Letters

The Road to Houston
As I reached into my icy mailbox for the Jan. 26 issue of your fine but jinx-ridden magazine, I held my breath until I could see what image you had chosen for the cover. My heart dropped when I saw Muhsin Muhammad either asking SI to shhhh until after the next game or pronouncing the Carolina Panthers No. 1.
ERICH SCHULZ Pinehurst, N.C.

Kudos to Peter King for his informative article on the Panthers' improbable trip to the Super Bowl (Coming Through, Jan. 26). It is not only the story of a complete team effort, but also the tale of a coach, John Fox, who exhibits all the qualities of a true leader. In a world dominated by negativity and big egos, Fox has the right attitude.
STEVE LINDSLEY, Mount Airy, N.C.

I know you are swamped with letters from disgruntled Philadelphia fans about the curse the Jan. 19 cover visited on their beloved team. But the Eagles didn't step up in the big game, and that is what hurt them, not that cover picture of Donovan McNabb.
PETER KEEFE, Aberdeen, S.Dak.

Michael Silver's Cold Blooded (Jan. 26) made it seem as if the Indianapolis Colts were completely mismatched and were blown out by the New England Patriots. It's funny, but I recall that the Colts had a chance to tie or win with less than five minutes to go in the game. At least give Indianapolis a little credit. One late touchdown and the story probably would have been about how good the Colts were.
STEVE SWANSON, Alexandria, Ind.

Play It Again, Sam
I had doubts about the Timberwolves at the beginning of the season. Could Sam Cassell, Kevin Garnett and Latrell Sprewell coexist? They have proved that they can, but without Cassell (Mighty Mouth, Jan. 26) the team wouldn't be anywhere. Sam has his teammates pumped up and playing their hardest every night. He still gets criticized for hogging the ball, making inappropriate comments to opponents and not playing defense. His critics should just let Sam do his job and lead the T-Wolves to their first NBA championship season.
AARON HINNERSHITZ Reading, Pa.

Detroit Drama
Well, another writer has been sucked into the Detroit Red Wings' soap opera (Dominator or Cujo? Jan. 26). It is too bad that the petty squabbles are overshadowing the solid play of their third goalie, Manny Legace. He has a better save percentage and goals-against average than either Dominik Hasek or Curtis Joseph. There are better story lines in Hockeytown than the goaltenders' childish arguing.
JIMMY DUNNING, Greenwood, Nova Scotia

Good Korea Move?
He could play college ball for a year, or even play in Europe. But no, Korean high schooler Ha Seung-Jin (SCORECARD, Jan. 26), guided by his family and agents, is content to hole up in a gym in L.A. waiting for the next NBA draft. He sounds like an NBA bust waiting to happen.
STEPHEN Q. MITCHELL, Los Angeles

Brats Entertainment
According to Steve Rushin (AIR AND SPACE, Jan. 26), Joe Cahn had a bratwurst rolled in a tortilla in San Diego. Blasphemy! Puh-lease, Mr. Cahn, save the tortillas for the fish tacos. Get your RV to Lam-beau Field and have a real brat on a real bun with real onions in real football weather. And leave the Zantac home. We need the heat at Lambeau in December.
RICK HOTCHKISS, Wisconsin Rapids, Wis.

It's been my dream to attend medical school, but I would trade Joe Cahn's life as a professional tailgater for my future life as a physician in an arrhythmic heartbeat.
JOHN COX, Roxbury, Mass.

The A Team
I found your depiction of my home state of Arizona to be accurate with one exception (Sports in America, Jan. 26). Arizona's 1997 NCAA basketball championship was the greatest moment for only half the state. The other half, made up of Arizona State fans, was rooting for Kentucky that night.
TED HANSEN, Mesa, Ariz