Letters

Definition of Hero
I applaud the selflessness and generosity of soccer player George Weah (A Good Man in Africa, April 16). If our baseball, NBA and NFL superstars had half the heart that Weah does, the world would be a much better place. Weah is an inspiration to children everywhere.
MARTIN SIMCHOWITZ, Houston

Weah gets my vote for Sportsman of the Year. Better yet, nominate Weah for the Nobel Peace Prize.
ARTURO M. ROBLES
Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

I was in Liberia in the summer of 1997 to observe the election and witnessed the impact that Weah has had on all aspects of his country's war-torn society. Weah's commitment to and passion for Liberia, as captured in S.L. Price's writing and Simon Bruty's photos, moved me.
L. BROOKS ENTWISTLE, Hong Kong

Since attending Arthur Ashe's funeral eight years ago, I have wondered if the world would ever see again an athlete with such a combination of athletic ability, leadership skills, compassion and good will. Enter Weah.
BRENT RICHARDSON, Cincinnati

Master of All He Surveys
The burning question is not whether Jack Nicklaus's record total of major victories is in jeopardy (Four-gone Conclusion, April 16). It's not an issue anymore. Tiger has to win only one a year for the next 13 years to break it. Plus at that point he'll have 12 years before he goes on the geezer tour. He not only will remain the youngest to win the Masters, but also around 2023 he'll become the oldest! The burning question? What's Tiger going to have served at next year's champions banquet, since Vijay Singh went with Thai food this year and Tiger chose cheeseburgers the year after his first victory, in 1997?
HERB COCKCROFT, San Francisco

Knowing Tiger's uncanny ability to hear the firing of a camera shutter from miles away, exactly how did photographer Fred Vuich get his cover photo on April 16?
BRENT SCHUETTPELZ, Appleton, Wis.

? Vuich used a Mamiya 7 range-finder camera with a wide-angle lens. It has a silent electromagnetic shutter. He was standing on a photographers' tower that was 10 yards behind the tee box on the 18th hole—ED.

Rick Reilly calls it in Ain't It Grand! (THE LIFE OF REILLY, April 16). He's not afraid to point out a special heavenly body in the universe of sports: Tiger is the comet that flashes by, while ordinary stars, though bright, get lost in its tail.
JOHN G. PAPANIKOLAS, Salt Lake City

Yes, Tiger holds all four major titles at one time. However, there were other terrific performance at the Masters, like those of Phil Mickelson, David Duval, Mark Calcavecchia and Chris DiMarco. These pros also have extraordinary talent and stories to tell. I'm a little sick of reading only about Tiger and seeing his image on your cover.
PETER CLARK, Cooperstown, N.Y.

Myth of Invincibility
Thanks to E.M. Swift for his heartfelt piece on Bill Johnson (Last Run, April 16). In today's world of sports, chockful of seemingly bionic men like Tiger Woods and Shane Battier, it's important, albeit painful, to be reminded that our heroes are still human beings.
BRIAN W. PECK, New York City