Sir:
Central Florida's "fantasy" of playing Florida State may be less ludicrous than Douglas S. Looney thinks. Just look at Florida State's history. In 1960 Bill Peterson, now Central Florida's athletic director, was named the head coach at Florida State, which only 14 years before had been a girls' school. The schedule that year included such gridiron powers as William & Mary and The Citadel. By 1964, however, the Seminoles were 9-1-1 under Peterson's direction, with wins over intrastate rivals Florida and Miami and a lopsided defeat of Oklahoma in the Gator Bowl. It seems highly likely that Central Florida, with Peterson and Lou Saban at the helm, could be playing Florida State by 1989. What worries me, as a Florida State alumnus, is that the Fighting Knights just might beat the Seminoles.
WILLIAM E. PETERSON JR.
Baton Rouge
?In addition to being a graduate and fan of rival Florida State, reader Peterson is also Bill Peterson's son.—ED.
Sir:
In regard to Lou (Now-You-See-Him-Now-You-Don't) Saban, some people may rationalize his job instability by stating that poor Lou has either been lied to or abused by his previous employers, thus his exoduses. However, it seems to me that Saban possesses very little old-fashioned stick-to-it-ive-ness. If we all turned tail and ran away from our jobs at the slightest hint of repression or displeasure, there wouldn't be anyone working anywhere for very long.
Saban seems never to have learned the meaning of that old adage: "You've got to take the bad with the good." Feel sorry for poor Lou? Baloney!
JESSE R. KRESGE
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
PERFECTING THE RACKET TOSS
Sir:
John Knoll (VIEWPOINT, April 18) covered most of the popular racket-throwing styles, but he failed lo mention one used by none other than gentlemanly, even-tempered, double-Grand Slammer Rod Laver. The Rocket mastered a unique method of anger transference whereby he would flip the racket headfirst onto the court, assisting gravity with a sharp snap of his wrist so that the offending implement would bounce back into his hand like a Yo-Yo. This was particularly effective on hard courts, and Laver never had to waste energy retrieving broken rackets. Only an Australian could throw a racket and make it return. Check with your stockbroker, though, before trying this with your $500 (gulp) Prince Boron!
GREGG BALL
South Bend
Sir:
I think John Knoll will find that there is nothing more satisfying to oneself—or more demoralizing to one's opponent—than skidding a metal racket against a cement or asphalt court and watching the sparks fly.
JEFF McCALLISTER
Williamstown, W. Va.
Sir:
Those of us who are not affluent can still enjoy racket tossing. My favorite toss sends the racket straight up in the air. When it peaks and I realize what I have done, I camp under it and try to catch it without breaking any bones in my hand.
STEVE POLLACK
Cherry Hill, N.J.
Sir:
John Knoll has an eloquent way of describing a mundane, immature act. Is he going to write about the joy of golf-club throwing next week? That would be cute!
I'm a Jack-of-all-sports, and I wonder why, even in jest, Knoll would facetiously condone such a barbaric act. True jocks in any sport channel such tantrums into more intense, buckle-down playing. Bjorn Borg is an example. Anyone can lose his composure, but the pure athlete will regain it and counter frustration with flawlessness.
JOE COPIA
Cameron, La.
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