Letters

It's not about race, it's about who gets there first. McGwire
got there first. End of story.
--MIKE TOTO,
Los Angeles

MCGWIRE AND SOSA

I was excited when I received your magazine with Sammy Sosa on
the cover, only to be devastated when I looked further (The Race
Is On, Sept. 21). Hitting 62 home runs is an incredible
accomplishment, and both Sammy and Mark deserve praise. But what
else has McGwire done to earn so many of your magazine's pages?
Granted, he got there first, but was he sparking his team to a
playoff bid, did he lead the major leagues in RBIs, does he
credit his success to Flintstone vitamins and say how much he
loves America every time he is interviewed?
JONATHAN PETERS, Inwood, Iowa

Two pages devoted to Sosa's 62nd homer, focusing on how we were
all caught unawares and failed to celebrate him as we did
McGwire for his historic feat. Smith writes: "We won't be fooled
again. Thump our hearts and hope to die." Smith's story was
promptly followed by four times as many pages devoted to McGwire.
DINAH SWAIN SCHUSTER
St. Paul

I disagree with Smith's perspective. The hype surrounding the
events of Sept. 7 and 8 was for McGwire and Sosa as they faced
off in St. Louis. The question he should have asked was, Where
was Sosa? Answer: stuck on 58.
DAN PROCTOR, Denton, Texas

Yes, as Sammy insists, Mark is the Man, but !Sammy es el Hombre!
N. LEE POLHILL
Hilton Head, S.C.

BEDTIME STORY

Thank you, Gary Smith, for the fable of the fans who caught
McGwire's historic homers (The Mother of All Pearls, Sept. 21).
Their unselfishness proves that sometimes in sports there are
moments of pure joy that are more powerful than greed.
JAMES WHITE, Chapel Hill, N.C.

It is no longer a time when people look out only for themselves;
rather it's a time when people turn down the opportunity to get
rich quick. For once, the heart has beaten out the pocket. The
thing fans can ask for in return is that the NBA owners and
players follow our example.
SCOTT MOORE, Manchester, N.H.

Call me cynical, but I would gladly give the "pearl" to the
appropriate player as soon as players stop whining, striking and
sulking, and the owners provide free parking and hot dogs for
less than $3.50. Until then, my pearl would go to the highest
bidder.
KENNY HEISIG, Houston

UPSETTING NEWS

While I like your list of the top 10 college football upsets of
the 1990s, I remind you of a game you failed to include (INSIDE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Sept. 21). The 1996 Big 12 Championship Game:
Texas 37, Nebraska 27. The Longhorns were three-touchdown
underdogs.
CHRIS PAUGH, Houston

How could you forget Arizona's 1992 upset of Washington, a 16-3
Wildcats win?
STEPHEN SHARPTON, Tucson

THREE CHEERS FOR JOEPA

I realize attention has been focused on the record-breaking
events in baseball, but that does not excuse the oversight in
your Sept. 21 issue. Brief mentions in Wish List and Hot List
were all you felt necessary to mark Joe Paterno's 300th victory?
Shame on you.
DEBBIE MORELAND, Beckley, W.Va.

DIFFERENT STROKE

After reading S.L. Price's article on this year's U.S. Open
(Standing Tall, Sept. 21), I don't understand why you didn't put
America's Lindsay Davenport on the cover holding the trophy over
her head. She displayed class in an era filled with egocentric
adolescents.
STEVE NUDO, Omaha

BE TRUE TO YOUR SCHOOL?

Your article on Miami Senior High's illegal recruitment of
basketball players was right on (SCORECARD, Sept. 21). It is no
surprise that Miami Senior has won most of the Class 6A titles
over the past decade.
GLENN BRANCART, Winter Park, Fla.

As a sophomore at Benedictine High in Cleveland, I drive 45
minutes to and from school each day. One of the main reasons I do
is that Benedictine has so much to offer in sports. You shouldn't
criticize students who want to improve their chances for a
college scholarship.
JON DETWILER, Burton, Ohio

COLOR PHOTO: TOM LYNN [Boston College football players celebrating]

WHO'S NO. 1?

Compared with Boston College's 41-39 win in the last five seconds
of its 1993 game with Notre Dame (above), which you chose as your
No. 3 upset, N.C. State's recent victory over Florida State, your
No. 1 upset, was a poor imitation.
KERRY J. BYRNE, Boston