Letters

I would have rather seen Dan O'Brien on the cover setting the world record for hopscotching than another baseball cheater.
David Schooler, Silver Lake, Kans.

Agents should take some of the blame for the steroid epidemic (The Night the Lights Went Out in Mannywood, May 18). Your article states that Scott Boras represents Alex Rodriguez, Manny Ramirez, "plus at least eight other players tied to performance-enhancing drugs." Boras should be fined for each player he represents who is caught cheating.
Scott Robinson
Rochester, Minn.

Having subscribed to SI for more than 50 years, I now derive a special joy from passing the magazines on to my great-nephews. I just wish there was a way for you to address your journalistic responsibilities without them having to spend so much time in chemistry class.
Lee Caryer, Columbus, Ohio

Any truth to the rumor that the Dodgers are going to change the name of their leftfield seats from Mannywood to Mannydid?
Tom Empey, Goleta, Calif.

Supplements' Risks

As a primary care physician for the past 24 years I have seen a number of young men on supplements (What You Don't Know Might Kill You, May 18) who presented unusual disorders such as unexplained hepatitis, polycythemia, gynecomastia, renal insufficiency and mood disorders. Fortunately, these disorders abated after the men discontinued using supplements. Now, I cannot say that the supplements caused these disorders, but I've become stronger in my conviction that taking supplements is nothing more than a giant crapshoot.
Daniel D. Crummett
Chapel Hill, N.C.

You should rerun the story three or four times a year to reach kids who missed it. The amount of poison we allow into our bodies nowadays is amazing, and stories like this help the arduous effort of debunking all the pseudoscience that overwhelms us today.
Travis Conrads, San Diego

Government pressure is not the sole answer to getting nutrition-supplement companies to increase research on safety and efficacy. We also need more consumers to demand research before buying.
Robert DiSilvestro
Dublin, Ohio

Life and Breath

So the way that Phillies players memorialized broadcaster Harry Kalas (JUST MY TYPE, May 18), a longtime smoker who died of heart disease, was to have a group smoking session? Talking about the dangers of smoking would have been more appropriate.
Ermilo Barrera Jr.
South Barrington, Ill.

Indecision 2009

It's sad to see one of the NFL's greatest players being put on par with crybabies like Terrell Owens and Chad Ochocinco (SCORECARD, May 18). I believe it is Brett Favre's love for the game—and not greed or the need for attention, as with the aforementioned players—that makes his retirement decision all the more difficult.
Andy Schuler, Westminster, Md.

Missing the Boss

Phil Taylor expressed the feelings of so many Yankees fans toward George Steinbrenner (POINT AFTER, May 18). Steinbrenner understood that he was in the business of entertainment. And let's face it, his keeping the heat up on the players gave them the edge they needed to succeed.
Paul Morelli, Clinton, Conn.

Baseball needs a new Steinbrenner like it needs another steroid-fueled slugger. Maybe sportswriters who are desperate for a story idea will miss George. I will not.
Tim N. Cawley, Lincoln, Neb.

Federer and Nadal

S.L. Price questions Roger Federer's status not only as the greatest tennis player of all time but also as the best player of his generation (The Takedown, May 18). Federer is an exemplar of style, grace, imagination and fluency of play—skills unfashionable today, given our current infatuation with brute strength augmented by ability-enhancing racket technology. In the long run I still believe that Federer will be seen as a better player than Rafael Nadal, just as most people would now rank the dancing Muhammad Ali over the plodding Joe Frazier and the balletic Fred Astaire over the muscled, gymnastic Gene Kelly.
Bruce McNallie
North Chittenden, Vt.

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