Letters

Thanks for telling the NBA that a simple "we need you" won't be enough to mend the fans' broken hearts.
—MEHDI EMRANI, Evanston, III.

Troubled Relationship
That was nothing short of a great piece of writing by Steve Rushin (Hey, Look Us Over, Feb. 15). What happened to the days when basketball players competed simply because they enjoyed the game? I loved it when the young man stepped on to the floor and threw money at the players. Isn't that what we're doing by buying tickets to these circuses called NBA games?
EDDIE BECKER, Chesnee, S.C.

So your lover, the NBA, dumped you, disappeared for seven months and then showed up at your door with some free CDs, a T-shirt and a weak "I'm sorry," and you actually considered going back? You even went on a couple of dates? Hey, I'm no basketball Dr. Ruth, but I think you're trapped in a codependent relationship and you are the enabler. I haven't messed with the NBA since Jordan betrayed me and went to Birmingham.
TIM FOGLE, Louisville

I find it ironic that you answer the question posed on your cover: Should we still love this game? It seems SI won't allow readers to snub the NBA the way NBA players and team owners snubbed us. While I have had no trouble finding other sports to capture my interest, you have. This issue has three NBA feature stories, your regular NBA report, an NBA mention in SCORECARD, a commentary on the NBA by Rick Reilly and strict instructions on page 19 to "don't miss" the telecast of a Lakers-Pacers game. I can see that if we want to enjoy SI, we'd better love the NBA.
REED DYER, Palisades Park, N.J.

Everyone into the Pool
Limited aesthetic value, no morally redeeming qualities, thanks for another great swimsuit issue (Winter 1999).
DAVID VEENSTRA, Andrews Air Force Base, Md.

You missed the boat with your decision not to go to Bikini Island. Not only are the islands that make up Bikini Atoll richly beautiful, but also someone interested in scuba diving will find world-class adventure while visiting ships sunk more than 50 years ago when nuclear bombs were tested on those islands in the Marshall chain. By the way, your cartoon showing a figure in a gas mask was both ignorant and extremely insensitive.
DIANE W. PERESIE, Mechanicsburg, Pa.

Joe Montana was way off base when he didn't want his wife, Jennifer, posing for SI. My guess on the real reason for Joe's reluctance: He knows Jennifer's abs look better than his ever did.
STEVE RUNDELL, Seattle

First it was women in swimsuits. Then it was women in skimpy swimsuits. Then it was women in skimpy outfits that weren't really for swimming. Now it's women with painted-on parts of skimpy attire and a woman standing naked next to skimpy attire. What's on tap for next year—naked women thinking about skimpy attire?
JONI DANIELS, Elkins Park, Pa.

Your Jockey underwear ad (Feb. 15) with the Dallas firemen nearly made up for your tacky swimsuit issue. Not quite. But paint some undies on those guys, and we can call it even.
JUNE GREER, Kirkwood, Mo.

Please consider doing regular readers a huge favor by not printing 20 letters this year by those in favor of and those against the swimsuit issue. There is nothing left to say after all these years: Cancel your subscription if you don't want the kids to see this sexist pornography, and don't tell me about some guy who thinks Supermodel X is dang cute and how it brightened up his cold winter day. Been there, done that.
GREG JENSEN, Arlington, Texas