young team. The Steelers may not win it all this year, although I believe them to be the strongest team in their division. The big change in the squad is its capability to put more points on the board and make the big play, a trait that the Steelers haven't had in their 38-year history.
And speaking of the infamous past, the Steelers never before have had a coach as good as Chuck Noll, a quarterback as good as Terry Bradshaw, or a defensive tackle as good as Mean Joe Greene.
PETER D. LISMAN
Hillside, N.J.
DIETZEL'S DEFENSE
Sirs:
Some of your recent editorial comments pertaining to the University of South Carolina and its withdrawal from the Atlantic Coast Conference are most puzzling. Just what is SPORTS ILLUSTRATED trying to prove?
Our recent differences with the ACC go far beyond the matter of grade eligibility for athletes. That just became the major focal point. We are now an independent and very pleased to be a member-at-large of the NCAA. We are not bitter toward the ACC—we are simply no longer a member.
What we have done is to place ourselves on the same NCAA standards for awarding grants-in-aid as the overwhelming majority of institutions in the U.S. We have not lowered the academic standards of our fine institution in any way, and at no time have we expressed interest in lowering them. Surely, you must realize that more than 400 colleges and universities use the National Collegiate Athletic Association's tables for the granting of athletic grants-in-aid. As far as I know, the ACC is the only conference in the country that uses a minimum College Board score for scholarship.
The NCAA tables have been devised by college administrators and professors from a vast cross section of the U.S. to pied ct, on the basis of high school records, whether an athlete will achieve at least a 1.6 grade-point average as a college freshman. Here at South Carolina, however, he will have to maintain a 2.0 to stay in school. It is also interesting to note that of the 37 young freshmen to whom we have awarded grants-in-aid for the year 1971-72, all but four were completely qualified according to ACC standards. All 37 were qualified for entrance and for a scholarship according to the NCAA tables. South Carolina will continue to use the NCAA tables.
We have wonderful people here in South Carolina, and they are justly proud of their university. But they have been very disturbed to see their native sons continue to go to the Big Ten and other equally prominent schools using NCAA eligibility standards because they could not enter their own state university under the ACC entrance requirements. Herein lies the crux of the problem we faced as a member of the ACC. It is true, unfortunately, that some young men cannot qualify academically for any school. But if they can qualify for a scholarship to the overwhelming majority of institutions in America, why should they be denied admission to their own state school?
The citizens of South Carolina do not deserve the treatment they have received from you. And regardless of the thoughts expressed in your articles, my efforts and desires have been and always will be for the betterment of college athletics.
PAUL F. DIETZEL
Director of Athletics
University of South Carolina
Columbia, S.C.
SONNY STRIKES OUT
Sirs:
My compliments on your fine article on Sonny Sixkiller (The Magic Number Is Six-killer, Oct. 4). I would be interested, however, in knowing the whereabouts of writer Roy Blount on Nov. 7 of last year. One thing I know for sure is that he was not one of 58,000 people sitting in Stanford stadium in Palo Alto, or one of numerous millions across the country who watched the Stanford-Washington game on television, When Mr. Blount states that "...he [Six-killer] matched, or perhaps outdid, the passing of Jim Plunkett," he is in error. Plunkett's performance that day did much to earn him the Heisman Trophy. For the record, Plunkett completed 22 of 36 passes (61%) for 268 yards and four touchdowns. Six-killer hit on 18 of 41 (44%) for 158 yards and one touchdown. While Sixkiller also ran for a touchdown, Plunkett had his fifth touchdown pass nullified because of a penalty. If you want to term these two performances as "matching," that is your business. You will never convince anyone who saw the game or who can count.
FRANK R. ATKINSON
San Francisco
Sirs:
Your writer talks about former Indian sports figures and says, "Indian Jack Jacobs...is not widely remembered." Maybe not in the U.S., but he certainly is remembered in Canada. Indian Jack went to the Canadian Football League from the Green Bay Packers in the early 1950s and set Canadian football passing records. Jacobs played for the Winnipeg Blue Bombers from 1950 to 1955. When Winnipeg built its new football stadium in 1953 it was referred to as "the House that Jack Built."
Ask the young Canadian football fans in Winnipeg and they can tell you who Indian Jack Jacobs was even though he played 10 years before they were born.
SHELDON L. ARONOVITCH
Winnipeg
BING BLUNDERS
Sirs:
It is no small wonder that Walter Bingham (My Drive to Be a Champion, Oct. 4) failed to improve his golf game. How can any human being, approaching the tee for his drive, think of all these tips: left arm straight: weight shifted left, and back toward the heels; right knee cocked; hips square to ball; bring club back without breaking wrists; pivot; coil; keep head still: come off left heel; keep right side rigid; swing through and out: relax grip.
God bless my golf instructor, the late Ernest Jones, winner of the Ben Hogan trophy in 1965. His credos were:
1. Use a firm grip, stressing the thumb and index finger; the rest of your fingers are only helpers.
2. Get the feel of the club head. Swing the club head, and everything else will take care of itself. And, of course, practice, practice, practice.
PHILIP MARTIN
Brooklyn
WHEN THE DEEP PURPLE FALLS
Sirs:
In John Underwood's article Purple People Eaters Eaten (Oct. 4), he seems to think that the qualities of the Bears are reflected in their early unblemished 2-0 record. Anyone can clearly see that the Bears lucked out in their game against the Steelers (two key fumbles in the final four minutes of the game) and again against the Vikings. He states that "people have to wonder where the Bears came from and where they are going...." Well, they came from the bottom and they are not going to go anywhere.
MARK BALAWEJDER
Pittsburgh
Sirs:
I find it unbelievable that you could possibly run such an article. Coach Bud Grant and the Vikings are obviously a superior team that ran into a bunch of rowdy players for whom one game meant the whole season. That victory meant more to the Bears than the Super Bowl will mean to the Vikings this year. You'll see, though, that the Purple People Eaters will win everything.
CHARLES MCCAULEY
Milwaukee
Sirs:
The Vikings beat Detroit, and you mention not a word. The Vikings lose to a hard-playing Bears team in an upset, and you gloat. For shame.
KENNETH K. KAUFFMAN
Burnsville, Minn.
Sirs:
To what do sports fans owe John Underwood's gratuitous political insult of Birch Bayh in his article on the Bears?
JOHN E. BRADY
Seabrook, Md.
Sirs:
I think it is funny that the Minnesota Vikings only get in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED when they lose. The Vikings should have been on the cover of the pro football issue instead of the 49ers. They are the team you will see in the Super Bowl.
MARVIN CHESTNUT JR.
Galivants Ferry, S.C.
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