19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER

GEORGE FOREMAN'S EXAMPLE
Sir:
Gary Smith has created a masterpiece with his story on George Foreman (After the Fall, Oct. 8). I followed Foreman's career for many years, and it's wonderful to read of his successful search for happiness. I was moved by the account of his struggle to restore order and meaning to his existence.

Certainly Foreman's story has a lesson to offer every human being. And his success at the game of life transcends any of his achievements in the ring.
WILLIAM S. GEMMELL
Long Beach, N.Y.

Sir:
Gary Smith should be commended for his article on the Rev. George Foreman. It's a fine example for young athletes who see only the headlines on the sports page. Life in the spotlight lasts for only a short time. To me, Foreman is the real winner of that 1974 fight with Muhammad Ali.
COACH MEL MITCHELL
Harvest Temple Christian School
Largo, Fla.

Sir:
How sad that Foreman and Ali still need confrontation. Why can't they pray together in silence, George to God, and Muhammad to Allah. There's no need to stalk each other anymore.
R. WARD
La Grange, Ill

Sir:
A spare $50 would come in awfully handy right about now, with Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas near at hand. So, why am I spending it on another year's subscription to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED? Ask Gary Smith and photographer Brian Lanker. Their work was more powerful than any punch George Foreman ever threw.
JAMES ANTHONY MEROLLA
Pebble Beach, Calif.

HECHT'S PICKS
Sir:
I agree 100% with Henry Hecht (INSIDE PITCH, Oct. 8) that Keith Hernandez of the Mets should be the National League MVP. Thanks for recognizing a job so well done by one of the league's most brilliant players.
LILIA GUTIERREZ
Miami

Sir:
Who is this guy Henry Hecht? The thought of selecting Keith Hernandez, on the basis of better on-base percentage and good fielding statistics, over Cubbie Ryne Sandberg as National League MVP is foolish. Sandberg, in his second full season at second base, made only six errors in 156 games at a position infinitely more difficult to field than first base.

As for National League Manager of the Year, every man has his own opinion, but my choice is Jim Frey over Davey Johnson.
CHRISTOPHER MERTES
Eau Claire, Wis.

Sir:
Henry Hecht's choices for Most Valuable Player are way out in leftfield. How can he possibly suggest Dan Quisenberry for American League MVP? He seems to have forgotten a brilliant fielding first baseman who also happens to be the American League batting champion: Don Mattingly.

To prove that I'm not just a biased New York baseball fan, I also have to differ with the choice of Keith Hernandez for National League MVP. I'll side with the rest of the world and go with the Cubs' Ryne Sandberg.
NICK DIPALO
Hicksville, N.Y.

DEFORD'S REVIEW
Sir:
While reading the MOVIETALK (Oct. 1) on The Bear, I felt pity for the filmmakers. Your critic shredded the movie the way a Cuisinart handles carrots. Then I thought, "This sounds like a Frank Deford review." And so it was. Well, the byline was enough to tell me the movie is probably a hit and I must see it.
MICHAEL E. MEZO
Amarillo, Texas

THE "EAGLE" CREW
Sir:
I thoroughly enjoyed the article A Race Back in Time (Oct. 1) by Sarah Ballard. Bill Eppridge and Dan Nerney did a superb job on the photography, especially Eppridge's shot from the bowsprit. But another of Eppridge's pictures puzzled me. In the photo of cadets practicing first aid, on page 100, there was someone standing to the side in green fatigue trousers and a uniform T shirt from my alma mater, the U.S. Air Force Academy. Did this cadet just happen to be wearing a USAFA T shirt, or was he actually a cadet from the Air Force Academy?
GEORGE W. RYAN JR.
Great Falls, Mont.

•Besides the 112 Coast Guard cadets aboard Eagle, there were four Air Force cadets who forfeited leave to join the crew. That's Cadet Third Class Kevin Hyde against the rail in the photo (above). Seven exchange midshipmen from the Naval Academy were also aboard. Two of them, Midshipmen Third Class John Titus (foreground, with the N on his cap) and Susan Mitchell (smiling, farthest from the camera on the right) are in the picture, too.—ED.

PHOTO

BILL EPPRIDGE

Letters should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer and be addressed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, N.Y. 10020.