Letters

Many college athletes have been tempted but haven't accepted
offers from slimy characters. Whatever jail time Stevin (Hedake)
Smith receives, he deserves.
--Tabitha L. Cutrell, Hot Springs, Ark.

THEIR MAN IN MANHATTAN

Tim Layden's piece on coach Bill Snyder of Kansas State brought
back fond memories for me (Miracle Worker, Nov. 9). I played for
Snyder in 1973 at Foothill High in Tustin, Calif. What Layden did
not emphasize is Snyder's deep commitment to his players. He may
seem to be an aloof control freak, but he stands behind his
players with a compassion for which I remain grateful today.
THOMAS BREMER, Princeton, N.J.

Thanks to Layden for giving the rest of the nation an inside look
at the Miracle in Manhattan and the man who made it happen. Most
people will never understand what Snyder means to Kansas State.
Let me put it this way: He is our Knute Rockne, our Bear Bryant,
our Bob Devaney, our Joe Paterno.
DOUG SPENCER, Overland Park, Kans.

While I applaud the work ethic of Snyder and the results he's
achieved at Kansas State, it is misleading to praise the
Wildcats' "miraculous" record without pointing out that much of
that improvement came because Snyder filled the
out-of-conference schedule with cream puffs.
BRAD GEIGER, Grand Junction, Colo.

Please, enough about people whose stated priorities are "family,
faith and football," while they have gone through one marriage,
are into a second and are still not coming home before midnight.
SUSAN KASIAN, Lynn, Mass.

MORALITY TALE

Hedake Smith thinks the tragedy of his point-shaving story is
that he wasn't drafted, isn't making the millions of dollars to
which he thinks he's entitled and is forced to play with
inferior players (Confessions of a Point Shaver, Nov. 9). The
real tragedy is that Smith still doesn't understand that what he
did was selfish and unethical.
GREG DICKINSON, Oakland

Who is Smith kidding? If he were good enough to play in the
National Basketball Association, he would have been drafted. The
NBA doesn't care about what kind of trouble you get into as long
as you got game.
DANIEL VON SPANIELLE, Auburn, Calif.

During college I didn't know anyone who drove a Cherokee, two
Mustang GTs, a Rodeo and a Sierra K1500. There is a lot more that
is illegal at Arizona State than point shaving.
JOE SICKLES, Peoria, Ill.

Smith made no excuses. He gave us just the raw, painful truth
about the bad choices he made. I wish him the best.
BRIAN HALTON, Lewisville, Texas

ONE BUFF BEAR

How can you exclude Cal cornerback Deltha O'Neal from your list
of top 10 special teams players (INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Nov.
9). O'Neal is sixth in the nation in kick returns. He has thrown
for a touchdown, and he doesn't even play offense regularly. He
has anchored the Bears' defense, which is third in the Pac-10.
PACO FLORES, Berkeley, Calif.

TARGET PRACTICE

Rick Reilly hit the nail on the head with his column about the
Peterbilt and the NBA labor disputes (LIFE OF REILLY, Nov. 9).
Not only do the players have no idea what real life is, but also
they are clueless about the fact that many of us who ultimately
provide them with their "hangin' around money" no longer care if
they come back to play.
LES KERNAN, Macedon, N.Y.

We try to teach our children to be thankful for what they have
and to understand that we are blessed beyond measure. We are
keeping them away from the news about the NBA negotiations
because we don't want them influenced by the whining.
TAMMY BARBER, Boone, N.C.

Reilly is grasping at straws here. Why shouldn't the players
demand all this money? Without them, there is no league.
MARK FLOOD, Athens, Ontario

A little advice to poor Kenny Anderson: I substitute teach during
the day and work at FedEx in the evening to make ends meet. If
things are getting tight there in fantasyland, join me in the
real world and get another job.
BRIAN MANNING, Erie, Pa.

COLOR PHOTO: STEPHEN DUNN/ALLSPORT [Flozell Adams and others in game]

GO WITH THE FLO

Peter King's list of 10 of the top young players who have risen
to prominence in the first half of the season failed to mention
Flozell Adams (76, above) of the Dallas Cowboys (Smart Money,
Nov. 9). Adams, a rookie, has been starting in place of injured
veteran Everett McIver at guard, a position he didn't play until
this season, on one of the best offensive lines in football.
Adams is a future Pro Bowl player.
MIKE FREYBERGER, Columbus, Ga.