Letters

Pacers Edge

As a Pacers fan I can't argue with your decision to feature Indiana in your NBA PREVIEW ISSUE�(Oct. 24). I know people will have a problem with Ron Artest being on the cover, but no one can deny that he is the key to a playoff run. If the risk is worth it to Larry Legend, that's good enough for me.
Sam Kirkland, Columbus, Ind.

You should have had Larry Bird in a doctor's outfit and Ron Artest in a straitjacket.
Cody Custard, Cheboygan, Mich.

The American Way

It occurred to me that four of the six top-rated teams in your NBA preview came over from the old ABA. If the Spurs or the Nuggets meet the Pacers or the Nets in the NBA Finals, do you think the league would let them play at least one game with the red, white and blue ball?
Mark Shipp, Saratoga, Wyo.

Losing a Friend

I was a high school teammate and college rival of Kyle Ambrogi, the Penn senior running back who took his own life after battling depression. (SCORECARD, Oct. 24). At Dartmouth I was on the losing end every time we played Penn. While he was at St. Joseph's Prep, you featured Kyle in FACES IN THE CROWD�(Sept. 25, 2000) after he rushed for six touchdowns against perennial powerhouse North Penn High (Lansdale, Pa.). We have all lost a great man, brother and teammate.
Matthew Battipaglia, Newtown, Pa.

Is honoring someone who committed suicide the best message to send to kids?
Hannah Phillips, Kansas City, Mo.

Dance Fever

I'm with Rick Reilly when it comes to Matt Leinart's class schedule (LIFE OF REILLY, Oct. 24). Leinart isn't the first student--athlete or otherwise--to coast through his last semester of college. I did it as a Division III student-athlete, and I'm not ashamed to say so. Leinart is catching flak because he's headed for the NFL and happens to be two credits shy of his diploma. He's man enough to admit that he only needed "one easy class" to get it. Everyone should instead take note of a guy who works hard to be good at what he does on the field, seems to conduct himself honorably off the field, actually attends his ballroom dancing class and, most important, will graduate in December. That represents four years of classwork, not just one semester of dancing.
Anne Bonner, Fredericksburg, Va.