Letters

Tour de Force

Thank you for the story about Lance Armstrong (The Next Stage, May 8). Now that the fight is personal, I am glad to have him on the side of us cancer patients. I am a physician myself, and I am sometimes frustrated that researchers do not seem to have the same sense of urgency that Lance has about this disease. He is truly a hero for taking up the fight against cancer.

Dr. Nicolas Padron, Dallas

The May 8 cover is one of the best in the history of SI. The look of resolve on those children's faces is the most moving image I've ever seen in a sports magazine.

James Hutchinson, Colorado Springs

When I was going through chemotherapy two years ago, I thought I would never feel good again. Lance's story was a remarkable inspiration--if he got better, so could I--and I did.

Jane Garland, Stafford, Va.

I received a diagnosis of breast cancer in 1999, and four years later the cancer returned. Armstrong taught me that knowledge about this disease is power over this disease. Lance was and is my leader in the war against cancer.

Christine McAuliffe, Davison, Mich.

As a cyclist and as a member of a family touched by cancer, I can only hope that Lance's athletic achievements are surpassed by his ability to persuade our government to increase funding for cancer research. This journey really is not about the bike.

Nicholas Alfano, Woodbury, Minn.

Is it too early to think about Armstrong for president?

Cheryl Lanning Drummond Island, Mich.

Defending Derek

The major league players who voted for Derek Jeter as most overrated should be ashamed of themselves (Players, May 8). Jeter should frame the poll results and put them right next to his World Series MVP trophy, two Gold Gloves, Rookie of the Year award, All-Star Game MVP trophy and four World Series rings. I just hope he leaves some space for his Hall of Fame plaque.

M. Farrell, Manchester, Conn.

Role Reversal

Joe Nickel, the athletic director of North College Hill (Ohio) High (Scorecard, May 8), gave off an air of indifference when he said, in response to the possible departure of his two basketball stars, O.J. Mayo and Bill Walker, that "We're set financially for the next 10 years because O.J. and Bill came to our school." Wow. Gone are the days when schools existed for the betterment of the students rather than the other way around.

Tom Jordan, Amesbury, Mass.

School Spirit

I am surprised there was no mention that three players from this year's draft played on the same high school team (The Future Is Now, May 8). Marcedes Lewis (first round, Jacksonville), Winston Justice (second round, Philadelphia) and Darnell Bing (fourth round, Oakland) were teammates at Long Beach (Calif.) Poly.

Armando Aleman, Lawndale, Calif.

Editor's Note: The only other high school with three former players in this year's draft is De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), with Maurice Jones-Drew (second round, Jacksonville), Demetrius Williams (fourth round, Baltimore) and Kevin Simon (seventh round, Washington).

Not Separated at Birth

When I saw the picture of Spike Lee and LaVar Arrington in Scorecard (May 8), I was grateful for the note clarifying that Spike was on the left. Otherwise I would never have guessed which one was the 255-pound linebacker.

Greg Livengood, Renton, Wash.

Mascot with a Past

I found your Kansas Jayhawks logo makeover to be humorous (Scorecard, May 8), but I think you should be discussing the total removal of the nickname and logo due to the pain and suffering its history recalls. No other major university has a nickname that was first used by a terrorist organization. The Jayhawkers were bands of thieves and cutthroats who made murderous excursions into Missouri, sometimes stealing slaves and then, instead of freeing them, profiting by putting them back up for sale. The Missourians, or Bushwhackers, responded to the barbarism, and, sadly, our record of revenge is nothing to be proud of. In a time when terrorism is again on the front pages, the name of Kansas's mascot is a grim reminder of some of the terrible violence in our nation's past.

James Sterling, Columbia, Mo.

Sorry State of Affairs

Reading the all-purpose sports apology letter in Rick Reilly's Regretlessly Yours (Life of Reilly, May 8), I couldn't help but wonder how Rick was able to sneak it out of Drew Rosenhaus's office without the agent's realizing it was missing.

Kevin George, Queen Anne, Md.

I'm sure Reilly noticed that one of his Menu C Rationalizations, "things got blown way out of proportion," was just recently used by Reggie Bush to try to explain away stories about his family's receiving special benefits while Bush was still under the aegis of the NCAA.

Bill McBride, Avalon, N.J.

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MICHAEL O'NEILL