LETTERS
Your article on the 100th-best athletes deserves to be read by
everyone. These athletes are the true role models.
JONAH RICHMAN, WOODMERE, N.Y.
THE 100TH BEST
The story of Peter Julian, the 100th-best 10,000-meter man, is
an inspiration for every runner (100th Best, July 28). Julian
lacks the natural talent of many elite distance runners, but he
has more than made up for that with his determination and
dedication.
AL HEPPNER, Columbia, Md.
If you told me I was the 100th-best family physician in the
world, wow! I would be very happy. And my patients very lucky.
MICHEL TURGEON, M.D., Sainte-Foy, Que.
SUTTON FOR THE HALL
I am glad to see someone else state the obvious, that Don Sutton
should have already been voted into the Hall of Fame (INSIDE
BASEBALL, Aug. 4). You compared Sutton's stats with those of
Phil Niekro, but how about a comparison of Sutton and Nolan
Ryan, considered a first-time cinch when he becomes eligible in
1999. You will find little difference in wins and ERAs.
MIKE LORRAINE, Simi Valley, Calif.
--Ryan and Sutton both had 324 career wins, and Ryan's lifetime
ERA was 3.19 to Sutton's 3.26.--ED.
If Greg Maddux, considered a lock for the Hall of Fame the first
year he becomes eligible, wins 20 games this year and in each of
the next seven seasons, he will have one more career win than
Sutton.
JOHN H. ORR, Gainesville, Ga.
BRITISH OPEN
Rick Reilly wrote a fine article about Justin Leonard's victory
at the British Open (Justin Time, July 28), but he neglected to
include details on the best part of Leonard's Sunday
performance, his acceptance speech. Leonard thanked everyone
involved--his playing partners, the volunteers, the fans, the
tournament officials, the greenkeepers, the second-place
finishers and the man who won low amateur. This guy had just won
the biggest tournament of his young life, and he had the
presence to remember all who made the event great.
LORI KILLIAN, Clinton, Ill.
A unique feature in this year's British Open is that the top
four finishers were in the top six when play ended each day. I
can't remember this happening before in a major golf event. The
player to make the most significant progress was Irishman
Padraig Harrington, who was tied for 50th after Day 1, tied for
26th after Day 2, tied for 17th after Day 3 and finished tied
for fifth. It was great to see Harrington join another Irishman,
Darren Clarke, in the top half dozen.
FINBARR SLATTERY, Killarney, Ireland
The story mentioned that after the first round, Leonard trailed
two "wind players," one of them being Jim Furyk. It went on to
say that Furyk's swing is "so awful the wind improves it." What
you failed to note was that although his swing is unorthodox, at
the end of the British Open, Furyk was first on the PGA Tour in
top 10 finishes, first in driving accuracy, fourth in the Ryder
Cup standings, sixth in scoring average and seventh on the money
list.
TOM GRIGGS, Lancaster, Pa.
Furyk's backswing may be unorthodox, but his position at impact
is as good as anyone's on tour.
ROBERT C. GARRETT, Ephrata, Pa.
STEALING SIGNS
After reading your article about sign stealing (Sign Language,
July 28), I wanted to remind you of Al Worthington, a pitcher
who sacrificed a promising career in baseball in the 1960s
because he wouldn't compromise his values. Worthington didn't
object to stealing signs by conventional measures, but he took
issue with the use of binoculars and other means of spying, and
as a result quit the game.
BOB TRONCALE, Birmingham
Being a student of sign language at the New York Society for the
Deaf, I was disappointed that you failed to mention Dummy Hoy,
the first deaf baseball player and the founder of sign language
in baseball. William Ellsworth Hoy's 14-year career as an
outfielder ended in 1902. He died in 1961 at age 99.
CAROLYN TORCIVIA, New York City
COLOR PHOTO: PETER READ MILLER Sutton rivals Ryan (above) in key stats. [Nolan Ryan pitching]