19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

GOOD OLD MEN
Sirs:
Your fine four-page photo story of the first U.S. Masters Track and Field Championships (A Masterful Meeting of Two-score Men, July 29) was an outstanding recognition of the city of San Diego and the more than 200 participants representing 25 states. While the pictures humorously portrayed the meet, your readers might want to know of a few of the many fine performances.

For instance, you showed former world javelin record holder Bud Held of San Diego receiving the winner's medal—he won it by a healthy toss of 218'2". Double winner Pete Mondle of Santa Monica, Calif. covered the three-mile in 15:15.0 and the six-mile in 31:28.4. Dr. Richard Packard of Boston traveled the 26-mile marathon in 2:48:51.6.

The outstanding athlete selected was Willis Kleinsasser of Azusa, Calif. He won five of the six sextathlon events as follows: 220 in 24.0; 440 in 53.1; 880 in 2:09; long jump, 18'10"; shotput, 40'10¼". He was third in the mile event.
JOHN T. HALES
Seniors Track Club
Hermosa Beach, Calif.

BIG FLAKE
Sirs:
I enjoyed Mark Mulvoy's article on Super Flake Denny McLain very much (Dizzy Dream for Jet-set Denny, July 29). It really makes your heart bleed to hear that the poor humble guy has to borrow a Lear jet to make his way around. Gee, Denny, we'll be in there rooting for you to get that measly 100 grand next year so you can buy your own Lear just like Arnie's. Meanwhile, keep lucking out the way you have been. With Freehan, Horton, Kaline and Company you've had so many runs to play with that even Pitching Coach Sain could have won 15 games by now. Yes, Denny, you're the biggest flake, but the American League's best pitcher this year is Cleveland's small Cuban god, Luis Tiant.
MIKE DUFFY
Iowa City, Iowa

GETTING HOOKED
Sirs:
If I had anything to say about it, Frank Deford (or Jonathan Swift in guise) would receive the Pulitzer Prize for the best and most potent short satire of the year (My Battle for Our Rightful Place at the Top, July 22).

Only in an article of this type can one see the current restless mayhem that is all too characteristic of the professional sports scene in the U.S. today. Viewing the satire closely, it is easy to see how a group of men get hooked on a new, sensational idea that they try to force-feed the public—they fall in love with the idea because it's their own imaginative creation. And this idea has to be good for the public, egos being what they are. No sampling of public opinion is necessary before ideas are put into action because the top brass already knows what the public wants.

I only have one criticism of Mr. Deford's story. It just may be read by an ambitious millionaire who, taking the words for the gospel, will try to start his own fly-casting league or maybe try to revise the University of Missouri's Crittenden House olivethon on a national level.

What Gulliver's Travels was to British politics "My Battle..." is to American sports. The English changed their ways eventually. Let's just hope the Americans will do the same (but take a little less time doing it).
RAY E. BROWN
Napa, Calif.

CHARACTER MOLDING
Sirs:
Let me commend Coles Phinizy for his article The Best in Any Tank, by George (July 22) in which emphasis was placed not on competition and winning but on the constructive influence one life can have on others'.

People like George Haines and Glenn Hummer are doing much more than turning out winning teams and Olympic stars. They are molding the character of thousands of young people and preparing them well for the responsibilities which they will have to face in their lives that lie ahead.