Letters

Brothers inArms

I wonder how manylongtime SI readers had déj√† vu all over again when reading the improbablestory of 170-pound flamethrower Tim Lincecum. The story reminded me of yourfamous April 1, 1985, report on Sidd Finch. Sidd is missed, but it was great toread about a real deal like Tim, even if his fastball is 70 mph slower!
Dennis Peters, Beaverton, Ore.

It is inspiring toread how Chris Lincecum worked with his son Tim to make the boy's size work forhim (How Tiny Tim Became a Pitching Giant, July 7). I have a 13-year-old sonwho plays baseball, and he is continually overlooked because of his size butstill works on his game four to five days a week. Every day thousands of kidshave their dreams crushed by people just like the scouts who bypassed TimLincecum. Maybe the "sports powers," from Little League to the majors,should learn a lesson: You don't have to be 6'5" and 225 pounds to playball.
Tammy Mason, Dalton, Ga.

Chris Lincecumconsiders his son's motion the spiritual descendant of Sandy Koufax's. That'snot good: Koufax had to take cortisone shots and painkillers to get throughgames, and he retired at age 30 so as to maintain full use of his arm.
Zachary Young, Oklahoma City

It's always niceto see the success of athletes who are not built from a prototypical mold.Unfortunately it seems that for all Chris Lincecum knows about his son'smechanics, he knows little about medicine. His dismissive attitude towardpostthrowing ice application, for example, is the kind of detail that will leadto his son's breakdown. Tim won't be 24 forever, and neither will his tendonsand ligaments.
Dale J. Buchberger, Auburn, N.Y.

I think TimLincecum is going to be just fine. Am I the only one who sees the paradox inthe fact that the proliferation of pitching coaches specializing inbiomechanics correlates directly with "the number of elbow and shouldersurgeries [being] at an alltime high"? I have always been of the mind-setthat baseball people overthink things. In 1971 Mickey Lolich threw 376 innings,the first of four straight seasons pitching more than 300 innings. Mickey didit while eating doughnuts and riding motorcycles—and he lasted 16 years in themajor leagues.
Scott Hanselman, Santa Monica, Calif.

The BlackAthlete

In The Color ofMoney, about cultural acceptance of black athletes (PLAYERS, July 7), PhilTaylor offered up as succinct and effective an insight on the subject of raceas I've seen: "America today likes its racism overt and indisputable,otherwise the tendency is to deny its existence." The situation may haveimproved from "shameful" to "hopeful," but we have not yetreached the end game in terms of understanding and dismantling racism inAmerica.
Michael Rabbitt, Chicago

Pack Mentality

As Chris Ballard'sstory showed, Aaron Rodgers has a heavy burden to carry in replacing alegendary quarterback like Brett Favre (Welcome to the Club, July 7). IfRodgers stumbles out of the gate, fans in Green Bay probably won't pelt himwith beer cans as those in Pittsburgh did to Cliff Stoudt. (We like our beer inWisconsin.) But it wouldn't be unreasonable for Rodgers to be welcomed with72,928 snowballs.
Bob Thompson, Kathleen, Ga.

Bully for Them

Selena Roberts'sJocks Against Bullies (POINT AFTER, July 7) struck a blow for civility. When Iwas 11 and fat, the best athlete in school started razzing me after a softballgame. That's when another athlete, Jack, playfully tossed his glove at theoffender and said simply, "Leave him alone." How big a deal was it forme? That was 30 years ago, and I remember like it was yesterday. Thank you,Selena—and for the first time, thank you, Jack.
Scott Lainer, Brookline, Mass.

Hair o' theBulldog

I'm not sure whatwould be scarier, being at the bottom of the celebration pile after FresnoState won the College World Series (LEADING OFF, July 7), or having number 43'shaircut.
Dan Novak, Newmarket, Ont.

EDITOR'S NOTE:Number 43 is pitcher Kris Tomlinson, of Visalia, Calif., and his look is calleda "skullet." In the WAC tournament he got a mullet to amuse histeammates; after each Bulldog win he modified the look. The hairdonotwithstanding, Tomlinson, who majored in Agricultural Business, graduatedwith the highest GPA on the team.

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MIKE POWELL (LINCECUM)

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MICHELLE BISHOP/MINORWHITE STUDIOS (TOMLINSON)