Letters

Hail, Sportsman
What an outstanding Sportsman of the Year (Dec. 16). In selecting Lance Armstrong you have honored a man of incomparable ability and indomitable spirit. Lance is a model for professional athletes and provides inspiration to us all. It's refreshing to see that SI does not constrain itself to only the most popular and traditional of American sports but acclaims extraordinary athletic talent wherever it's found.
MIKE MCCARLEY
Fairfax , Va.

Better late than never! A true hero for all generations.
DOMINIC J. CLEMENTI
Hillsborough , N.J.

I recently had my five-year anniversary of being cancer-free, and it was fitting that you chose Armstrong to help me celebrate. He is my hero. Lance not only rides for the U.S. Postal Service but also for cancer survivors everywhere.
SALLIE BETH TODD, Simpsonville, S.C.

Armstrong and Rick Reilly—man, it just doesn't get any better than that. If I can find out where to get one of those TEXAS : BIGGER 'N FRANCE T-shirts, I'll be a happy camper.
MARTY KISTIN, Corrales, N.Mex.

When I saw Armstrong on the cover as Sportsman of the Year, I immediately began making my own list of who should've been given that title. Then I read the article—and threw the list away.
MICHAEL R. TATKO, Clarkston, Wash.

Pat Tillman is America 's true sportsman of the year. He selflessly turned down a multimillion-dollar deal with the NFL to join the ranks of the elite U.S. Army Rangers . Although I'm a huge Boston sports fan, even Tom Brady should step aside this year. Tillman is the real patriot.
MARK E. STACHELSKI, Arlington, Mass.

The fans of the Montreal Canadiens witnessed a miraculous return to the lineup at the end of the season as Saku Koivu helped guide the Habs to an upset of the top team in the Eastern Conference and an exciting run into the playoffs. Koivu epitomizes the true sportsman.
MARK REICH, Toronto

The Minnesota Twins had been given up for dead, then came back to win their division. They wanted to play baseball, and they wanted to do it as a team. That is sportsmanship above and beyond anything that anyone could have expected or asked for.
EDWIN FRYDENDALL
Richland , Wash.

No one dominated his or her sport in 2002 like Annika Sorenstam did.
ERIC VERNON, Ottawa

Eric's Choice
What Eric Crouch needs to understand is that many Americans take jobs that are not fun because they want to provide their families with economic stability (SCORECARD, Dec. 16). Getting paid $1.3 million to play wide receiver for at least one year would have been much more productive than hanging out in Omaha .
JEFF BELFIORE, Canonsburg, Pa.