Letters

Don't waste any more space trying to glorify mediocre talent and less than normal behavior. Let's stick to sports.
JON WINTERS, NEWTOWN SQUARE, PA.

Gays in Sports
As a feminist, this is the time of year when I anguish about whether to continue reading SI after being offended by the swimsuit issue. But just as I had resolved to finally cut the cord this year, you go and run two fabulous articles, on gay skater Rudy Galindo (On a Roll, March 11) and lesbian golfer Muffin Spencer-Devlin (No More Disguises, March 18). Many thanks for redeeming yourselves.
NANCY TURNBULL, Brookline, Mass.

You have amazed me again! E.M. Swift 's article on figure skater Rudy Galindo assures me that it is O.K. for an out, proud gay man to be a subscriber. Thank you.
DAVE DANIELS, Anaheim

If what the broad-minded individuals in this country have led us to believe is true, that one's sexual orientation does not matter, why then must you subject your readers to a celebration of what is apparently the most important fact in the lives of Rudy Galindo and Muffin Spencer-Devlin : that they are gay?
LEE SCHAEFFER, Amarillo , Texas

I read the article on Muffin Spencer-Devlin and had conflicting responses. I was pleased for Muffin that she decided to no longer conceal that she is a lesbian. What a great relief she must feel. The troubling aspect was the implication left by the article that our company and the relationship Muffin had with Izzo Systems precluded her from making such an announcement earlier. Nothing could be further from the truth. Izzo was pleased to have Spencer-Devlin represent our company because of her belief in our products as well as her energetic and free-spirited nature. Her sexual orientation did not and does not matter to us.
T.J. Izzo, President and CEO
Izzo Systems, Inc.
Lakewood , Colo.

The sexual proclivities of an LPGA member do not deserve an article in SI. Who cares? Of all the interesting things going on in the world of sport, why would you think that this is a newsworthy subject?
MICHAEL BROOKS , Laurel, Miss.

The Newest Jet
Is Neil O'Donnell worth $25 million (For Love of Money, March 11)? Absolutely not. O'Donnell will never see another Super Bowl. He will never even see a Pro Bowl. It took four years for the Steelers to get an offensive unit around O'Donnell that was in tune with his strong-arm passing, players who were willing to take a hit after catching one of his many passes over the middle. He won't get as much support with the Jets. Boomer Esiason was worn down by the three seasons of bashing he received behind one of the NFL 's worst offensive lines, and O'Donnell isn't even as mobile as Esiason .
KEITH REIMERT, Hermitage, Tenn.

Streak
In INSIDE THE NBA (March 11), you mention the consecutive game streak of Randy Smith—a league record 906. While Ron Boone 's games were split between the ABA and the NBA , it should be noted that he played in 1,041 straight games in his pro career (662 in the ABA and 379 in the NBA ) from 1968 to '81.
MARTIN FEINBERG, New York City

The Splinter's Return
In Tom Verducci 's article on Ryne Sandberg (Second Time Around, March 11), he gives five examples of players who successfully returned to baseball in their 30's after having been out of the sport for at least a season. The stats of the five players following their comeback were not that great. Why didn't Verducci include Ted Williams ?

In 1954, when Williams returned to action at age 35 following two years as a fighter pilot in Korea, he hit .345, slugged .635 and led the American League with 136 walks and an on-base average of .516. After Korea, Williams was an All-Star seven times before he retired in 1960.
FRED BENARIO, DECATUR , GA.