19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

BENOIT'S BOSTON
Sir:
The article about Joan Benoit (The Marathon's Maine Woman, May 2) was excellent. Kenny Moore and Lisa Twyman did a fine job of capturing this extraordinary woman's determination and competitive fire. The praise and recognition she is receiving is well deserved, and I would be the first person to stand and applaud her efforts—something I had the opportunity to do one week later at a race here in Kalamazoo .

But how could you cover the prestigious Boston Marathon and include nothing more about the men's winner, Greg Meyer , than a brief mention of his oxygen consumption and his "sterling time of 2:09:00"? Come on, SI , you're getting wrapped up in record mania, just like the rest of America : If someone doesn't break a record, the event's not worth reporting.

Over the past eight months Meyer has been one of America 's top male distance runners. In his last 16 races he has had 12 wins and four seconds—one to Alberto Salazar , another to Rob de Castella . He has also set American records, in the 15, 20 and 30 kilometers, in the process.
JIM HACKENBERG
Kalamazoo , Mich.

Sir:
Joan Benoit shatters the women's world record in one of the marathon's premier events—Boston. She runs just off the pace that won the men's division of the Los Angeles Marathon (FACES IN THE CROWD, May 2). The race comes one day after Grete Waitz ties the old women's world record in the London Marathon. And who's on the cover of SI after the most exciting week in women's marathoning history? Larry Bird of the Boston Celtics . The Celts beat a mediocre team in the NBA playoffs in a game most notable for a disgusting brawl.

As I was burning over your cover, the irony struck me. The surest way for a woman to appear on the cover of SI is not to smash world records, but rather to don a bathing suit.
STEVEN L. WILLBORN
Lincoln, Neb.

Sir:
My husband is a male chauvinist and a big fan of Larry Bird , but even he says Joan Benoit should have been your cover subject!
JILL SWEITZER
Orinda , Calif.

NEW PITCH
Sir:
Herm Weiskopf has thrown a high, hard one with his new INSIDE PITCH (April 18 et seq.). We've been waiting a long time for his kind of baseball reporting.
WATSON SPOELSTRA
President
Baseball Chapel
St. Petersburg , Fla.

Sir:
I've read SI week in and week out for nine years, and while I've thoroughly enjoyed every issue, I feel that INSIDE PITCH is icing on the cake. Now, instead of reading what I've previously learned from daily box scores, I get insights into the personal aspects of major league baseball.
CHARLES E. STARR
Troy, N.Y.

Sir:
I'm disappointed that you dropped BASEBALL'S WEEK. Herm Weiskopf did an excellent job of keeping the readers informed on the highlights of the divisional races. The new INSIDE PITCH section may be appropriate for trivia buffs, but game information appeals to me as a baseball fan much more than does the fact that the Toronto banner was upside down in Baltimore 's Memorial Stadium.

I don't recall reading any criticism of BASEBALL'S WEEK, which, as you say, ran for nearly 25 years. You must have been doing something right. Please give it back to us.
FREDERICK C. BLAIR
Salem, N.H.