Letters

Maybe now people will stop mentioning Peyton Manning and Ryan
Leaf in the same sentence. Lord knows, neither of them deserves
it.
--DAVE SABAINI, Terre Haute, Ind.

PEYTON'S PLACE

Great job putting Peyton Manning on your cover and writing about
his lifestyle and dining habits (Thoroughbred, Nov. 22). It's
obvious to this fellow Tennessee alumnus that Manning did not
take home economics while earning his degree in speech
communications, with honors, in just three years. He probably
focused on geography, geometry, transportation and strategic
planning, based on the skills he displays in leading the Colts
on the field.
GARY MANN, Farmington, Conn.

While many may find Manning's lack of common sense and
clumsiness endearing, I find it rather disturbing. This is a man
who holds a degree from an institution of higher learning and
does not know how to use a can opener or plug in cable
television. I am not certain who should be more ashamed: his
parents, for failing to teach him the basic skills of
self-reliance, or the University of Tennessee, for teaching him
little else than football.
JEFF HANTEN,
Arlington, Va.

Who cares that Peyton Manning does not know how to open a can of
soup? He knows what it takes to find Marvin Harrison in the end
zone and to win.
DERON K. MANWARING,
Warsaw, Ind.

I find it very curious that the person who is overseeing
Manning's progress was not mentioned once. He's coach Jim Mora,
and he has done a heck of a job in turning Indianapolis from an
also-ran into a first-place team.
JACK RANKIN, La Canada, Calif.

SLIPPERY SUBJECT

Discounted (Nov. 22) is a brilliant rubric for the Peter Warrick
escapade. The clothes were deeply discounted, his career was
deeply discounted, his sentence was conveniently discounted, and
Florida State's institutional integrity is permanently discounted.
CHUCK YOOS, Durango, Colo.

Between Warrick's mother, minister stepfather, high school
coaches and college coaches, he has been well schooled in how to
become an outstanding football player. He now has a child out of
wedlock and a criminal record. Too bad none of those people took
the time to teach him right from wrong.
TERRY GRINER, Spokane

OUR FAITHFUL READERS

When someone on your wonderful Athletes of the Century
television show said that SI began publishing 45 years ago [the
premier issue was Aug. 16, 1954], my husband and I couldn't
believe it. He is a charter subscriber and has never missed an
issue. Do you know how many of your charter subscribers still
get the magazine?
JEANNE R. SHANK, Sun Lakes, Ariz.

--SI had 381,458 charter subscribers, of whom 10,621 are still
receiving the magazine. --ED.

YOUNG AND GIFTED

How could a list of the top 10 freshmen not include Pitt wide
receiver Antonio Bryant (INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Nov. 22)?
Bryant caught 51 passes for 844 yards, and his six touchdowns
were more than those of any of the three receivers you mentioned.
DAVID HEIDISH, Pittsburgh

Auburn's Ronney Daniels had more yards (1,068), more touchdowns
(nine) and a higher average (19.1 yards per catch) than any of
the receivers you listed.
JOHN MCKAY, Fort Morgan, Colo.

After an injury to Vernon Banks, linebacker Clifton Smith of
Syracuse was thrust into a starting role on a highly ranked
defense. Smith had 61 tackles, including 34 unassisted and three
for a loss. He also had one sack.
MATT KELLY, East Freedom, Pa.

Saleem Rasheed, a freshman outside linebacker, started every
game for Alabama, led the Crimson Tide in tackles, had one of
'Bama's two blocked kicks and was moved to middle linebacker
because of injuries to other players.
WALTER G. BERRY JR., Birmingham

MISSING SKIPPER

Your Nov. 15 issue's The Hot Corner named five future managers
who played for the 1972 Dodgers (INSIDE BASEBALL).
Unfortunately, you left off one of the best shortstops ever,
Maury Wills, whose '72 season was his last as a player. He went
on to manage the Seattle Mariners for parts of '80 and '81.
RANDY KEYES, Mission Viejo, Calif.

COLOR PHOTO: BOB ROSATO

FABULOUS FRESHMAN

You omitted Cedric Cobbs of Arkansas, who ran for 107 yards on
15 carries against Tennessee, the first back to gain more than
100 yards against the Volunteers in 15 games. He also was second
in the SEC in yards per carry (5.8) and averaged 27.3 yards on
12 kickoff returns. Cobbs has tremendous speed, great size and a
never-say-die attitude.
LANE STAFFORD, Little Rock