HAPPY BLUES
Sirs:
Your January 30 article on the new New York Rangers (Francis Forges an Up Team
in a Down Town) was undoubtedly the finest ever written about any team. It
portrayed the true spirit within the team itself as well as the spirit of the
fans. The Rocking Rangers still have a way to go, but with their amazing play
they should be in good position when playoff time comes around. Congratulations
on the fine job from one of the 49th Street gang.
STEVEN KROLL
Babson Park, Mass.
Sirs:
I have not seen my heroes in over 10 years. But if I live to be 100, I'll never
forget waiting in line early Sunday mornings to get an end-balcony seat or
craning my neck to try to see the action from the side balcony. What great days
they were. We'd watch the Metropolitan League at one p.m., the Eastern Hockey
League at about 4 p.m. and then grab a sandwich before going back to the Garden
for the Ranger game at night. Pete Axthelm made the memories come back, and has
done the new Rangers justice. Thanks.
LARY GAR
Laurens, S.C.
Sirs:
Thank you for the story on the greatest team in New York. The Broadway Blues
with Harry, Boom Boom, Rod and Ed are definitely the most exciting team in the
NHL today. Don't forget to have Photographer Tony Triolo and Writer Pete
Axthelm at Madison Square Garden when Ranger Captain Bob Nevin accepts the
Stanley Cup.
BOB RAISSMAN
New Rochelle, N.Y.
RULE AND
EXCEPTION
Sirs:
Once again you've gotten carried away with the 1.6 rule (SCORECARD, Jan. 30).
For some reason, perhaps known only to the mystics within the leadership of the
NCAA, the 1.6 rule is regarded as a first step toward a cure-all for the ills
of professionalism in college and university athletics. However, let me assure
you that the so-called Ivy League schools are doing a bit more than standing on
"principle or point of honor" when they state that they cannot abide by
it.
I was disappointed
when my alma mater ( Stanford) did not take a stand against it, but now I see
why. The curve which dominates its grading system makes it virtually impossible
for any student to have an average as low as 1.6 and remain in school.
Obviously, Stanford has little to fear from the use of such a rule.
On the other hand,
the grading system in use here at the University of Pennsylvania, where I am
now a faculty member, is such that it is feasible for a student to get a degree
with an average below 1.6. The requirements for A's and B's are rather
stringent, and D's and F's are quite common (as my students will attest).
Therefore, a 1.6 average is meaningless, because it is interpreted differently
at each school. But to enforce uniformity would, without question, infringe
upon the rights of a school to set its own grading standards as it sees fit. As
it now stands, Podunk U. need never worry about failing to meet the 1.6
requirement. It need only change its standards for C work. That is its right.
But don't you, or anyone else, tell the rest of us that D's and F's are now
pass�.
DAVID W. CONRATH
Narberth, Pa.
Sirs:
Your SCORECARD article of January 30 condemning the Ivy League for its stand on
the 1.6 rule was most unfortunate.
The Ivy League has
no set numeric standard for probation. Instead, it has chosen to rely on the
integrity of its member schools to see to it that all students participating in
intercollegiate sports maintain a satisfactory level of scholastic achievement.
I have no idea what the academic average of the Princeton basketball team is,
but I doubt very much that any of its members get up at 7 o'clock every
Saturday morning to watch space cartoons as does Houston's Elvin Hayes (Elvin,
Melvin and The Duck, Jan. 2). Likewise, I doubt that any of Yale's swimmers
receive automatic A's for academic credit as did those scholar-athletes in
Adolph Rupp's basketball course at Kentucky (Bravo for the Baron, March 7,
1966).
THOMAS C.HAUSER
New York City
Sirs:
Re "1.6 and All That," please mention that six of the Ivy's eight
member schools did indicate they would comply with the 1.6 rule, with only
Pennsylvania and Yale spoiling things for the rest.
THOMAS C. NANCHOD
Kinderhook, N.Y.
GREAT
EXPECTATIONS
Sirs:
Joe Jares wrote a very fine article on a great team, Southern Illinois
University (In from the Three I League, Jan. 30), but what is all this talk
about upsets? The only upsetting thing about the College Division Salukis'
beating Louisville and Texas Western of the NCAA University Division is that
they cannot get a shot at Lew and you-know-who in the University Division
championships.
A. G. EDWARDS
Big Rapids, Mich.
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