Letters

Line Connoisseur
Congratulations to Peter King for his Super Bowl preview (It's All on the Line, Feb. 4). The cover proclaimed that the answer to "Can the Giants Get to Brady?" would determine whether New York could upset the undefeated New England Patriots. King's analysis turned out to be spot-on accurate.
John M. Casteel, Traverse City, Mich.

Cross Ayes
I was pleasantly surprised to see a crossword in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (PLAYERS, Feb. 4). I know it was a special Super Bowl puzzle, but I would like to see more of these in your magazine.
James McGlyn, Staten Island, N.Y.

My condolences to Kris Benson. When the four-letter answer to the clue for 55 across, "____ Benson," turned out not to be the major league pitcher but his self-promoting wife, Anna, it was clear which of the two did a better job of getting our attention.
Benjamin C. Dragon, Apalachin, N.Y.

Upshaw's Ghosts
Life is about choices. It seems from Gary Smith's article about NFL retirees haunting players' union director Gene Upshaw (Bitter Battle for the Old Guard, Feb. 4) that a lot of former players made bad choices professionally, financially and in life. That's tough, but that doesn't entitle them to expect a handout from the current NFL athletes. These former players sound like greedy, whiny teenage brats instead of dignified, mature men.
David James, Norwood, Mass.

As a proud retired member of the United Auto Workers union, I have benefited from the solidarity of a real union. With the medical and pension benefits I have today, I can thank goodness I was only a factory worker and not an NFL player.
Wayne Norlander, Bogota, N.J.

This article should quiet those who question NFL salaries. Imagine working your whole life for a career that might last six years or less, and that could leave you crippled and addled by the time you reach age 50. I'm not sure these players have such a great deal after all.
Jonathan Potts, Pittsburgh

As a Canadian, it struck me that if your country had a universal health care system such as ours, many of these players would be spared financial difficulties.
Joel Weinstein, Toronto

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BOB ROSATO (GIANTS) AND JOHN IACONO (PATRIOTS)