Letters

Kid Gloves

I was thrilled to see a Tiger on your Aug. 28 cover, and this just a week after I ordered a new baseball cap and a jersey with number 35 and verlander on the back. I, too, worry about whether the young pitchers on the team will be able to win in the postseason (Welcome to September, Kids). They have, however, given us Tigers fans a reason to dream instead of having nightmares. Who woulda thunk it? Go Tigers!
Buzz Rehe, Miami

When I read in Tom Verducci's Welcome to September, Kids that no team in the wild-card era has had two under-25 starters win a game in the same postseason, I immediately thought of Josh Beckett and Dontrelle Willis and was sure I'd caught an error. I was surprised to learn Willis didn't win a postseason start in 2003--but then you knew that. I expect that stat will no longer be true two months from now.
Ryan Zeitler, Fairfield , Calif.

What's Your Major?

After reading Alan Shipnuck's and SI's references to the "18 majors" won by Jack Nicklaus (All Business, Aug. 28), I reviewed highlights of the 1986 Masters broadcast. CBS announcer Pat Summerall talks about Jack's 20th major win and Bernhard Langer congratulates the Golden Bear on his 20th as he helps him on with the green jacket. I know the two U.S. Amateur titles won by Nicklaus are the titles some people don't count as majors anymore, but they were considered majors when he won them. And by the way, if Tiger's three straight Amateur championships were counted as majors, it would bring his total to 15.
Bill Spurr, Halifax , Nova Scotia

School Spirit

Although your high school football piece Aiming for Perfection (Aug. 28) was outstanding, I could not understand how the matchup of Louisville 's St. Xavier and Trinity was left off the list of 10 Games to Watch. If you're in Papa John's Cardinal Stadium on Sept. 22, you would be one of 35,000 to 40,000 people enjoying this fantastic high school sporting event. The Tigers or the Shamrocks win nearly every state football title. I find it hard to believe there are 10 games equal to this annual battle.
Tom Lukish Jr., Midlothian , Va.

Tony Franklin , offensive coordinator for the Troy Trojans in Alabama , says, "Kids don't like to play smashmouth football like they used to." I couldn't disagree more. Franklin should travel out of the pass-happy, run-and-gun, finesse-football South and head up to Pennsylvania , where the kids still play good-old smashmouth football from grade school through high school, and into college and the NFL .
Tim Collins, Mount Joy, Pa.

Doing the Right Thing

The NBA has never been better represented than by the picture of the ice packs covering the knees and ankles of LeBron James and Dwyane Wade (Leading Off, Aug. 28). It shows the commitment these talented young men are making for the love of their country and the game. They are both in a position to be doing anything they want in the off-season, yet they choose to represent the U.S. on a world stage at the risk of injury and wear on their bodies. Charles Barkley once remarked that professional athletes should not be viewed as role models, but this image builds a case against that opinion.
Rick Shonak, Sturbridge, Mass.