19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER

WIDE OPEN
Sirs:
As a Johnny Miller fan, I congratulate Dan Jenkins on his story Battle of the Ages (June 25) about the U.S. Open. Not only did he do an excellent job on Johnny's fantastic round of 63, he covered all aspects of the Open brilliantly. This tournament shows that no matter how dim things look, there is always a chance to come out ahead. As for Tom Weiskopf, the man who laughed and said he didn't even know Miller had made the cut, all I can say is that Miller made the biggest cut of all.
BOB ROONEY
Bronx, N.Y.

Sirs:
You finally did it! You had an article on a golf tournament that did not mention Jack Nicklaus' name in every other paragraph. Thanks for giving credit to some other pros.
RAY BELLAMY
Roanoke, Va.

Sirs:
Congratulations to James Drake for his outstanding cover photo of Johnny Miller. It was a spectacularly composed action shot.
MIKE TRUE
Princeton, N.J.

POET'S LICENSE
Sirs:
The article Dead Men Write No Poems (June 25) by Dan Gerber has to be one of the best ever written on why men stop racing. Gerber's presentation of his feelings while racing was excellent, and one feels his disappointment when he chooses to quit. Someday I hope to compete in motor racing because of the sheer delight in doing it, but this article will remain with me to remind me when to stop. Thank you for printing it.
JOHN W. SCHWARM
Saginaw, Mich.

Sirs:
Dan Gerber describes the hazards of race driving without being overly grotesque or macabre. As another of those aspiring drivers in the SCCA in the early '60s, I shall always remember Dan as one of our local heroes. We had concluded that Dan "had it made" as a top pro once he had smoothed out the wild driving of his early Austin-Healey days. But as he so vividly describes it, even the top pros get involved in accidents.

We were glad to hear Dan is doing so well in his other field, and we would welcome him to South Bend anytime to lecture at one of our monthly sports-car club meetings.
RICHARD WISLER
Elkhart, Ind.

WINNERS AND LOSERS
Sirs:
I very much enjoyed Larry Keith's article on the 1973 College World Series (SC Gene It the Old College Cool, June 25). USC's success over the years can indeed be attributed to its fine coach, Rod Dedeaux, a man who must be considered the John Wooden of college baseball.
DUANE E. SPENCER
Berkeley, Calif.

Sirs:
The qualities of a great champion include humility and sportsmanship. It might be a good idea if USC Coach Rod Dedeaux taught those qualities. Remarks that I have read and heard from the Trojans after their last two championships only show me that they are not yet mature enough to handle success.
ROBERT G. GRIEGO, D.D.S.
Phoenix

Sirs:
Larry Keith's coverage of the College World Series was generally excellent, with one notable exception: the omission of one of the nation's finest collegiate pitchers, Arizona State's Eddie Bane.

In three years at ASU, Bane compiled a 41-4 mark, setting an NCAA record of 535 strikeouts in the process. In his only pitching appearance in this year's Series, Banc, a first-team All-America, as well as all-tourney, shut out Minnesota 3-0 while fanning 12 batters. He then signed a contract, estimated at $64,500 with the Minnesota Twins and was sent directly to the majors.

The University of Southern California is certainly a deserving champion, with its superior play under pressure. But with their slow, deliberate style, the Trojans are a distant second to ASU in fan appeal. USC has trouble drawing flies at home, while the Sun Devils, the crowd favorite at Omaha, attract as many as 8,000 fans for important home games.
MIKETULUMELLO
STEVE WIDMANN
Tempe, Ariz.

BIG LIFT
Sirs:
As an avid Olympic-style weight lifter, I enjoyed tremendously your article on national champions Fred Lowe and Phil Grippaldi (Clean Wins for Determined Non-jerks, June 25). Dan Levin seems to have a genuine interest in weight lifting as a sport; there was not a hint of a patronizing tone in the entire report. Thanks.
STEVE WANVIG
Minneapolis

Sirs:
Skimming through your contents page of June 25, I did a double take at the picture of Fred Lowe. It is not often one sees the image of an old college roommate in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. I immediately turned to page 56 and read the article. It was most rewarding to find that Fred is still Fred, for I had been able to follow him only through mutual friends and an occasional article buried deep in the sports pages of newspapers. It was also gratifying to see a fine athlete get the recognition he deserves. I have met others with his desire, but none with his determination. The look on his face in your photograph is the same look we saw in 1966 in the Central Michigan University weight room, where some of us would go to watch Fred work out. His concentration and total effort awed us.
BOB SCHEERER
Bay City, Mich.

OLDEST LIFEGUARD
Sirs:
How could you include such a genuinely amusing story as I'm the Type of Swimmer Lifeguards Hate in your June 18 issue and not indicate in some way that it was funny? I always read the humorous stories—there used to be about one an issue, easily recognizable by the accompanying drawings—but I happened on this one just by chance. What a catastrophe it would have been to have missed it. Take pity on the beleaguered reader who cannot read everything. Identify the funnies.
CAROLINE CORD
New York City

Sirs:
You have pictured lifeguard Jim Havender as pugnacious, obnoxious, vain and self-satisfied. Heaven help him if those are his true attributes.
RENE WARREN
Rayville, Mo.

Sirs:
Bravo to Roy Blount Jr. for his article on Jim Havender, whose warmth and kindness were an inspiration to all of us as campers and counselors at Monomoy.

Here's to a wonderful human being and a fabulous gentleman.
RICK RICHARDSON
Mansfield, Mass.

THE WOMEN (CONT.)
Sirs:
I have just finished reading your excellent and timely series Women in Sport (May 28 et seq.). The gals certainly are not getting a fair shake, and I hope your story helps their cause. But I was disappointed that you did not include anything on the status of women athletes in other countries, because I think you would have strengthened your case. Take Eastern Europe for example. I have lived in Rumania for the last two years and followed and participated in local sports. Here, as I assume is true throughout Eastern Europe, women athletes enjoy considerable publicity for their achievements, and in many, many sports they are treated as equals with the men. In basketball, volleyball, handball, track and field, gymnastics and swimming, just to name a few, the women have uniforms, coaching and the use of facilities on a par with men. Large numbers of spectators turn out for women's events, and it is not unusual for the daily sport newspaper, Sportul, to carry several stories and photos of female accomplishments. Women here certainly do not carry a stigma for success in sports.

I think American sports directors could take a lesson from the Rumanians in this regard. Maybe this is why the Eastern European countries are so strong in women's athletics. Certainly their women receive far more satisfaction from sports than do our own.
WILLIAM F. SCHRAGE
Bucharest

Sirs:
Bil Gilbert and Nancy Williamson have written a superior commentary on the status of women in sport. But I would like to tell you about the Canada West University Athletic Association, which is typical of most of the Canadian university athletic conferences in that it provides athletic opportunities for women that are comparable to those for men. Our philosophy has never been "separate and equal" but rather "separate and appropriate."

We could not be persuaded to allow girls on our ice hockey, football, rugby or wrestling teams, nor do we plan to offer women's programs in these activities. We do, however, offer competition in 13 activities (as compared to 17 for men). In eight of these sports, the men's and women's meets are held together, and in basketball we play female-male doubleheaders.

In each of our institutions the athletic program is administered by a unified department of athletics. A final significant statistic is that in two of our six universities the athletic directors are female.
JAMES A. P. DAY
President
Canada West University
Athletic Association
Lethbridge, Alberta

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