Letters

Eating Disorders
Your article Dying to Win (Aug. 8) suggests that Christy Henrich's coach, Al Fong, is responsible for her eating disorder. I am writing in support of Fong. I was once a gymnast under his supervision, and although I was nowhere near the caliber of Christy, I had similar dreams and similar concerns about weight.

I have had several friends who have had eating disorders. They are all overachievers and perfectionists, and all became addicted to controlling their weight. You can't blame sports or coaches. Fong has always been a caring coach who makes his gymnasts as good as they want to be. He would never steer his students in a dangerous direction.
JILL BARKER, Kansas City , Mo.

Collectibles
Robert E. Lee Tice's letter in your 40th Anniversary issue (Aug. 16) saying he has saved every issue of SI since its inception terrified mc. My husband has an SI collection dating back to 1977. We recently moved, and I told him he was crazy to pack up all the magazines, which are carefully bundled by year. Then he showed me Tice's letter. Forty years of magazines? Maybe my husband isn't so crazy after all.
AMANDA RITZ, New York City