INBOX

FOR MARCH 21, 2016

In her excellent portrait of Rays Gold Glove centerfielder, Kevin Kiermaier (Glove and War), Stephanie Apstein omitted one important point: Playing his home games at cavernous, domed Tropicana Field, Kiermaier has to consider the stadium's catwalks, which make for unusual ground rules, and spot fly balls against a white ceiling.

Kim A. Payne, Wesley Chapel, Fla.

Celtics coach Brad Stevens has a .453 career winning percentage in the NBA and hasn't won a single playoff game, yet you consider him the best coach in the league not nicknamed Pop (Going Green)? While Stevens was a great college coach, I think you're being a bit premature with his NBA coronation.

Greg Sholes, Vernon, N.J.

For sure, "great offense is critical to the NCAA tournament," but so is great defense, along with countless other factors (site location, matchups, injuries, experience). While I don't disagree with the five components Luke Winn puts forth as important for "offense building" (Offensive Developments), the apparently random numerical values he assigns seem contrived to prove his foregone conclusion about who the game's top coaches are.

Timothy Rake, Forest Grove, Ore.

COVER

Thank you for putting Breanna Stewart and UConn women's basketball on the cover. It's about time an athlete who represents all the NCAA professes to be gets that attention. The only stats missing from the 5-Minute Guide item on Stewart were the Huskies' incredible graduation rate (100% for four-year players) and placement in the professional world, on and off the court.

Daniel Feigin

New York City

PAGE 88

POINT AFTER

Lee Jenkins quotes Lakers athletic trainer Gary Vitti as thinking, "What message am I sending?" as he reached for his latex gloves before cleaning a wound on Magic Johnson. I'd say the message he sent by not using them was a potentially lethal one. In 1992 it was certainly prudent to be cautious rather than worry about hurting someone's feelings.

Vinny Mooney

Poughkeepsie, N.Y.

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KIM KLEMENT/USA TODAY SPORTS (KIERMAIER)

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MICHAEL LEBRECHT II FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (COVER)

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ANN JOHANSSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (JENKINS)

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WINSLOW TOWNSON FOR SPORTS ILLUSTRATED (STEVENS)