19TH HOLE: THE READERS TAKE OVER

TRIBUTES TO TIGER
Sir:
I want to thank Sam Toperoff for the splendid PERSPECTIVE (Oct. 13) on Richard Ihetu, a.k.a. Dick Tiger, the two-time world middleweight champion from Nigeria who passed away in 1971. Never before has anyone spotlighted this great fighter in such a remarkable manner. Those who came in contact with Tiger cherished his wit and pride. When I was a boy growing up during the Biafran war, he was my mentor; he represented the last hope we Ibos had during the civil war. He will remain with us in our memories.
DENNIS NNAJI
Conway, Ark.

Sir:
Toperoff's article on Dick Tiger was excellent and very timely. I will be traveling to Lagos, Nigeria, later this month to join many devoted fans in paying a memorial tribute to this most humble and respected champion. Although 1986 marks the 15th year since his death, he is remembered and idolized more than ever in his homeland.

Your story brought to mind many memories of the hard-fought matches I had with Tiger here in the U.S. and in Nigeria. I am looking forward to returning to Africa after 23 years to renew those memories and to again meet with the dedicated fans of Nigeria.
GENE FULLMER
Former Middleweight Champion
West Jordan, Utah

•Fullmer and Tiger met three times. On Oct. 23, 1962 in San Francisco, Fullmer lost the WBA middleweight crown to Tiger in a 15-round decision. On Feb. 23, 1963 in Las Vegas, Tiger retained that title in a 15-round draw, and on Aug. 10 of that year in Ibadan, Nigeria, Tiger stopped Fullmer in seven rounds in a second defense.—ED.

THE SEAHAWKS' LARGENT
Sir:
Thank you so much for Jill Lieber's touching story on Seattle wide receiver Steve Largent (The Catch Of The Day, Oct. 20). Largent and his family have learned to feel more for others, and reading this story has helped me to do the same.
LLOYD GOLDMAN
Flushing, N.Y.

Sir:
Lieber's article was impressive, but Peter Read Miller's photograph of Largent and his handicapped son was even more moving. What a picture!
GREG PHILLIPS
Boulder, Colo.

Sir:
As good as Largent is (a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame), I don't think you expect your readers to believe that he can see the head of a pheasant at 600 yards, much less shoot one from that range, as his friend Larry Guerkink seems to suggest.
WELLS HANLEY
Memphis

•Oh, no. Make that 60 yards.—ED.

FINE FILLY
Sir:
Lady's Secret is no secret, but thanks to Demmie Stathoplos for informing the rest of the country about this classic animal (Fairest Filly Of Them All, Oct. 13). I watched her defeat the boys at Saratoga in the Whitney, and I am sure that Breeders' Cup Day (Nov. 1) will see her clinch the Eclipse Award and stamp her name in racing history as the greatest filly of all time.
JOHN Y. HAMILTON
Lexington, Ky.

WOMEN IN SPORTS (CONT.)
Sir:
I read with interest Sarah Ballard's The Most Powerful Woman In Sports (Sept. 29). As Ballard pointed out, many sports in which women compete are not led by women. But there is one she missed: bowling.

Mrs. Helen Baker is president of the Women's International Bowling Congress, the largest sports organization in the world for women. She and her all-woman board are shaping the destiny of women's bowling, not to mention the future of 3.5 million league bowlers. It is through Baker's leadership that the WIBC became a Group C member of the United States Olympic Committee. Bowling will be an exhibition sport in the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul. Much, much more is in store for the sport under Baker.
FLORA MITCHELL
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
Women's International Bowling Congress
Greendale, Wis.

Sir:
No one could take issue with the objective of Ballard's article. However, the Women's International Tennis Association has two objections pertaining to that portion dealing with the WITA.

First, many women executives were contacted by Korn/Ferry, the executive search firm hired to find us an executive director. The search was wide open and was itself conducted by a woman.

Second, the WITA board of directors is composed of 12 women professionals who unanimously chose Merrett Stierheim from more than 100 applicants. One of our major considerations was his long and outstanding record of sensitivity to women's rights. As county manager of Metropolitan Dade County and in other positions, he had served several women county commissioners and had promoted many women to executive positions on his immediate staff and among the 22,000 county employees that he supervised.

Today, after Stierheim has spent almost a year on the job, we are very proud and happy with the decision we made.
CHRIS EVERT LLOYD
President
Women's International Tennis Association
Miami

Sir:
We are pleased that data from our study "Women in Intercollegiate Sport—A Longitudinal, National Study: Nine Year Update" were used in your article. Our only regret is that you did not cite us as the researchers responsible for the data, so that your readers might know where they can obtain more information on this ongoing study.
R. VIVIAN ACOSTA, PH.D.
LINDA JEAN CARPENTER, PH.D., J.D.
Department of Physical Education
Brooklyn College

PHOTO

UPI/BETTMANN NEWSPHOTOS

Fullmer (left) and Tiger squared off three times.

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.