Letters

Gary Smith resurrected the baseball fan in me with the most entertaining article since George Plimpton scouted Sidd Finch .
—JEFF CSUY, Brook field, Wis.

Follow the Leaders
It was with great interest that I read Gary Smith 's account of the Mark McGwire - Sammy Sosa - Ken Griffey Jr. home run battle, for I too am a victim (Home Run Fever, Aug. 3). Big Mac's home run number 42 in St. Louis bounced off my chest so hard that it left me with a large bruise and a sore rib that took more than a week to heal. I have since dubbed it McRib.
ROBERT HEINZ, Hattiesburg , Miss.

What a blast! Gary Smith 's 4 for 4 plus John Biever 's amazing shot of your intrepid reporter celebrating with his bleacher pals: Now that's real Powerball.
BOYD FELLOWS, Sturgeon Bay, Wis.

Of the three ballparks Smith visited, he chose to be negative only toward Tropicana Field . He called our domed field artificial, implied that our fans are heartless, and yet he found no problem with fans' throwing beer cups in Chicago . I don't know if you have spent any time in Florida during the summer, but I'll keep my air-conditioned, out-of-the-rain Tropicana Field . We may not be the craziest fans, but given time to get over our shock of finally enjoying major league ball, I believe we will be as loud and supportive as any city in the league.
TIM PULHAM, St. Petersburg , Fla.

I wish to express my objection and serious disappointment that you would allow Smith to use the name of Christ as an expletive. For many people the name of Christ is used only with great reverence and in a context of respect.
LOUIS R. GARAVENTE, Lakewood , Pa.

The Natural
Drew Henson will represent both the University of Michigan and the New York Yankees with pride {Golden Boy, Aug. 3). His remarkable talents will be fun to watch both on the college gridiron and the professional baseball diamond for years to come.
MICHAEL RICAURTE, Evanston, Ill.

About the only superlative that Leigh Montville didn't include in his article about golden boy Henson was that he walked across Lake Michigan .
JERRY H. GREGORY, Annandale , Va.

America 's Team
Thanks for the article on the basketball world championship (Dirty Dozen, Aug. 3). I consider myself a big NBA fan and was disappointed when I found out that the best players wouldn't be representing my country. After reading your story, though, I'm glad that we put the best team on the court.
CHUCK PETRUCCIONE, Waterbury , Conn.

When the team that is representing the U.S. in Athens is referred to as the Dirty Dozen, it is degrading not only to the team but also to the U.S. The players who were in Athens were not there to promote a shoe deal or gamble away more money in one night than many Americans make in a year. They were there to represent their country with pride, honor and bravery, something those other so-called basketball players chose not to do.
OSCAR AQUIRRE, Bacliff, Texas

Chicago Hope?
Phil Jackson made his decision (Who Is Tim Floyd ? Aug. 3). Jerry Krause made his decision. Both did so, I believe, in their best interests. I cannot believe that a decision by Michael Jordan not to play for a coach like Tim Floyd could be considered in the best interests of anyone.
DAVID HESSE, Eau Claire, Wis.