Letters

Whalers fans greeted the players with nearly full houses. Now, as Hurricanes , the players hear echoes and, if they listen closely, Hartford wailing.
COLLEEN COFFEY, NEW BRITAIN , CONN.

Hockey Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are in Greensboro for one reason—its arena (Natural Disaster, Oct. 27). Last year our company had a suite for the AHL Carolina Monarchs. It was good hockey, and we had fun. When word came that the Hurricanes were going to stop off in Greensboro for two years on the way to Raleigh , we were excited. Then we got the bill. We were charged 900% more to keep the suite. Still, we felt we couldn't miss out, so we dug deep and paid up. The question I have is, Doesn't it make more sense to have more reasonably priced seats full of fans than all those expensive empty seats?
R. MICHAEL NUSSBAUM
President, Southern Foods
Greensboro , N.C.

Let's try the following in any midsized city and see what happens: Move in an existing team with a history of losing and poor management; raise the ticket prices; openly plan to stay for only two years before moving to another city; have the players complain about the city; and have management do minimal promotion. That's the story of the Hurricanes in Greensboro .
FRED PEARLMAN, Greensboro , N.C.

Walk-ons
Ivan Maisel omitted Barry Gardner , a senior at Northwestern , from his 1997 All-Walk-on Team (INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Oct. 27). Gardner , an offensive guard in high school, earned a scholarship as a linebacker in his sophomore year with the Wildcats . He was third in tackles, with 106, for Northwestern 's Big Ten co-champions last year. No longer in the shadow of All-America middle linebacker Pat Fitzgerald this season, Gardner , the Wildcats ' captain, led the Big Ten in tackles (174).
DARREN MICHAEL ROVELL, Evanston, Ill.

You should have included the starting defensive end at Kansas State , Joe Bob Clements. Now a junior, he earned a scholarship before his sophomore year and played in all 12 games that season.
MIKE SHANE, Emporia , Kans.

My brother Miguel Montano, a 1997 preseason All- Conference USA selection at wide receiver, walked on at Louisville in '94. He played the first three games that year as a freshman before being injured, and he was awarded a scholarship by then coach Howard Schnellenberger . He has finished his career holding the Cardinals' records for the most receptions in a game (14, twice), career receptions (175) and career yards receiving (2,305).
JOE MONTANO, Louisville

I was surprised that my son Charlie, the starting right guard for Rice , was not on your list. The Owls are the No. 2 rushing team in the country. Charles walked on in 1994 and has started in every game since his redshirt year. If he avoids injury next year, he will have started every game of his four-year playing career.
RALPH TORELLO, Richardson, Texas

Golf Marathon
Someone needs to elaborate on a record mentioned in FACES IN THE CROWD (Oct. 27). How did Eric Freeman play 467 holes of golf in 12 hours?
TIM NEUMARK, Morgantown , W.Va.

?Freeman had the help of three golf carts and about 50 relatives and friends who served as spotters and aides. An orthopedic surgeon, Freeman told Newsday that the next day was the hardest part: "I went to work on crutches. There wasn't enough Motrin to soothe my sore muscles."—ED.

Coach Bird
Until Larry Bird announced he was coaching the Indiana Pacers , I considered myself a Boston Celtics fan. But Jackie MacMullan 's article (Back Home Again in Indiana , Oct. 27) made me realize that I'm not a Celtics fan, I'm a Bird fan. Heck, I don't even know who plays for Boston now.
PATRICK HOLLAND, Bayside , N.Y