Letters

Above and Beyond
Wow! Tim Duncan and David Robinson as Sportsmen of the Year (Twice Blessed, Dec. 15). SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, you have renewed my faith in the idea that, eventually, the guys in the white hats win. Kobe who?
JOHN M. SCANLAN
Hilton Head, S.C.

Photographer Michael O'Neill deserves kudos for his cover portrait of Duncan and Robinson. The retired Robinson is looking to the side as if to see what else life has in store. Duncan looks the reader, and his foes, in the eye as if to say that he is ready for the next challenge. He is far from done. O'Neill, like many SI photographers, has given us more than a picture.
MARK BLITZ, New York City

I find your choice of Sportsmen of the Year to be more sentimental than factual. Barry Bonds, who once again dominated his sport as few other men have done before, is more deserving of the honor.
BILL STOLTENBERG, West Lafayette, Ind.

How about Tom Watson and Bruce Edwards? What a joy to see the heartfelt relationship between the golfer and his caddie, who has been stricken with ALS. Also, Watson had a stellar year playing golf.
JAMMIE F. HUPP, McGaheysville, Va.

One sportsman in 2003 stood head and shoulders above all others in terms of personal achievement and team contribution: Michael Schumacher. His dramatic comeback to win a record sixth F/1 championship culminated his nearly single-handed reconstruction of Ferrari into the most formidable team in recent sports history.
JUAN C. FERNANDEZ Ellicott City, Md.

So Annika Sorenstam is not your Sportswoman of the Year. Let me guess, Vijay Singh chaired the selection committee.
CRAIG STEINER Minneapolis

Saving Face
Making visors mandatory in the NHL couldn't be more on the mark (INSIDE THE NHL, Dec. 15). As a father whose son has played ice hockey since he was seven, I've seen many situations in which a potentially dangerous high shot or high stick glanced harmlessly off a cage or shield on a player's face. When even an old school scrapper like Bobby Clarke can see the wisdom, it's time for the league officials to open their eyes as well.
KEVIN THOMPSON, Maplewood, N.J.

NHL hockey has a quality like no other sport, and if century-old rules and traditions are changed to make the NHL safer, you might as well call it basketball.
TONY FONTAINE, St. Paul

The Greatest Gift
Thanks for a great article on the importance of organ donation (THE LIFE OF REILLY, Dec. 15). Rick Reilly's nephew is truly a hero for wanting to donate one of his kidneys. Eighteen years ago my husband received a kidney from a cadaver—someone we never knew whose family, in its darkest hour, gave life to three others. My husband, who appeared in FACES IN THE CROWD (Aug. 19, 2002) 17 years after his transplant, was a Marine and a high school football coach. He and I know that the real heroes in life are the everyday people who are moved to give life to others. Don't take your organs to heaven. Heaven knows we need them here.
MARTHA C. MINAHAN, Tampa

Looking Out for No. 1
How could USC not get into the Sugar Bowl (We're No. 1*, Dec. 15)? I am a UCLA fan, but I'm mad USC didn't get to play for an undisputed national championship. The good thing to come out of this is that the BCS is pretty much discredited now.
KEVIN LITTLE, Irvine, Calif.