LETTERS

Holyfield came away from the evening as the champ, but the sport
of boxing was the big winner.
JOCK PHIPPEN, Kingston, Ont.

HOLYFIELD-TYSON FIGHT

I gained respect for both fighters, not just because of their
actions in the ring but also because of their attitudes
immediately after the bout (Real Deal, Nov. 18). Evander
Holyfield's praise of God was sorely needed, given the
prevailing attitude in sports of arrogance and lack of
thankfulness for one's talents. Mike Tyson's deflection of his
cornermen's whining excuses of alleged Holyfield head butts and
his show of respect in the face of defeat demonstrated that he
can handle victory and defeat with equal dignity.
STEVE MARSO, Iowa City

If Tyson had the corner and the heart that Holyfield had,
imagine how good he could be! The fighter who wanted it most won.
ROBERT SHERRY, Hazleton, Pa.

Your photo of Tyson showing the tattoo likeness and name of Mao
Tse-tung, the former Chinese Communist chairman, was
disconcerting, since despite his loss Tyson was about to collect
30 million capitalist dollars. I eagerly await the announcement
that he plans to share his largesse with the proletariat.
NOEL NUSBACHER, Far Rockaway, N.Y.

--While in prison, Tyson became so impressed by two authors, Mao
Tse-tung and Arthur Ashe, that he had their portraits tattooed
on his biceps.--ED.

Your picture of Tyson sitting on the canvas after Holyfield
knocked him down is not just a classic picture of an athlete
suffering the agony of defeat but also of a human being
physically suffering. How can America call itself a civilized
society when it sanctions such brutality? Professional boxing
should be outlawed.
JOHN SAMPSON, Fort Salonga, N.Y.

COLLEGE BETTING

I was appalled at the attitude of the Boston College football
players involved in gambling toward breaking NCAA rules (Dark
Days at BC, Nov. 18). Most, if not all, were getting a free
education, and yet they broke those rules. Then when given three
chances to confess, they chose not to do so. They should lose
their scholarships, whether or not lack of playing time meant
they were not "in position to affect the outcome of the game."
MATT LOUK, Dallas

Boston College proved it was a real winner by not following the
University of Rhode Island's decision in October to forfeit its
next football game because of the actions of a few. Five members
of the Rhode Island football team were charged with assault
after entering a fraternity house and beating three students.
The school decided to make everyone share the blame. The Eagles,
however, gave untarnished players a chance to play in place of
those suspended.
STEPHEN LANDERS, Brockton, Mass.

SI chastises the Boston College football team for gambling;
however, in the preceding week you made the Florida Panthers
sound like a swell bunch of guys as they made some bets in their
fantasy football and basketball leagues and NFL and golf pools
(Above and Beyond, Nov. 11).
PAUL E. TERRILE, Boston

CELTICS POWER

How can you question the Celtics' representation in the NBA's 50
greatest players list (Scorecard, Nov. 18) and the Boston Globe
readers' reactions to that list? The Celtics have won nearly one
third of the league's titles, have produced the most dominant
run in sports history (11 championships in 13 years) and have
won more games and had more 60-win seasons and MVPs than any
other franchise.

It's not unreasonable to think that Boston deserved even more
players than the 12 it has on the list. For example, how can
Dennis Johnson and K.C. Jones not make the top 50 when a certain
fifth-year center who makes a habit of being swept from the
playoffs does? Why can't people accept the fact that the Celtics
have had more great players than any other team?
CURTIS SMITH, Fort Wayne, Ind.

COLOR PHOTO: WAYNE DOEBLING [Rod Woodson in game]

TWO-WAY PLAYERS

I enjoyed Tim Layden's article about Charles Woodson of Michigan
and other two-way players in college football (Double Threat,
Nov. 18), and I want to point out that probably the best
two-way, single-game performance was that of the "original"
Woodson--that's Rod, Pro Bowl cornerback for the Pittsburgh
Steelers. In his last game at Purdue, a 17-15 victory over
archrival Indiana on Nov. 22, 1986, Rod (above) racked up the
following stats: 93 yards rushing on 15 carries, 67 yards
receiving on three receptions, 10 tackles, one fumble caused,
one pass broken up, 46 yards gained on two kick returns and 30
yards gained on three punt returns. He was on the field for more
than 80% of all plays.
MIKE ADAMS, Bloomington, Ill.