Letters

If darts is a sport, then so is channel surfing.
—GREG GOODIE, Fall River, Nova Scotia

Bull's-eye of the Beholder
Your article by Steve Rushin about darting in England was among the best I recall (Beers and Shots, April 2). I'm sick of the same old guff about sore arms, bad knees and which star has how many kids by how many girlfriends. This story has real charm. The photos were excellent as well.
RON TALLON, Lawrenceville, Ga.

Rushin captured the color and culture of the darting world. His story was as fun to read as it was well crafted. As someone who has spent many hours in London pubs launching darts, I will vouch that Rushin hit "treble tops."
MARK REED, Wantagh, N.Y.

Surely one of sport's toughest challenges is attempting to deliver a dart from almost eight feet away into an area that Rushin precisely describes as "smaller than a fortune-cookie slip" in front of a raucous crowd and with millions viewing on television.
RICHARD PART, Oshawa, Out.

What kind of sports article is that? It didn't have one athlete whining, crying or bellyaching. It didn't have one arrow-man asking for a lifetime contract from his pub.
BEN STEINHAUER
Versailles, Ind.

Ba-Da-Byng
Just because a player stays out of the penalty box doesn't mean he's not tough (INSIDE THE NHL, April 9). While playing every game this year and logging more ice time than most players, Nick Lidstrom had only 18 penalty minutes. Most players would agree he plays tough D.
MIKE HOFFMAN, Grand Rapids

I couldn't agree more that the Lady Byng should go. Hockey is not a nice-guy kind of sport.
ZACH HULING, Belleville, Ill.

Unsung Spur
Thank you Chris Ballard for recognizing the contributions of Derek Anderson to the San Antonio Spurs (Spur of the Moment, April 2). While many people have continued to credit only Tim Duncan and David Robinson with the Spurs' success, Anderson has emerged as a primary scorer by slashing to the basket and hitting the J. He helped take San Antonio to first place in the Western Conference. Opponents in the playoffs better pay attention to him.
BRANDON CONGER, Agoura Hills, Calif.

Child Prodigies
Rick Reilly's article about pushy sports parents made me realize something important (THE LIFE OF REILLY, April 2). I played sports to have fun. I lived my dream, not those of my parents. I had a real childhood, which you can't buy with a seven-figure salary.
CHARBEL G. BALLOUTINE, Toronto

After my son was born, I would spend days dreaming of his major league career. When should I start pitching him some BP? However, after reading Reilly's article, I was breathless. I started to envision this psychologically damaged boy, just wanting to be a kid. I don't want us to spend afternoons in therapy trying to repair the emotional damage. So I've put the bat and ball away (for a while).
ANTHONY ECHEVESTE, Pico Rivera, Calif.