Letters

Hunting: a sport? How can anything be called a sport if one of the competitors doesn't even know that he's playing?
—SIG MEJDAL, Sunnyvale, Calif.

The Long Gray Line
When I saw Frank Deford's article on the 1950 West Point cheating scandal, I feared another liberal-media bashing of one of the country's best institutions, and more disrespect for the military {Code Breakers, Nov. 13). To my surprise, I found that Deford hit the nail on the head: West Point and Annapolis have standards of honor that have stood the test of time. Army and Navy haven't been to bowl games since 1996 and struggle to compete at the 1-A level. The serious mission of the two academies transcends football, and it would be a sad day for the country if that changed.
RIK DILGREN, Charleston, S.C.

I respect the academy, yet I have significantly more admiration for the 90 expelled cadets. Cheers for their accomplishments and scorn to the General Harkins of the world who spun the lies of the Vietnam War. I'm a proud Vietnam veteran but detest those who didn't tell the truth to Americans.
ROD GAJEWSKI, Las Cruces, N.Mex.

You will not find last year's national championship trophy for football at West Point. However, Army football players, because of the honor code, know that when they go shopping in a department store like Dillard's, they will pay the same price as anyone else for their clothes.
GEOFFREY TINELLI, Grasonville, Md.

West Point's honor code does not need to be dismantled; it needs to be emulated. With the exception of our military academies and a dwindling number of churches, there are no other institutions in the United States that teach honor as a lifelong guiding principle. Our sports teams do not. Nor do our universities, law schools, business schools or corporations. Certainly our government doesn't.
JOHN R. BERGER, West Hartford, Conn.

Deford's observation that "playing football bound cadets together more than playing soldier did" misses the point. A West Point cadet isn't playing soldier—he is a soldier. West Point isn't a college; it's a military academy.
RORY QUIRK, Washington, D.C.

Rapping on Priorities
Allen Iverson should consult the two What Would Jesus Do? bracelets he wears to help guide his life (It's About Time, Nov. 13). I'm sure Jesus would not denigrate women, promote discrimination and murder, fail to fulfill his obligations and responsibilities, father children out of wedlock or, most important, set such a horrible example for young people.
KIRK NEAL, Blacksburg, Va.

I know what Jesus wouldn't do: listen to the vulgar lyrics Iverson wrote in his rap song.
CHRIS WATTS, Lynchburg, Va.

Farewell to Arms
As a hunter, I got a kick out of the remarks in the Nov. 13 issue on whether hunting is a sport (SCORECARD). But you could have chosen a less controversial figure than John Rocker as a representative hunter-athlete. Rocker's teammate Chipper Jones would have fit the bill, as would have Will Clark, Bo Jackson, Karl Malone, Jack Nicklaus or Nolan Ryan.
WARD DAVIS, Little Rock

Playing the Ivory
Thanks for mentioning that Furman beat defending I-AA champ Georgia Southern 45-10 (INSIDE COLLEGE FOOTBALL, NOV. 13). You wrote that Georgia Southern's superb fullback Adrian Peterson missed the game because of an injury. You failed to mention that Furman's even better running back, Louis Ivory, rushed for 301 yards, on his way to a 2,000 yard season and the Southern Conference single-season rushing record. Last time I checked, Peterson didn't play defense, so his absence did not affect Ivory's rushing totals.
BRUCE LANCASTER, Alpharetta, Ga.