Letters

Congratulations on approaching a difficult area with tact and objectivity. The debate continues.
EDWARD T. CREAGAN, ROCHESTER, MINN.

The White Athlete
Thank you, S.L. Price, for a pair of excellent reports (What Ever Happened to the White Athlete? and Is It in the Genes? Dec. 8) and for not arriving at stupid and oversimplified conclusions. I hope those who read the articles realize that it takes a whole lot more than superfreak genes to play in the NBA or the NFL. Perhaps Michael Jordan does so well because he maximizes his physical and temperamental abilities through rigorous physical training and mental preparation, intense desire, vision and a refusal to quit.
CARTER HASKINS, Broken Arrow, Okla.

If there are some apparent physiological differences between whites and blacks (skin color, hair type, etc.), then there could also be other differences. Some white basketball players can jump like blacks; some white sprinters can run like blacks. What differs is the distribution across the range for each race.

Very sensitive stuff. Thanks for bringing it up.
GEORGE FOWLER, Indianapolis

I am disturbed that your poll of middle school and high school students reveals that 57% of black males believe they can realistically become a pro athlete when they grow up. While I am a proponent of the saying "What you believe, you can achieve," reality suggests that many of these dreams of glory will be dashed.
BRANNON J. FISHER, Boulder, Colo.

The black athlete isn't hungrier. In most instances he is simply passed through high school and college without working on and demonstrating comprehension of what should be the most important thing: academics.
JEFFREY M. BRITT, Asheville, N.C.

Whatever happened to the white athlete? He moved on to become a doctor, a lawyer or an engineer. A more probing cover would have been whatever happened to the black scientist?
GLENN TANNER, Redondo Beach, Calif.

He's coaching.
CHRISTOPHER A. GROVE, Minneapolis

He's playing hockey.
JACOB STEINER, Woodmere, N.Y

He's sitting in the house playing computer games.
TED W. BROOKS, Hanover, Pa.