19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

LOW MAN
Sirs:
I was disgusted by article by Robt. Hall on NCAA (SI, Jan. 3). I am the low man on the totem pole, entirely ignored by Mr. Hall, the man who watches football on TV. I live 35 miles from Purdue, 90 miles from Notre Dame, 165 miles from Northwestern, 150 miles from Illinois U. Can go to Michigan State, Michigan U., Ohio State and get home the same day; also 60 miles from Indiana U. However, I prefer my football by TV. But I don't care to look at TV and see San Diego play Kalamazoo. Which is about what you get on NCAA. Why can't the Big Ten and PCC run their own business? Who wants to see Miami play Cincinnati any time anywhere. Certainly no football fan, because they don't play football. Haven't the players nor the coach and don't know how.
BERNARD HONAN
Lebanon, Ind.

PARDON MY TYPING
Sirs:
Pardon the typing but I'm so mad that if I wrote this it would be even harder to read. This is my first letter to any magazine....

I'll make it short and sweet. All year I've been watching what I consider lousy football on my precious one day a week when I can relax—with a bottle of beer and a buddy and the wife goes next door and sews, and now here it is another good relaxing Saturday, New Year's to boot, and what the hell do they do but put all four Bowl games on!

I know that may sound foolish and I guess I should be grateful but it just makes me more conscious of all the good games those bums have made me miss!

I'm one of those screwballs that believe in things, I drink Pabst Blue Ribbon 'cause of the fights, just started making my wife buy Dial soap 'cause I like G. Gobel, etc., and I'm too lazy to write letters about it as you can see what a struggle it is.

But I've never felt so frustrated in my life and so help me if SI or anybody else wants to start a crusade or something to put those bums in their place I'll find the time to help if I have to take time off from work....

I think SI is coming along fine, the latest Norris deal is a darn good fulfillment of what you said you'd stand for when you started; keep it up.
CLIFFORD STOCKMAN
Woodbridge, N.J.

A FRIENDLY NOTE
Sirs:
Just finished Bob Hall's beef about TV money will wreck small schools.

I know Bob Hall and have known him since he was a boy at Roxbury Prep School at Cheshire, Conn. I can understand Bob's point, but on the other hand how about the millions of other people who cannot afford to buy tickets for big-time football games, or the sick and disabled who get much joy at looking at these games on TV.... Here in my town, New York City, we only have Columbia playing big league football, and by what I hear I doubt if it pays for itself. If they were on TV every game they play they would have no losses. Fordham and NYU had to give up, but if they were allowed to have games on TV I think they would still be going....

Hall and the mob at New Haven still come to my restaurant—this is a friendly note.