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Letters
Us vs. Them
Although I may be tempting the wrath of Woody and die-hard Ohio
State fans, congratulations to Michigan on a well-played game and
its outright Big Ten championship. I thought that Austin Murphy's
Bigger Than Ever (Dec. 1) accurately described the history and
intensity of the OSU-UM rivalry, but I have to object to his
referring to it as the Big Game. Any West Coast college football
fan will tell you the Big Game is Cal-Stanford. Here in the
heartland, Ohio State-Michigan is The Game. Capital T, capital G,
no superlatives are necessary.
Larry Giffin, Columbus, Ohio
Thanks for the breathtaking photos and the wonderfully written
article about the greatest college football rivalry in the
country. The rest of the season just doesn't matter. (Too bad our
neighbors in East Lansing don't get it.) It's a week later, and
I'm looking at the cover and still getting goose bumps, just as I
did when I left the Big House on that beautiful Saturday. Yes,
this is the football rivalry, and Michigan got it done.
Lynda Krukowski, Saginaw, Mich.
I have lived in Ohio, Michigan and Oklahoma, and I must say that
the intensity of Ohio State-Michigan pales in comparison to that
of Oklahoma-Texas. In Oklahoma the anti-Texas feelings are strong
not only as the big game approaches, but also throughout the
year, almost to the point of irrationality. That's what makes it
fun. My family, which wears nothing orange, is now lobbying for
sainthood for coach Bob Stoops and his staff.
Steve Stearman
Oklahoma City
Climate Control
After reading about an NHL game played outdoors in front of more
than 57,000 fans (Cold Comfort, Dec. 1), I started thinking how
the struggling, cash-strapped Pittsburgh Penguins could prosper
playing in an arena with a retractable roof. I then remembered
they already have one and fail to utilize its potential.
William Sax, Pittsburgh
Stamp of Approval
While I agree wholeheartedly with your contention that three
different All-Star teams from the NBA's Western Conference could
beat the Eastern Conference All-Stars (Will the West Rule
Forever?, Dec. 1), I disagree with one of your selections for the
California All-Stars. Brad Miller at power forward? Karl Malone,
even at 40, is still the best power forward in the game and a
perfect complement to Shaq, Kobe and the Glove. In fact, although
I haven't played much basketball since my high school days in
Utah, when the Mailman was a rookie, if you put me out there with
the Lakers' big four, we could handle the Eastern Conference
All-Stars.
Bill Herlin, Frisco, Texas
Bonjour, Adu
I hope Freddy Adu will ignite a passion for soccer in the U.S.
(The Life of Reilly, Dec. 1). More important, I hope Freddy's
mother will ignite a passion in parents to nurture their children
the way she has nurtured Freddy. This young man is polite,
personable and puts his education and family first--thanks to his
mom.
Mike Rezac, Dover, Del.
Razorbacks Rebuttal
Nolan Richardson and Frank Broyles, enemies of the state of
Arkansas (Sports in America, Dec. 1)? They've each done more for
the University of Arkansas than any other two people I can think
of. Sure, we're a little perturbed at the way Nolan's coaching
career ended and with the ongoing lawsuit, but how about that
national championship? We've always gotten upset with Frank's
meddling, but who can argue with a guy who brought us our only
national championship in football and has given almost his entire
life to Arkansas?
Mark D. Potter, The Woodlands, Texas
How can you fail to mention John McDonnell, the Arkansas track
and field coach who has won 38 NCAA titles--more than any other
coach in any collegiate sport, ever? I realize the traditional
revenue sports garner most of the attention, but failure to
recognize such unparalleled accomplishments is flat wrong.
Todd Beaver, Atlanta
Brotherly Love
I grew up among the Brett Brothers--John, Ken, Bob and George--in
El Segundo, Calif., in the 1960s. For 30 years I have scoured
your magazine for mention of them, and you have come through many
times. Today, when I read A Brother's Memories (Scorecard, Dec.
1), for the first time you made me cry.
Chuck Bialeschki, Chattanooga
B/W PHOTO: AP ANGRY YOUNG MAN? Back in '68 there was a sunny side to Foreman.
COLOR PHOTO: JOHN BIEVER (COVER)
George, Then and Now
It was fascinating to read the speculation by his HBO colleagues
about how George Foreman's personality change could have taken
place (Born Again and Again and Again, Dec. 1). During George's
early professional career, I was a sports reporter at a college
radio station and would regularly cover boxing. My best interview
was always Foreman. He was just as you perceive him now: funny
and fun, loving, warm and attention-seeking in a poignant way. He
came across as a big kid, not some barely harnessed violence
machine. He didn't start out Tysonesque and somehow become the
jolly George Foreman Grill pitchman. His behavior may have
changed as he matured, but he hasn't had a personality
transformation.
Howie Green
Jericho, N.Y.
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