Letters

Too often we hear a son condemning his father for not being perfect. It lifts my spirits to see how loyal Pete Jr. is.
BILL DONLON, EAST HAMPTON, CONN.

Pete Rose Jr.
I read with interest about Pete Rose's son (Honor Thy Father, Aug. 11), but I take issue with Pete Rose Jr.'s statement that his father was "the best hitter the game ever saw." If Big Pete wants to call himself the Hit King, fine, but he ranks 124th in career batting average and required some 2,000 more at bats than Ty Cobb, who ranks first, to match Cobb's hit total. If he were my dad, I guess I might say the same thing, but as far as being one of the greatest hitters ever, Big Pete is way down the list.
R. STUART KASTEN, Salt Lake City

I was moved by Pete Rose Jr.'s unconditional love for his father. He may never slick in the big leagues, but his humble determination to make his father proud is a human quality any son can appreciate.
STEVE GUY, Milwaukee

Pete Rose Jr. will never be half the hitter his father was. Pete Rose Sr. will never be half the man his son is.
JAMES DREW, Colorado Springs

I am 16 years old and play basketball on a youth-league team. I have taken it for granted that my dad would be there in the crowd at every game. Now for the first time I realize how great he is for being there for me, cheering for my team.
EREZ GARNAI, Pardes-Hanna, Israel

As the president and general manager of the Chattanooga Lookouts, I have gotten to know Petey pretty well during his fabulous season with our team. I watched his dad play throughout his career, but I had no idea that hustle was hereditary. I have never seen anyone play as hard as Petey has day in and day out, regardless of the score or our place in the standings. A promotion to the Show could not have happened to a nicer or more deserving young man.
FRANK BURKE, Chattanooga

I am a part owner of the South Bend Silver Hawks and watched Peter Rose Jr. play for us with talent and gusto, though it was apparent that he wasn't a natural.

Last year I saw Big Pete at Santa Anita on his way to the betting window. I fell in step with him, identified myself and my South Bend connection, and gave Big Pete my observations of Pete Jr. He never looked at me, or smiled, or broke stride. All he said was, "Did he hustle?"
STUART N. ROBINSON, Los Angeles

Shrug Strug
I was surprised to see the article about Olympic gymnast Kerri Strug (Happy Landing, Aug. 11). Along with millions of others, I had to put up with two weeks of Kerri Strug in tears, and now I get to read about her transformation from little girl to "small woman" in college. Strug's injury was severe, and I do not doubt her pain, but "the embodiment of athletic heroism"? Because of injuries some athletes are not able to climb out of poverty, but Strug is at UCLA, driving around in a BMW. I am left to wonder what would have happened if Bo Jackson had wept tears of pain and if Al Davis could have carried him for his final salute to the Raiders faithful. Would we still be reading about Bo?
MATT CORBETT, Calgary, Alberta

Pudge
Pudge Rodriguez is the best catcher in the American League and deserves his five-year, $42 million contract, his five Gold Gloves and six All-Star appearances (Pudge Factor, Aug. 11), but he is not "the most irreplaceable player in baseball." Mike Piazza has better offensive numbers than Rodriguez and is as valuable to the Dodgers as Rodriguez is to the Rangers.