19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

SPIRIT OF DETROIT
Sir:
Congratulations are due Larry Keith and Jerry Kirshenbaum for their excellent articles in the April 24 issue on the Tigers (Roar? No, the Tigers Go "Tweety!") and the Red Wings (Octopuses Were Flying). Along with the renovation of downtown Detroit , these two teams are symbolic of the new spirit that has put a dash of excitement into what was a depressing city.

Ralph Houk deserves the accolades of the baseball world for his patience in constructing "the best young team in baseball." Maybe good young teams finish third, but by the time those blue seats have all been installed in Tiger Stadium , the Bird and the rest of the Battling Bengals will be walking off with a World Series.

As for the Red Wings, Coach Bobby Kromm and General Manager Ted Lindsay have to be considered miracle workers. The Wings fell to the mighty Canadiens this year, but Detroit hockey fans will be throwing octopuses on the Olympia ice for years to come.
JEFFREY E. PECKHAM
Birmingham , Mich.

Sir:
People who throw live octopuses onto the ice should stay away from hockey; obviously, they've been hit on the head by the puck once too often.
HELEN M. BURKE
Stockton , Calif.

Sir:
Hats off to Jerry Green for his account of the rejuvenation of aging Tiger Stadium , Owner John E. Fetzer 's determination to keep the Tigers on the corner of Michigan and Trumbull is a tribute not only to the likes of immortals Cobb, Gehringer, Greenberg and Kaline, but also to the people of Detroit , who deserve better than a 29-mile trip to suburbia to support their baseball team.
TOWNSEND HOOPES III
Cedar Rapids , Iowa

Sir:
I grew up in the shadow of Tiger Stadium and never missed a Tiger game from '35 to '48. After reading Jerry Green 's story, I swear I could smell those great hot dogs grilling.
AL GUZMAN
Las Vegas

Sir:
While other teams are willing to overpay players in an attempt to win "instant" pennants, it is heartening to see a team that is content to build the old-fashioned way—from its own farm system. When Detroit 's turn comes to win the pennant, the victory will be appreciated that much more.
TOM MIDDLETON
New Kingstown, Pa.

Sir:
How many times are you going to put Mark Fidrych on your cover? Your April 24 issue was for the birds!
STAN W. FRYCZYNSKI
Bayonne , N.J.

JOE HALL 'S KENTUCKY
Sir:
Congratulations to Barry McDermott for one "hail" of a feature on Kentucky 's championship season (Forty Minutes to Glory, April 24). Those of us in North Carolina who live basketball in much the same way as Kentuckians can appreciate the constant pressure on coach and players because we are the ones who apply it.

Unfortunately, Kentucky Coach Joe B. Hall 's predicament is not unique. Gene Bartow would not put up with the living ghost of John Wooden at UCLA . Dan Devine found himself in a similar situation following in the footsteps of Ara Parseghian at Notre Dame until his team won this year's football championship. And pity the man who follows Dean Smith .
REID TUVIM
Chapel Hill , N.C.