Letters

How San Antonio Rose
David Robinson's appearance on the cover could not have been more deserved (High and Mighty, June 23). By picturing Jason Kidd in a Spurs jersey, however, you watered down the Spurs' championship celebration. Let's let the team—and especially Tony Parker—enjoy its victory without having to share the cover with the losers and trade rumors.
BRANDON FAIRCLOTH, Dallas

What bizarro world have we entered? When a team made up of good men and a couple of unbelievably classy superstars wins the championship—and the fans don't destroy their city—people gripe about a boring Finals. I'd say the NBA just experienced a breath of much needed fresh air. Thank you, San Antonio Spurs.
MATT SEIDENBERGER, Fredericksburg, Texas

I enjoyed learning about Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, but you omitted one of his best qualities: his refusal to blame the officials for any of his team's playoff losses. Other NBA coaches—especially Phil Jackson—inevitably whine about the officiating each time they lose in the playoffs.
DAVE KRAUS
Fountain Valley, Calif.

Beckham-mania
What's with the rest of the world's fascination with David Beckham (Big Bend, June 23)? A big-money, model-handsome fashion icon/soccer god who's linked to the two biggest clubs in the world's most popular sport weds a beautiful pop-music diva filling the media void left by the death of Princess Diana? All while winning championships, having kids and dodging kidnappers. Happens all the time, right?
GLENN RILEY, Cincinnati

I've had quite enough of hearing about Beckham, thank you very much. I know more about soccer than most Americans, but the only thing that could make me want to read about him would be if he signed as a placekicker for the Patriots.
THOMAS MORAN, Boston

Limning Rickey
I always rooted against Rickey Henderson because I despised his cockiness on the field (What Is Rickey Henderson Doing in Newark?, June 23). Your article showed me that cockiness was just a unique individual being unique.
JEFF APPELGATE, Prosser, Wash.

I was disappointed that your article instead chose to glorify Henderson's egotism, greed, selfishness and ignorance. He is not the type of person we want our young athletes to model themselves after.
ROB VOGT, Western Springs, Ill.

Will Rickey introduce Rickey at his induction ceremony?
PAT MCNEIL, Sacramento

During spring training in 1981 I was a 12-year-old waiting for Rickey to finish an interview with a reporter after a game at Scottsdale Stadium. He saw me waiting, stopped the interview, signed his rookie card (which I had brought) and then took several minutes to speak with me—all while the reporter was waiting for him to finish the interview. He is a true gentleman and Hall of Famer. Thanks for the memories, Rickey!
BRIAN D. HARTSTEIN
Scottsdale, Ariz.

Sabbatical
Dear Steve Rushin, I think your idea of taking a week off from sports is just fantastic (AIR AND SPACE, June 23). I'm gonna do it. Actually, would you mind if I wait until the Mariners' pitching cools off a bit? I mean, they're incredible right now. Shoot. That'll probably be just when Lance Armstrong starts his pursuit of a fifth straight Tour de France title. I can't miss that. Then the pennant races will heat up. And September brings the Women's World Cup. And geez, my Wolverines are supposed to be tough this fall. They might even make a Sugar Bowl run. So Steve, I'm going to do this—really, I will—but would you mind calling to remind me in January?
DAVE WILKINS, Seattle