Letters

Man Among Men

I'm the mother of an 11-year-old boy who eats and sleeps sports, and it was wonderful to share with him the story on Tom Brady as Sportsman of the Year (The Ultimate Teammate, Dec. 12). It is nice to know that with all the showboats in sports, there is someone like Brady. His mom must be so proud! I hope my son will turn out to be the type of man Brady turned out to be.
Penny McKissick, Charlton, Mass.

My only problem with your Sportsman of the Year article is one I'm sure many of your female readers will write to you about: Where is the beefcake photo we were all hoping for? I'm sure with Tom's sense of humor he would gladly have played along for us.
Theresa Hammersley, Indianapolis

Boston has become the first city to have achieved the honor of being represented by a Sportsman of the Year in every major professional team sport: Carl Yastrzemski (Red Sox, 1967), Bill Russell (Celtics, 1968), Bobby Orr (Bruins, 1970) and now Tom.
Ed Rodham, Chicago

While it's difficult to argue against the choice of Brady, I was disappointed that Lance Armstrong wasn't acknowledged in the 2005 Moments to Remember (Dec. 12). Even though Lance was the Sportsman in 2002, why not recognize this year's achievement of a seventh straight Tour de France victory? I hope we have not grown so familiar with his greatness that we take his accomplishments for granted.
Ricky Knutson, Corvallis, Ore.

The Whole Truth

Thank you for S.L. Price's uplifting stories on the servicemen and -women who have lost limbs while fighting for us in Iraq and Afghanistan and who, as part of their recovery, participated in the 2005 Army Ten-Miler in Washington, D.C. (Run to Daylight, Dec. 12). As a former Marine who served in Operation Desert Storm, I can tell you this article opened my eyes. I will never again look away with sorrow or pity when I see amputees. Instead I will treat them like the whole human beings they are.
Thomas R. Tarr, Murrieta, Calif.

There is nobody playing a sport today who deserves our respect more than the soldiers you profiled.
Jordan Sollitto, San Marino, Calif.

The men and women depicted in Run to Daylight could have adorned the cover of your Sportsman of the Year issue. The beautiful thing about Tom Brady is that he would have agreed.
Dick Murphy, Colorado Springs

The first time I watched Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers I asked myself: Where did we find people like that? Do we have people like that today? The stories of Aaron Rice, Timothy Gustafson, Dawn Halfaker and Lonnie Moore answer both questions. We find them where we always have: on the farms and in the schools and factories throughout our country. I am humbled by their sacrifices and in awe of their courage. God bless them. Thank you for telling their stories.
Robert E. Esleeck, Winston-Salem, N.C.

Well-Schooled

Miami Dolphins receiver Chris Chambers made your Hot list for his 15 receptions and 238 yards against Buffalo on Dec. 4 (PLAYERS, Dec. 12). But really it was Chambers's Bedford (Ohio) High that was hot. The other Bearcats alum playing in that game, Bills receiver Lee Evans, made five catches for 117 yards and scored three touchdowns. You'd have a hard time finding a more impressive performance out of a single high school in one professional game.
Sean Spitzer, Louisville, Ohio

Fresh Prince

Here we go again: Kansas State hires a black man, Ron Prince, as its head football coach, and people quickly point out that he's never had experience at that level (INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Dec. 12). So what? Charlie Weis was never a head coach before he took over at Notre Dame, and that hasn't been a problem. Somebody has to take a chance and bring in new coaches instead of recycling the same ones who have a lot of experience--losing.
James R. Byrd, Upper Marlboro, Md.

Speechless

Reading Rick Reilly's column on Denver's offensive line made me chuckle (LIFE OF REILLY, Dec. 12). It's true that the members of the Broncos' O-line don't speak, and I'm glad they don't. Hearing them would be like taking the mask off the Lone Ranger or Zorro. The Denver guys just come in, whip your bigger, badder defensive line and ride off into the sunset.
Steve Wright, Athens, Tenn.

If You Don't Want the Swimsuit Issue

The annual SI Swimsuit Issue will be published in February. If you're a subscriber and would prefer not to receive it, call our customer service center toll-free at 1-866-228-1175 and let us know. If you choose to not receive the SI Swimsuit Issue, we will extend your subscription.

To Contact SI > LETTERS • E-mail us at letters@SI.timeinc.com or fax us at 212-467-2417. Letters should include the writer's full name, address and home telephone number and may be edited for clarity and space. CUSTOMER SERVICE AND SUBSCRIPTIONS • For 24/7 service, go to www.SI.com/customerservice. You can call 1-800-528-5000 or write to SI at P.O. Box 30602, Tampa, FL. 33630-0602. To purchase reprints of SI covers go to www.SIcovers.com. ADVERTISING • For ad rates, an editorial calendar or a media kit, e-mail us at SIpubqueries@timeinc.com.

PHOTO

LYNN JOHNSON