Letters

Pop's Culture

The July 31 coverof SI captured the moment and the momentousness of the British Open (A New ManWas His Old Self). I was moved to tears by Tiger Woods's open expression oflove for his father. In that moment--and through his kind and classy words toChris DiMarco on the loss of DiMarco's mother--Tiger grew to a higher level asa golfer and as an individual.
Hope Boring, Columbus, Ohio

Now that theBritish Open Pitch and Putt Tournament is over, the rules committee should beashamed to term this a major. The winner--using mostly irons because he wasconcerned his driver would be too inaccurate--reached most greens easily, andplayers were putting from 10 yards off the greens.
Paul N. King, Blue Ridge, Ga.

Tour de Farce

Having justreturned from Paris, where I watched the final stage of the Tour, I was lookingforward to reading Austin Murphy's article on the event (The Amazing Race, July31). Instead I find myself reeling from the news of doping charges. Even so, Ihave to admire Murphy's writing. Only a fellow Colgate grad could incorporatean extended Animal House metaphor into an article about the Tour deFrance.
Mary Gay Scanlon, Swarthmore, Pa.

CrateExpectations

I commend you forshowing the beautiful paintings by Ben Sakoguchi (An Unofficial History ofBaseball, July 31). You neglected to point out, however, that the BaseballReliquary--through our dedication to the promotion of the artistic, historicaland cultural aspects of baseball--directly influenced this series. Six of the20 paintings you include in the article are in our collection.
Mary Cannon, Monrovia, Calif.
Artistic Director, Baseball Reliquary

Barter Ardor

After readingyour story on the Mets' trading Scott Kazmir two years ago (Beware the DeadlineDeal, July 31), I, a Mets fan, have to agree it was a bad deal. But I look atit this way: Without that trade we might not have reassigned G.M. Jim Duquetteand hired Omar Minaya, who brought in Willie Randolph, Pedro Martinez, CarlosBeltran, Carlos Delgado, Billy Wagner, Paul Lo Duca and Jose Valentin. I'lltake that group over a prospect any day. Every team makes bad trades. It's whatyou do after your mistakes that counts.
Lisa DeNicola-Glicksman, Baldwin, N.Y.

Just OverdoingIt

Kudos to RickReilly for exposing youth sports travel teams as what they really are: a wayfor parents to make up for their own childhood sporting disappointments (Lifeof Reilly, July 31). These teams do more harm than good to the parents, thekids and the family structure, not to mention the family bank accounts.
Greg Bowman, Murrieta, Calif.

Reilly wroteabout how we live every day. This isn't funny: It's sad, it's true, and myhusband and two sons, ages 13 and 14, are living proof. We have spent oursummer schlepping around for soccer, baseball and football conditioning. I'mfrankly tired of it. Our bank accounts are drained, and I haven't been home allsummer to enjoy the pool in our backyard. Where does it end? And what are wedoing to our kids?
Sue Seanor, Gilbertsville, Pa.

Are you sureReilly doesn't live in Murrysville, Pa.? We are considered the town weirdosbecause we don't let our son play tournament ball. We like hanging out at thepool, grilling on our deck and visiting the grandparents. Word on the street isthat we are denying our son opportunities. Quite the opposite, I think.
Mary Warwick, Murrysville, Pa.

KnucklingDown

Recounting hisdays catching Phil Niekro's knuckler (PLAYERS, July 31), Bruce Benedict said,"Phil could have pitched every day. I was the one who needed four daysoff." I wonder how he would have felt had he caught the 1944--45 WashingtonSenators' staff, which boasted four knuckleballers: Mickey Haefner, DutchLeonard, Johnny Niggeling and Roger Wolff. That was Hall of Famer RickFerrell's job. Rick caught 179 games in those two seasons and was named to theAmerican League All-Star squad each year--two of his eight appearances. Oh,yes, Ferrell was 38 at the start of the '44 season and didn't benefit from thehinged pillows that knuckleball catchers now wear.
Randall L. Chuck, Miami

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PHOTO

ROBERT BECK

PHOTO

BOSTON HERALD/AP

 CATCHTHIS

Ferrell was the backstop in 1,805 games from 1929 through '47.