Letters

If I were the "whip-smart, well-read" Costas, surely I could
come up with more of a TV sports outrage than someone
proclaiming his faith.
--MIKE RENFRO, Dallas

MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS

The story on Rams quarterback Kurt Warner was timely, but I get
the feeling that everyone has forgotten about Trent Green (Holy
Smokes, Oct. 18). He was 11 for 11 before getting injured in St.
Louis's exhibition game against San Diego. That proves the Rams'
receivers can make any quarterback look great. With Isaac Bruce,
Marshall Faulk, Az-Zahir Hakim and Torry Holt, all you have to do
is run the plays and throw a catchable ball.
JESSE DANIELS, East Alton, Ill.

Not only must Warner be thankful to God, but he is also in debt
to the Chargers' Rodney Harrison for taking out former starting
quarterback Green that August night.
JORGE ELIAS, Calexico, Calif.

Once again, St. Louis sports fans are privileged because they
have a special human being playing at the top of his game. Only
this time it's not Mark McGwire. Warner is a man who wasn't
supposed to make it in the NFL but did so because of his undying
faith. Thank you for not making light of that fact in the
article and also for answering the question: Where are all the
role models in sports? They're playing in St. Louis.
JORGE TUMIALAN, St. Louis

I'm fed up with these holier-than-thou, born-again athletes. If
the Lord has something special in mind for the Rams, what does He
have in mind for the rest of the teams competing in the NFC West?
JEFF JACKSON, Tucson

WHAT PUBLIC INTEREST?

Regarding the future of NFL football in Los Angeles, the key is
getting the American people to understand that there is no public
benefit from the investment of tax dollars in professional sports
facilities (SCORECARD, Oct. 18). Our tax dollars should be used
for the good of all citizens, not just to benefit a very wealthy
few. If NFL owners want to have a team based in Los Angeles, they
can use the $700 million Houston franchise fee to buy the land
and build a new stadium.
MIKE WEINBERG, Napa, Calif.

Shocking as this may be to the people in Houston, Cleveland,
Buffalo, San Francisco and Washington, the Los Angeles public
does not believe the city to be deprived without NFL football.
More specifically, the public doesn't feel compelled to
subsidize an organization featuring overpaid players and
laughingstocks like the last two Los Angeles NFL franchise
owners, Georgia Frontiere and Al Davis.
DAVID PEREL, Los Angeles

BARBS FOR BOB

So what if Mark Brunell thinks the prayers of his teammates are
being affirmed (AIR AND SPACE, Oct. 18). Someone stuck a
microphone in his face and he gave a heartfelt response. Bob
Costas should lighten up.
WES SMITH, Tulsa

I find it ironic that Steve Rushin praises Costas for refusing
"to speak of other people with contempt or disgust" in the same
article in which Costas mocks Christian athletes like Brunell.
ALLEN TELGENHOF, Charlevoix, Mich.

SURE HANDS PEOPLE

Your list of the top 10 receiving tandems (INSIDE COLLEGE
FOOTBALL, Oct. 25) did not include one of the best pairs. Kwame
Cavil and Ryan Nunez lead the potent Texas passing attack, which
ranked No. 13 in the nation after the Longhorns' first 11 games.
With 85 catches and six touchdowns, Cavil is among the country's
best at his position, and Nunez is a strong second with 53
catches and three touchdowns.
KEVIN POLI, Austin

I know you were discussing only Division I football, but you
might want to mention what may well be the most prolific
pass-catching trio in NCAA history. Over the past four years,
Scott Pingel, John Squires and Logan Stanley have caught 816
passes in 39 games at Division III Westminster College. This
year the trio had 240 receptions, the majority of which were
thrown by senior quarterback Justin Peery.
TERRY LOGUE
Athletics Director, Westminster College
Fulton, Mo.

THE WINNING SPIRIT

John Ed Bradley captured the love affair between Kansas State
defensive coordinator Phil Bennett and his late wife, Nancy
(She's Not There, Oct. 25). Phil's tragic loss may well be the
inspiration behind the comeback kids. The Wildcats won their
first nine games, overcoming 21-point deficits in wins over Iowa
State and Oklahoma State.
JIM CUNNINGHAM, Topeka, Kans.

B/W PHOTO: KEN REGAN/CAMERA 5

THOME'S NO MANTLE

There is only one thing wrong with the Go Figure stats in the
Oct. 18 issue (SCORECARD). The postseasons in which Cleveland's
Jim Thome has hit his 16 home runs are made up mostly of
ludicrous Division Series and Championship Series games. Mickey
Mantle (above) hit his 18 for the Yankees in World Series games.
Let's compare apples to apples.
JOE DONNER, Minneapolis