For the life of me, I can't understand what Bill McCartney's crime is.
EARL KING, COCONUT CREEK, FLA.
Bill McCartney
Some might call Bill McCartney a wimp for placing his wife above fame and fortune (Putting His House in Order, Jan. 16) when he quit as Colorado's football coach, but I have the greatest admiration for him. He loves his family and tries to instill values in the lives of others. And he at least tries to do something about his faults. It's about time a sports hero emerged who cares more about others than himself.
STEVE J. SMITH, Macon, Ga.
Why is it so hard for people to understand why McCartney resigned? He should be praised for the example he is setting. His actions show how insignificant money and fame are and how important people are, especially his wife.
GRANT J. NATIONS, Waco, Texas
Instead of focusing on the successful, positive qualities of a man with high moral values, SI tried to discredit him and make him look like a lunatic. Here is a man of conviction whose decision to spend time with his family is admirable.
TODD HIRNEISEN, Gettysburg, Pa.
We are offended by the insinuation that being pro-family and pro-God necessarily mean you are on the lunatic fringe.
KEN AND REBECCA WISEMAN, Houston
A 54-year-old coach quits to get his priorities in order and gets vilified? How many men on their deathbeds say, "I wish I had spent more time at the office"?
JACK MAYER, Turlock, Calif.
I suggest you stick to sports and avoid critiquing people's personal lives. What McCartney and the Promise Keepers are striving to do—encourage men to fulfill their commitments to their families and take responsibility for their actions—is what's needed to get our nation back on track.
KORTLAND A. ORR, Buckley, Wash.
Bill McCartney is a tremendous coach who will be sorely missed. The Buff Club members who, according to the one you anonymously quoted, say that they're not mourning McCartney's departure must have short memories. McCartney's rebuilding of Colorado football after the disastrous Chuck Fairbanks era of 1979-81 is one of the true success stories of college football. Buff Club members should mourn McCartney's departure.
DAVE WELSH, Houston
New NBA Rules
Your INSIDE THE NBA (Jan. 9) contains a comment that disturbs me. Brian Williams of the Denver Nuggets compares the league's new hands-off policy lo driving down the highway in a 55-mph zone and getting a speeding ticket if you are going 56 mph. Rules are rules, even if you don't like them, and if you hand check, it's a personal foul. If you speed, you're subject to a ticket, although I don't believe that there are many police officers who would give you one for going one mile over the limit.
PETER NAHASS, Sergeant
Wellesley Police Department
Wellesley, Mass.
NASCAR
I was disappointed by your "This Week's Sign That the Apocalypse Is Upon Us," in which you make light of the sport of NASCAR racing and its many fans (SCORECARD, Jan. 9). NASCAR is a lifestyle because the fans are so zealously loyal and also because magazines such as yours force us to stick together in support of our sport. I know of no other sport in the U.S. that can draw 158,000 people 31 times a year.
BRIAN M. DOBBS, Auburn, Ala.
Adonal Foyle
It is so nice to have someone genuine like Colgate's freshman center Adonal Foyle in sports (Special Delivery, Jan. 16). Here is a young man with his ego in check, his mind firmly set on a goal and his heart in the right place. No trash-talking, no attitude, no "me first." Colgate is fortunate to have him on the basketball court and on campus.
SCOTT GILL, Queensbury, N. Y.
You think it's wonderful that Foyle spurned Syracuse and Duke to attend Colgate, but one purpose of athletics is to be challenged against the best competition possible. Therefore, in my opinion, he made a mistake.
DAVID MOONEY, Homer, N.Y.
Overkill
The "They Said It" in your Jan. 9 SCORECARD left me with an empty feeling. How could coach Jim Moore allow his girls' basketball team to run up an 111-point margin of victory over a rival and call it a "morale booster"? It seems more like a moral debacle to me. I feel bad for all the kids involved in such an embarrassment, especially Moore's kids.
BERT WALKER, Columbia, Md.
PHOTO
TOM LYNN
McCartney pointedly said he's focusing on his family.
Letters to SPORTS ILLUSTRATED should include the name, address and home telephone number of the writer. They may be sent via CompuServe or mailed to The Editor, SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, Time & Life Building, Rockefeller Center, New York, N.Y. 10020-1393.
