Letters

Marvelous Marvin
When I saw that the Colts ' Marvin Harrison was left off your midseason All-Pro team (NFL MIDSEASON REPORT, Nov. 11), I could not believe it. Eric Moulds of the Bills has been the best all-around wideout thus far, but to put the 49ers ' Terrell Owens ahead of Harrison is preposterous. After the games of Nov. 17 Harrison leads the league in receptions and has more receiving yards than Owens . If Owens had not drawn so much attention to himself with the ball-signing stunt, he would be thought of as having just another good season. From now on let's try to award the guys who let their stats—and not their Sharpies—do the talking.
NATE MEYL, Bryn Mawr , Pa.

Mrs. Hockey
Thanks for your fine article on Gordie and Colleen Howe (Sweet Sorrow, Nov. 11). Colleen is a pioneer in the arena of sports marketing, far more than most realize. She is a woman of great vision, passionate in her beliefs and ever protective of her husband and family. Having spent considerable time around both her and Gordie, I have been the beneficiary of her warmth, which was considerable, and a victim of her wrath, though that was rare. I always found her to be fair, honest and a person of integrity. Gordie is simply the greatest pure athlete of all time. He personifies on a daily basis the definition of hero.
JIM BATES , Celebration, Fla.

Thanks for your wonderful story on the Howes. To most of the world Gordie has been known only as Mr. Hockey. Now many more of us know what a truly great person he is.
JIM FEURIG
Tawas City, Mich.

Thick Woods
Rather than characterize Tiger Woods 's initial response to Augusta National 's men-only policy as "wishy-washy" (SCORECARD, Nov. 11), you should have called it not too smart. He really should have said to the news media, "Talk to Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus , who are members of Augusta National , and whatever their positions on the admission of women, I back them up 110 percent."
LINDSAY PATTERSON, New York City

Virtual Violence
Rick Reilly should be glad that his son is playing NFL Blitz 2003 (THE LIFE OF REILLY , Nov. 11), an E-rated and fun football game, instead of M-rated games like Grand Theft Auto: Vice City or Hitman 2: Silent Assassin. If he thinks Blitz is too violent for his son, he'd probably have a heart attack if he saw those other games.
MICHAEL BROOKS , North Potomac, Md.

Full-Court Press
Regarding Sue the Coach! (SCORECARD, Nov. 11), a friend of mine, a former high school basketball coach, said it best: "A coach's dream job is at an orphanage."
JIM LYKE, Milton, Wis.

Shades of Brown
I had never heard of Ray Brown before, but man, do I appreciate and respect him (AIR AND SPACE, NOV. 11). Forget the Sharpies, self-promotion, illegal hits and fines that get so much publicity. Ray Brown is who I want to hear about.
DENNIS GEHRKE, Racine , Wis.

Brown says that had he understood the labor issues in 1987, he "probably" wouldn't have been a replacement player. Based on his "probably," he still doesn't get it. He wants to tailgate in Buffalo or Green Bay ? Ray, many of those fans are hardworking blue-collar union members who wouldn't be too thrilled to have you with them. Time and his teammates' youth have given him a pass on a very bad decision. Ray Brown is a scab.
STUART MORRISON, Park Hills, Ky.

Standout Guy
It's clear to me that Guy Carbonneau belongs in the Hall of Fame (INSIDE THE NHL , Nov. 11). Although he was not among the league's cover boys, I'd bet any one of his teammates from Montreal , Dallas or St. Louis would give Carbonneau a team MVP vote for his devotion to defense, face-offs, penalty-killing and all the other "little things" that win games in the NHL .
JOHN HAMBLIN, Medway, Mass.

Mountaineer at the Summit
How could Ivan Maisel report on the reemergence of the running back in the year of the spread offense without mentioning Avon Cobourne and the West Virginia Mountaineers (INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, Nov. 11)? Cobourne has more rushing yards than all but one of the backs mentioned. The senior is already one of only five rushers ever to run for over 1,000 yards in each of his four college seasons. At his current pace he will finish his undergraduate career among the top 10 rushers in the history of Division I-A college football.
RICH SURICH, Chicago