Letters

Now, at last, I have an entire winter to celebrate the fact that the world champions reside in Atlanta.
JOHN WILLINGHAM, MATTHEWS, N.C.

Hot Stove Stuff
Finally, an SI World Series issue that I don't have to swear at, cry over or throw away (Brave Hearts, Nov. 6). This year's championship was as much a relief, coming as it did after the turmoil of the baseball strike, as it was a sweet vindication for the Atlanta Braves, who have been one of the top two teams over the last five years (the other was the Toronto Blue Jays). Let's see the Cleveland Indians try to make it into the World Series again, so they can appreciate how hard it was for Atlanta to get there three (nearly four) times in four seasons.
DAVID COLE, Houston

Why was Jim Thome of the Indians labeled arrogant when he threw his bat after his home run in Game 5 but Tom Glavine of the Braves was not arrogant when he said that his changeup was so good that it couldn't be hit even if he told the hitter it was coming? Why was Carlos Baerga of Cleveland arrogant when he said that the Indians were the better team but Glavine was not arrogant when he said that the Tribe had no reason to be cocky (winning 100 games in a shortened season seems like a reason to me)?

The Indians were some of the classiest guys around. When these "louts" saw the 6,000-plus fans who met them at the airport as they returned from losing the Series in Atlanta, they walked all the way to the airport fence to give the crowd high fives and say thank you. I hope that when Cleveland wins the Series next year, you will be kinder.
J. STEVENS, Avon Lake, Ohio

Hockey Hoodlums
Calling Tie Domi of the Toronto Maple Leafs an offending thug for his recent run-in with Ulf Samuelsson of the New York Rangers is sheer bandwagon reporting (SCORECARD, Oct. 30 ). What Domi did was wrong and he should be suspended, but it is doubtful that he would have acted in such a way toward any other player. He did not hit Ray Bourque, Wayne Gretzky or Mario Lemieux. Domi hit the man who in 1985 high-sticked Pierre Mondou of the Montreal Canadiens, causing an injury to Mondou's left eye that ended his career. He also hit the player who was guilty of robbing Cam Neely of the Boston Bruins—and the fans—of many outstanding games. I applaud someone for finally giving Samuelsson what he has long deserved.
CHRIS COOKSEY, Ottawa

You media guys make a bigger deal of the Domi-Samuelsson incident than of someone intentionally throwing a 90-mph fastball at a batter or charging the mound kicking spikes at an unprotected player and receiving a one-game ejection. Excessive violence shouldn't be tolerated in any sport, but get a grip!
BILL BOWMAN, Fort Gratiot, Mich.

Did you realize that Tie Domi's name is an anagram for "me iDioT"?
DAVID C. BROWN, Turlock, Calif.

Bravo for Shannon
As a teacher and football coach of inner-city students, I know how difficult it is to instill discipline, dedication and teamwork in disadvantaged adolescents. East St. Louis High football coach Bob Shannon should be an inspiration to educators and coaches across the country (Sidelined, Oct. 30). It is amazing to hear about the success his football teams have enjoyed. All of this was accomplished with little financial support from the school system and with its facilities and equipment in disarray.

I am wondering if the two alumni named who made it to the NFL have donated anything to their high school.
JIM GOBER, Wilmington, Del.

? Bryan Cox of the Miami Dolphins has donated money to East St. Louis High, which was used primarily to buy uniforms.—ED.