Letters

Olympic Preview
I thoroughly enjoyed your Olympic Preview issue (July 22), but I am amazed that there was no article about soccer.
STEVEN TRAMONTIN
Ann Arbor, Mich.

I read your Olympic Preview issue cover to cover but was disappointed with one aspect of it: There was only one column of text on wrestling.
BRANDON C. WHITWORTH
Tulsa

I enjoyed your Olympic Preview but missed a major sport—equestrian.
STEPHANIE LINDEMANN
Wheatland, Calif.

You had a 12-page story on weightlifting. Couldn't you have slipped in a short article on synchronized swimming showing its grace and beauty?
SHARON CARP
ANDREA MCGIRR
Fair Oaks, Calif.

I am writing to complain about the small amount of coverage devoted to the U.S. women's basketball team.
KIM PRUITT
Idalou, Texas

I am upset that you failed to include the demonstration sport of roller hockey.
DAN CORMICAN
Vernon, N.Y.

Bravo to Gary Smith for his A Pain in Spain (July 22). I was crying from laughing by the time I finished it. His collection of slams on the average American and fun pokes at Spain-isms were absolutely on target. The article should be handed out by every travel agent who books a flight this way.
PAT GARVEY
El Puerto de Danta María, Spain

I have just finished laughing and nodding in agreement over A Pain in Spain. Having been to Spain twice, most recently last November, I share with Smith many of the same impressions of the Spanish way of life. I began to believe that Spanish waiters thought it tacky to bring the dinner check, almost as though you were a guest and presenting a check would be rude. It seemed to distress them when, hours later, you asked for it. Smith's line "Every bartender is a child of God" struck home too. In Costa Brava we had several bar owners close up for the night only to accompany us to the next bar and pass along the pesetas we had just paid them.

The Spanish definitely know how to live, but above all they are very tolerant and have a lot of class. I envy all the Olympians and spectators their visit to such a hospitable land.
JANICE C. JODON
Stale College, Pa.

Hometown Heroes
As a native of Spokane, I was pleased to read Steve Rushin's article City of Stars (July 27). These three local athletes—Mark Rypien, Ryne Sandberg and John Stockton—give me pride and respect for what an athlete should be. In a time when drugs, alcohol and violence often dim the sports world, these fine men bring it light.
REX MANGIARACINA
Spokane

I enjoyed your article about Spokane and its three great athletes. If you want another good story, how about doing some research on Long Beach (Calif.) Poly High. Poly may have produced more NFL players than any other high school in the country. Two recent standouts are Chicago's Mark Carrier and New England's Leonard Russell.
PAUL COPELAND
Lakewood, Calif.

How about South River, N.J.? The town was home to Hall of Fame lineman and linebacker Alex Wojciechowicz, former Cowboy receiver Drew Pearson, former Redskin quarterback and current TV commentator Joe Theismann and present Eagle star Kenny Jackson. This small town has given football some of its greatest players.
MATT ALEXANDER
Chatham, N.J.

Flint, Mich., is a small city to be reckoned with when it comes to pro athletes. Flint's football products include Carl Banks, Mark Ingram, Eugene Marve, Andre Rison, Brent Williams and Lonnie Young. Basketball: Jell" Grayer, Glen Rice and Trent Tucker. Baseball: Jim Abbott.
ARNOLD W. SCOTT
Forestville, Md.

Spokane's Stockton
Thank you for acknowledging Spokane's brilliant athletes, Mark Rypien, Ryne Sandberg and John Stockton (City of Stars, July 27). The article mentioned a poster featuring these Spokane athletes in which Stockton declined to appear. In all fairness to Stockton, it should be pointed out that he was gracious enough to pose for the Spokane Hoopfest 3-on-3 basketball tournament poster the year following the Rypien-Sandberg poster. We found Stockton to be very pleasant and enthusiastic about this community event, which attracts nearly 1,700 teams. Here is that poster.
RICK A. STELTENPOHL
Spokane Hoopfest Association
Spokane

PHOTO

COURTESY OF SPOKANE HOOPFEST ASSOCIATION

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.