LETTERS

While there may be an argument as to who the best point guard
is, there's no disputing Brandon's immense talent and character.
PAUL D. FULWILER, Wilsonville, Ore.

POINT GUARDS

Thumbs up on your article on Cleveland Cavalier Terrell Brandon
(Floor Leader, Feb. 10). It's nice to see four pages spent on a
guy who not only is emerging as a perennial All-Star but also is
exhibiting on- and off-court behavior that epitomize how pro
athletes (are you reading this, Michael Irvin?) should act.
CONOR DUFFIN, Oconomowoc, Wis.

Not many players in the NBA can say that after games they go
back to their rooms and think about what they can do to make
their kids and parents proud of them. Kudos to Brandon for not
letting the money and fame go to his head.
ADAM SALTI, New York City

Terrell Brandon the best point guard in the NBA? No way. Penny
Hardaway of the Orlando Magic is No. 1. He doesn't fit the
classic mold for a point guard, but then neither did Magic
Johnson.
BRIAN B. FUCILE, Winter Park, Fla.

Your article says that "statistics can tell only part of the
story." Correct. Intangibles such as toughness and leadership
cannot be measured. Chris Childs brings both these qualities to
the New York Knicks. The team was considered by many to be
"softer" after the departure of Anthony Mason, and Childs
challenged his teammates to be tougher. While Childs may not
have the numbers of some of the other point guards in the
league, in his first year on a team with three new starters he
has guided the Knicks to the upper reaches of the Eastern
Conference.
ADAM FRIEDMAN, Geneseo, N.Y.

The Chicago Bulls have prospered for years despite not having a
solid point guard, and this season they have the best record in
the NBA without a point guard in your Top 16. How much greater
does that make their accomplishments!
STEPHEN KLEIN, Far Rockaway, N.Y.

I can't believe Phil Taylor ranked Damon Stoudamire so low on
his list of the NBA's best point guards (High Points, Feb. 10).
In his ranking Taylor left out some major factors: Stoudamire
had to assume the on-court leadership role in his rookie year;
he had to play in a city that at first did not want him (Toronto
fans wanted Ed O'Bannon); and he was the NBA's Rookie of the
Year while playing on one of the league's worst teams.
COLIN MACDONALD, Holland Landing, Ont.

It is interesting to note that in Taylor's ranking system
Brandon and John Stockton of the Utah Jazz would be tied at 104
points before adding rebounds and blocks. Since tracking things
like blocked shots by a point guard is about as relevant as
tracking the number of three-pointers Shaquille O'Neal sinks, I
propose instead the assist-to-turnover ratio. This more
revealing statistic was left off the list. Through Jan. 26, your
cutoff date, if you give it a weighting of one, Stockton comes
out ahead, 118-116.
ERIC H. BROWN, Salt Lake City

BOBBY ALLISON

The story on Bobby Allison was a masterpiece--sad, funny,
honest, thought-provoking and rich in memories for a longtime
racing fan (How Much Can One Man Bear?, Feb. 10). I still feel a
sense of loss when I see number 28 circling the track without
Davey Allison behind the wheel and when an Allison is not
introduced among the drivers.
REBECCA MYRICK, West End, N.C.

SWEENEY DECISION

As Walt Sweeney's attorney, I know that the former Charger did
not receive a $1.8 million award against the NFL pension plan
just because he was a football player who became an addict
(Inside the NFL, Feb. 3). Sweeney received it because, in an
attempt to enhance his performance on the field, the team
supplied the drugs that led to his addiction, which in turn led
to his total and permanent disability.
MICHAEL T. THORSNES, San Diego

COLOR PHOTO: JOHN W. MCDONOUGH Other point guards have better stats, but Childs's leadership qualities are making him a star. [Chris Childs in game]