Letters

POLLUTION
Forecast for Disaster (Nov. 16) by Robbert H. Boyle is the first logical and unemotional piece I have seen on man-made pollution. His case is well researched, well thought-out, well written and convincing.
TERRENCE M. ZAJAC
Scottsdale, Ariz.

In your Feb. 2, 1970, issue you published an article called Mortgaging the Old Homestead by Lord Ritchie-Calder, which catapulted me into the environmental movement. For a number of years I served as Energy Committee chairman of the City of Cincinnati's Environmental Advisory Task Force. In addition, I joined a speakers bureau and addressed meetings of various organizations on environmental issues. More recently, I have not been so active, but I remain a student of environmental issues and problems.

My sincere hope is that Robert H. Boyle's Forecast for Disaster will alert many other people to become active so that the necessary steps will be taken to avert the coming debacle.
TED ISAACS
Cincinnati

I just finished reading your article and am greatly disturbed. I am concerned that by the time I reach adulthood (I am a freshman at Trinity College here in Hartford) I will face a problem that is impossible to overcome.

In an age when the nation is worrying about whether the Soviets can nuke us before we nuke them, it is ironic that we may unwittingly be doing just what we fear nuclear war might do, i.e., destroying all life on the planet. It is time that the government stop worrying about the Strategic Defense Initiative and start worrying about whether there will be any Americans or Soviets left at the turn of the century. It is essential that the people who can pass legislation to stop this growing problem do so before it is too late.
PETER CRAM
Hartford

Until now, I hadn't realized just how serious the ozone and greenhouse-effect problems were. The issue isn't even debatable. We must stop producing chlorofluorocarbons; we can live without them. We must stop destroying the forests of the world. We must learn how to make the best of solar energy and use the sun to help us before it eventually destroys us.

I'll be getting married soon, and I want to have children. However, this information makes me stop and think. Would it be fair to bring new life into this world?
ELLEN DOLGINS
Wading River, N.Y.

I am not a scientist, but I have read many articles like Robert H. Boyle's on the greenhouse effect and the destruction of the ozone layer. I feel that one way to slow down these two problems is to stop the outward growth of suburbia. Our woodlands and other natural sanctuaries are too quickly being turned into shopping malls and minicommunities, while inside many big cities we find large blighted areas that cry out for redevelopment. Instead of continually building out from the city, we should turn inward and rebuild.
HENRY PETER GRIBBIN
Pittsburgh

Any science magazine can tell you the same things found in Robert H. Boyle's article. But I don't see why a sports magazine would take it upon itself to forecast that snow will be just a memory and that drought and ultraviolet radiation will kill a substantial number of Californians. Unless, of course, SI wants to make a catastrophic change of its own—from a highly readable and enjoyable sports magazine to a controversial political forum.
DESMOND HOBSON
Lakewood, Calif.

Hats off to Ryszard Horowitz for his imaginative imagery and technical skill in fashioning the dramatic photographs for Robert H. Boyle's article. I would like to see more of his work.
ALEX BALUCH
Winter Haven, Fla.

•Request granted (below).—ED.

SPORTSMAN (CONT.)
After reading William Nack's story about the recent Tyrell Biggs-Mike Tyson heavyweight title fight (Very Tough Night at the Office, Oct. 26), I am convinced that Tyson should be recognized as SI's 1987 Sportsman of the Year. For the past four years the heavyweight division has been as weak as it has ever been. Now, because of Tyson, it is back as the most prominent of all the weight classes, as it should be. Despite his-tender age of 21, Tyson has handled his opponents, the media and his newly acquired stardom like an old pro. I think he should be rewarded.
TOM DEMBIK
St. Bonaventure, N.Y.

The Veterans: Julius Erving, Mike Schmidt, Martina Navratilova, Walter Payton, Mike Bossy. Perhaps there are others. For the past 10 years, these athletes have been among the most dominant figures in sports.
MIKE HOLTZCLAW
Columbia, Mo.

The NFL replacement players. Watching them live out their dreams, have some fun and give their all during the NFL Players Association's strike was refreshing. They brought enthusiasm back to pro football.
JUDY JENNINGS
Alexandria, Va.

Who endured the greed of both the owners and the players during the recent pro football strike? Who literally screamed the Minnesota Twins to baseball's world championship in the Metrodome? Who will endure sub-zero temperatures to go to Soldier Field and support the Chicago Bears? Who has made every Nebraska home football game a sellout for the past 25 years? Who pays to support big-time sports?

The Fan.
BILL KLING JR.
Huntsville, Ala.

PHOTO

RYSZARD HOROWITZ

Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer and should be addressed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, N.Y. 10020-1393.