Letters

The subject addressed in Worlds Collide (Sept. 20) by Tim Layden is very timely: quiet versus loud in the NFL. Loud seems to be celebrated more today than ever, but you should have to do something first before you can talk. Save the loud talk for the victory parade—not the preseason.

Ron Bouchard, Ogdensburg, N.Y.

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Layden wrote that Randy Moss's postgame rant was the exception on a Patriots team not known for bragging. So why are the Bengals considered brash just because of Ochocinco and T.O.? Why is it that one person is an exception but two people constitute the rule for an entire team?

Brian Engler, Brighton, Mass.

Controversial Catch

I strongly disagree with Jim Trotter's comments about the controversy surrounding Lions receiver Calvin Johnson's noncatch against the Bears (INSIDE THE NFL, Sept. 20). A catch is called a completion for a reason, and the rule about maintaining control is clear and sensible. Changing it—as Trotter suggests the competition committee should—would only add controversy, because refs would be required to judge how much possession is enough.

J. Stuart Showalter, Atlanta

Instead of arguing about the letter versus the spirit of the rule regarding the definition of a completed pass, we should focus on the distinction between celebrating and hotdogging. To remove any doubt, Johnson should have done what kids are taught to do in Pee Wee football: simply hand the ball to the referee.

Jeff Baka

Sioux Falls, S.D.

A Real Ace

I am disappointed that U.S. Open winner Rafael Nadal was not on the cover (The U.S. Open from Hell, Sept. 20). Nadal became the youngest man to win a career Grand Slam in the Open era, while the Patriots did nothing other than, as the cover says, "take care of business (as usual)."

Markus Hahn

Las Vegas

Pryor Knowledge

After watching Ohio State quarterback Terrelle Pryor's flubbed passes on YouTube, I attributed his mistakes to cockiness; but having read Austin Murphy's informative article (The Scarlet Leader, Sept. 20), I now understand that Pryor's nerves are to blame. "Paralysis by analysis" is a great way to characterize it. Still, I think Pryor needs to better analyze situations. Too often I've seen him throw into double coverage. In those situations he should paralyze his urge to pass.

Kyle Giungo, Dresher, Pa.

So Murphy believes that Pryor is the man to beat for the Heisman? What about Michigan quarterback Denard Robinson? I thought the Heisman goes to the best player, not the player whose team is higher ranked.

Jay Biesenthal, Clayton, N.C.

Mile-High Props

If you hold it against Carlos Gonzalez and the rest of the Rockies' batters for playing half their games at Coors Field, then the same consideration must be given to their pitching staff (INSIDE BASEBALL, Sept. 20). Ubaldo Jimenez's stats are that much more impressive given that he's pitching in the hitter-friendly air of Denver. Ubaldo for the Cy Young!

Tom Reifsteck, Parker, Colo.

Dueling for Glory

Your story on the batting-title chase between Nap Lajoie and Ty Cobb (The Amazing Race, Sept. 20) in 1910 was a compelling read about two of baseball's alltime best players. Lajoie is also an icon of Rhode Island's sports history. Lajoie and another Rhode Islander, Cranston's Hugh Duffy, still hold the record for the highest batting averages in a season in the AL and the NL, respectively: Lajoie hit .426 in 1901 with the Philadelphia Athletics, and Duffy batted .440 in 1894 for the Boston Beaneaters.

Geoff Manning

Little Compton, R.I.

L. Jon Wertheim's wonderful article is another history lesson that shouldn't be ignored. The contrast of Cobb and Lajoie is compelling on its own, but the correlation between Hugh Chalmers and the Black Sox scandal is also noteworthy. If a scandal or cheating is ignored, the problem will fester and eventually have a negative impact on the sport.

Brian Parker, Delaware, Ohio

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