Letters

EYES ON ERIC
Ralph Wiley did an excellent job on his story on Eric Davis (These Are Red Letter Days, May 25). It is nice to read about a superstar who has retained the respect of his fellow players and who also gives credit to his family.
GARY TRAYLOR
Denham Springs , La.

Davis has been compared with Willie Mays , Henry Aaron and Roberto Clemente , but what about Mickey Mantle ? The Mick was once one of the fastest players in the league, until those knees of his deteriorated. Mantle hit for power and played superb centerfield. It's not a bad idea to save Davis 's baseball cards. The Mick's rookie card (in mint condition) is now worth $3,500 or more.
DAVID RING
Laguna Hills , Calif.

How can you compare Davis with Mays, Aaron and Clemente and not mention Frank Robinson ? If there is anyone in the history of the Cincinnati Reds whose achievements Davis should set his sights on, it's Robinson .
WILLIAM DODD
San Anselmo, Calif.

My thanks to photographer John Hanlon for the cover shot of Davis , which shows Davis 's eyes riveted to the point at which the ball and bat will meet. As a youth league coach, I constantly preach to my players, "Watch the ball hit the bat!" Your picture provides the perfect illustration.
STEPHEN H. JAGGARD
Houston

HOT BATS
I have been a climatologist and a TV meteorologist for 21 years, and it's my belief that the unusually warm and humid early-season weather—not a livelier ball or a decline in pitching—is what has been causing the sharp increase in home runs this season (Pow! Pow! Pow!, June 1). Warm, humid air is lighter than the cold, dry air that normally covers the country in the spring. Balls carry farther in this atmospheric condition.
JYM R. GANAHL
WCMH-TV
Columbus, Ohio

EXPORT SOCCER
As an American in love with soccer, I read with great enthusiasm the SPOTLIGHT (June 1) on Paul Caligiuri , the former UCLA star who is trying to make the big time in West Germany . As a youngster, I often dreamed of scoring the winning goal for my team in front of a packed house in England 's Wembley Stadium , much the way other kids dream of playing major league baseball. Alas, I never really succeeded as a player. Now a soccer coach, I know that Caligiuri 's story will inspire me to be a better coach and to work harder to develop world-class American players.
PETER ELLIS
Lewisburg , Pa.

As one of Paul's close friends and a former UCLA roommate, I was pleased to see him receive some well-deserved recognition as a pioneer in the truest American sense. However, Paul's surname was spelled incorrectly. For the record, it's Caligiuri , not Caligari.
PETER ARONSON
Los Angeles

?Our apologies for the error.—ED.

SAVING GREYHOUNDS
Despite the protests of my husband, who was not an animal lover, I was determined to adopt one of those racing greyhounds that otherwise would have been put to sleep (SIDELINE, June 1). I remember dragging my husband along to the kennel, where a dog, named Super Magic, was available. When the kennel owner took us to the dog's pen, Magic went up to my husband, stood on his hind legs and put his head on my husband's shoulder. My husband said, "This is a nice dog."

For six years now, Magic has been a member of a household that includes two cats and two kids, and he is loved by all. My husband has become a convert to the breed and can attest to the greyhound's quiet manner, intelligence, gentleness, patience and beauty.