Letters
EnvironmentalImpact
Tom Verducci saysthat where the Rockies' Matt Holliday plays should be taken into considerationwhen assessing his MVP credentials. As a Holliday supporter, I agree, becausein 2007 Coors Field had fewer runs, extra-base hits and homers than JimmyRollins's home field, Citizens Bank Park. I hope that those with votes do thesame research.
Matt MacAskill, Grand Junction, Colo.
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If Coors Field isreally as much of an advantage for hitters as Verducci thinks it is (TheAmazing Race, Oct. 8), could he kindly let the Rockies' Jeff Francis (17--9,4.22 ERA) know where to pick up his Cy Young Award?
Robert Jarosh, Cheyenne, Wyo.
While I disagreewith Verducci's vote for Jimmy Rollins over Matt Holliday for National LeagueMVP, I can understand it, as Rollins had a fantastic year. But I find itinexplicable that Rockies manager Clint Hurdle is not even in Verducci's topthree for Manager of the Year. Just like Verducci's American League choice,Yankees manager Joe Torre, Hurdle led his team to his league's best second-halfrecord and a wild-card spot in the playoffs. The only difference is that Hurdledid it with a fraction of the payroll.
Mark Brorby, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
I find it amazingthat the media says Rollins is a hands-down choice for NL MVP for having atleast 20 doubles, triples, home runs and steals, while in the AL, detroit'sCurtis Granderson had at least 20 in all of those categories but has receivedno attention or consideration.
Dan Hedgcock, Big Rapids, Mich.
Jo-Ba! Jo-Ba!
As much as I amagainst all things Yankees, it's going to be hard to root against a son andfather who still say "good night" and "I love you" to eachother on a nightly basis (What Love's Got to Do with It, Oct. 8). Bravo toHarlan Chamberlain for not letting life's unlucky breaks get in the way ofraising his boy to be a loving, caring man. And bravo to Joba for taking in allhis father's teaching. Here's wishing you all the success you deserve,Joba—just not against my Red Sox!
Tim Burns, Plymouth, Mass.
"The glory ofhope at the death of expectation." What a great line Gary Smith uses toclose his story on Joba Chamberlain. Too often kids are evaluated at a youngage and told whether they have the ability and the right to dream about afuture in sport. It is wonderful to hear a story about a father and son whopersisted even though the boy initially was too small, too heavy and didn'teven make his jayvee baseball team.
Beth Kuoni, Greensboro, N.C.
This articleshould have carried a warning label. I found it difficult to explain why a45-year-old man was weeping while dining by himself and reading SPORTSILLUSTRATED.
Doug Wright, Mattituck, N.Y.
As a high schoolsenior pitcher who is having his own problems growing into his body, it wasuplifting to hear about someone as successful as Joba Chamberlain having hadthe same problem that I am experiencing.
John Healy, Cranston, R.I.
I amChickahominy-Mohawk, and my wife is Lumbee. I have filled my three children'sheads with stories of Jim Thorpe and Billy Mills, trying to instill a sense ofcultural pride through athletics. So when I saw your story on Joba, I read itimmediately, thinking I would now have a contemporary American Indian athletefor my children to discover. I was only half right; the story in facttranscends culture, race and athletics, and gives a life lesson to all: that adetermined spirit can overcome the unlikeliest of odds.
Wes Owen, Huntersville, N.C.
Signs andWonders
The real sign ofthe apocalypse in the Oct. 8 PLAYERS is the poll result that says 54% of NFLathletes would let their child wear a Michael Vick jersey.
Michael Turner, Austin
Another true signof the apocalypse: Competitive eater Joey Chestnut (LIFE OF REILLY, oct. 8)will receive $3,000 to appear at a bar mitzvah.
Mitchell Friedmann, Owings Mills, Md.
Plus Fours
Your obituary ofdiscus thrower Al Oerter (PLAYERS, Oct. 8) repeats the common misconceptionthat Al Oerter and Carl Lewis are the only athletes to take gold medals in thesame event in four straight Olympics. They are the only track and fieldathletes to do so, but athletes in other sports have equaled or exceeded thisrecord. For example, Aladar Gerevich was on the gold-medal- winning Hungariansabre team for six straight Olympics, from 1932 through 1960. Indeed, if the1940 and 1944 olympics had not been canceled, it is extremely likely that hecould have won eight straight gold medals, because the Hungarian sabre team didnot lose a single match in Olympic competition between 1924 and 1964.
George Masin,
U.S. Olympicfencing team, 1972 and '76
New York City
EDITOR's NOTE: SIregrets the error.
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