Letters
Sharp Spur
It was exciting to see the San Antonio Spurs' Tim Duncan grace
the cover of the June 9 issue. His commitment to education sets a
wonderful example for those still in high school and college.
When he graduated from Wake Forest in 1997--in the same class as
my daughter--he received a standing ovation for having stayed in
school for four years and graduating with a major in psychology.
Nan Jones, Seneca, S.C.
Who's that intense guy on your cover? He is wearing a Duncan
jersey, but it can't be him. I'm not sure that anyone has ever
seen that side of Tim Duncan. I don't know how long you waited
for that shot, but it was worth it.
Ben Battaglia, Cambridge, Mass.
Robo-Ump
I must disagree completely with Tom Verducci regarding umpires'
being evaluated by QuesTec (Scorecard, June 9). Pitchers
"stretching the edges like Silly Putty" has always, and should
always be, an integral part of baseball. QuesTec tries to make
scientific one of the most irrational games played.
Christian Tom, New York City
It's about time something was done to bring some sanity back to
the strike zone. Big Brother had to be brought in, since the
umpires were unwilling to police themselves.
Bob King, Moreno Valley, Calif.
Ultimate Astros
As a lifelong Astros fan I was extremely pleased with Steve
Rushin's column on Craig Biggio and Jeff Bagwell (Air and Space,
June 9). Six playoff appearances without a series win is easier
to deal with because of these two individuals who set an example
of how baseball should be played and who behave off the diamond
with class and dignity. It would be fitting to see them receive
World Series rings together, then be enshrined in Cooperstown
side by side.
Vinh Hoang, La Mesa, Calif.
Vive le Roy
Patrick Roy should have been on the cover defending my June 9
issue of SI. Instead, he gets a blurb in Scorecard. The greatest
goaltender ever to play in the NHL retires, and you let his story
go right through your five hole. Boo!
Mark Almquist, Denver
Eye of the Storm
Orlando Brown chose to play football no matter what the risks
(Seeing Is Believing, June 9), yet he sued the NFL for $200
million? What if Dale Earnhardt's family sued NASCAR for causing
his death? Any sane person would come to the conclusion that he
met his fate knowing the risks of the profession he chose.
Jesse Lambe, Port Ludlow, Wash.
What happened to Brown was unfortunate, but to blame the incident
for a failed marriage and his parents' health problems is absurd.
I became permanently paralyzed at 29, I'll probably never walk or
father my own children, but life has to go on. Meanwhile Brown
sued the NFL for twice as much as the wife of the late Korey
Stringer is suing the Vikings. What a joke.
Mark Edwards, Fullerton, Calif.
Labor of Love
Rick Reilly's column on coach Bob Fraley and his willingness to
work for free to save the Fresno State track program brought
tears to my eyes (The Life of Reilly, June 9). Track and field
programs have been singled out for termination by several schools
this year, and it is not due to Title IX but rather to the
excessive cost of other sports. As has often been said, "Track
and field is a sport; everything else is just a game." Coach
Fraley and his wife, Elaine, understand this.
Larry Eder, Madison, Wis.
Reilly's column should've been called Delaying the Inevitable.
What's going to happen when Fraley stops coaching at Fresno
State? Is there going to be another person willing to work for
nothing? Sure, it's a nice tale, but it won't end Title IX's
unintended consequences.
Kerry Collins, Bismarck, N.Dak.
The Cruelest Cut
I enjoyed reading Tim Layden's article on Funny Cide (The Golden
Gelding, June 9), but it included more information about
castration than I really needed to know. Until now, I thought it
"inconceivable" that a gelding could win the Triple Crown.
John E. Baum, Baltimore
Senior Moments
I don't happen to think Bill Scheft's joke about 72-year-old Jack
McKeon's leaving the take sign on for 15 minutes is very funny
(SCORECARD, June 9). It implies that he is too old to manage, but
between his hiring--on May 11--and June 18, the Florida Marlins
were 18-17, a better record than the mighty New York Yankees
(16-19).
Perry Gattegno, Coral Springs, Fla.
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN W. MCDONOUGH (COVER)
COLOR PHOTO: J. PAT CARTER/AP GRAY MATTER Baseball's oldest manager.
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