Letters

Hex Redux

After a temporary reprieve, it seems that the SI cover jinx is back, with back-to-back cover boys Kansas and Missouri (Mizzou, That's Who, Dec. 3) going down to defeat. I look forward to your next big cover story on Les Miles, Glenn Dorsey and those lovable LSU Tigers. No news to report here in the Midwest.

Paul Miller, Columbus, Ohio

Can we stop hyping wannabes like Missouri and West Virginia until they actually win something? Every time one of these teams gets a shot on the big stage, it blows the chance.

Matt Chasteen, Lake City, Fla.

While Chase Daniel might have made the cover for the first time, it was not his first appearance in SI. He was in the Jan. 24, 2005, edition of Faces in the Crowd as a senior from Southlake, Texas--proof that Faces does highlight some good young talent. Good job to the editor who selected Daniel almost three years ago.

Zach Klitzman, Philadelphia

High Points

Thank you for Richard Hoffer's essay The Patriotic Thing (Players, Dec. 3). I'm sick and tired of all the whining that it's "disrespectful" for the Patriots to run up the score. Last time I checked, everyone on the field gets paid to play the game. I'm all for sportsmanship, but what's wrong with competition? Is this not a great part of sports--to whip their butts when you see fit? Former Oklahoma men's basketball coach Billy Tubbs said it best: "If they don't like it, they should get better."

Adrian Cheung, Markham, Ont.

Does anyone out there think Tiger Woods should have played the last nine holes of the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach with just his wedge and a putter? I doubt it. But the Patriots should sit on their leads? I am a die-hard Cleveland Browns fan and hope we get a rematch with New England in the playoffs.

Steve Heid, Dayton

The same judgment that keeps athletes from purposely injuring an opponent comes into play in regard to running up the score. We want these people to be decent human beings off the field, yet on the field we should allow gloating, intentional infliction of emotional distress and other actions that are generally condemned as character flaws?

Jeff Curtis, San Marino, Calif.

Toy Story

You've overanalyzed Paul Allen (The Quiet Owner, Dec. 3). He owns the Blazers and the Seahawks for one reason: It's fun.

Lance McCord, Holly Springs, N.C.

Northern Exposure

Special thanks for mentioning the CFL (Players, Nov. 26), however brief the item may have been. The league may be dwarfed by the NFL, but it has produced remarkable talent, held 95 (and counting) Grey Cup championships and has pro football's alltime leading passer in Damon Allen.

Leslie Gyulay, Toronto

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DAMIAN STROHMEYER

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