Letters

I never thought that poor broadcasting skills, an extramarital affair or his early departure from the NFL counted as Tiki Barber's main problems. It was hubris and his penchant for bad-mouthing former teammates and coaches on a national stage that did him in. As Henry David Thoreau once said, "Be true to your work, your word, and your friend."

Paul J. Bena, Huntington Beach, Calif.

Barber's likening himself to Anne Frank is a demonstration of more than just "artlessness," as L. Jon Wertheim writes (Tiki Barber Gets Real, May 30). For Barber to compare hiding in his agent's attic in an attempt to avoid gossip columnists to Frank's hiding from the Nazis during World War II is outrageous and perverse.

Abraham H. Foxman

New York City

Yes, Barber is a public figure who made some mistakes. I still feel, however, his private life should be just that: private. I applaud him for being true to himself and not succumbing to all of the tabloid nonsense. And who knows? Maybe his critique of the Giants actually fueled the team and gave it the motivation to win Super Bowl XLII.

Michael Preston, Roanoke, Va.

Driver Safety

Charles Leerhsen's article on the Indy 500 (100 Years of the Indy 500, May 30) showcased just how much motor sports has changed. Many of the seemingly negative changes made to auto racing are actually the results of improved safety devices such as the SAFER barriers or the Car of Tomorrow in NASCAR. While we can be awed by the sport's past and yearn for competition as compelling as it was years ago, as fans we cannot underestimate the advances in technology that have made auto racing at least partially safer.

Joseph Ball, West Chester, Ohio

Cry Me A River

Tom Verducci's story on Fred Wilpon (Fred Wilpon Pays the Price, May 30) was one of the best I've ever read. Verducci did an excellent job explaining the details of the Bernie Madoff scheme and how the Mets' owner got sucked in. After reading your story I genuinely felt bad for Wilpon. I don't think he should have to lose the team simply because Madoff took advantage of his trust.

Andrew LaCour, Chicago

Wilpon has constantly acquired over-the-hill talent, developed minor leaguers who rarely benefit the Mets and built a ballpark that the players don't want to play in. Maybe new ownership is just what the team needs.

Bill Dempsey, Bay Shore, N.Y.

Any reasonable person can conclude that Wilpon and Sterling Equities had more than an inkling of Madoff's Ponzi scheme. It just doesn't make sense to assume otherwise. Madoff's consistent promises to Wilpon and his brother-in-law, Saul Katz, to return their entire capital upon Madoff's retirement was an obvious red flag that Madoff's business had no value. The conversation Wilpon and Katz should have been having while going down that elevator was, "Why on earth would Madoff leave this kind of money on the table? "

Tom Joseph, Pittsburgh

Macho, Macho Man

Many thanks for your story on the sudden death of Randy (Macho Man) Savage (SCORECARD, May 30). Despite the belief that pro wrestlers are nothing more than circus performers, they are in fact full of athletic talent and skill. No one displayed this better than Savage. Sure, he was bombastic, but that was one of the many things that made him such a joy to watch.

Tim Shullberg

Long Beach, Calif.

Shooting the Brees

I was disappointed that Dan Patrick didn't ask Drew Brees (JUST MY TYPE, May 30), "How will Kim Kardashian's engagement to Nets forward Kris Humphries affect Reggie Bush's play for the Saints this season?" Inquiring minds want to know.

Jason M. Moritz, Jackson, Miss.

Master Programmer

I enjoyed Joe Posnanski's column about Dick Ebersol (POINT AFTER, May 30). When most people watch sports on NBC, they don't think about what goes on behind the scenes. In fact, I bet half of the people who read the column initially thought of Tina Fey when they saw the reference to 30 Rockefeller Plaza. To be thanking the same person for putting the Olympics, Sunday Night Football and Saturday Night Live on one network is truly amazing.

Bryan Hollis, Huntersville, N.C.

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