19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

THE FANS' SERIES
Sirs:
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED: I love you (Beat 'Em, Bucs!, Oct. 3).
SHIRLEY C. LANGLEY
Pittsburgh

Sirs:
Selling Casey short is one of the easiest ways to lose money there is.
C. R. HAYNES
Clinton, Conn.

Sirs:
"If Groat had been injured earlier, Schofield might be a candidate for the Most Valuable Player award." Schofield or Groat at short, it won't make any difference to the Yankee offense or defense. The Yanks in six games.
TEMME PATTERSON
Evansville, Ind.

Sirs:
Best rewrite and rename your article Yanks in Four.
JAMES TRIPPE
New York

Sirs:
Yankees in five.
PAUL M. HUMANICK
Wilmington, Del.

DOUBLE TAX
Sirs:
Re your editorial "Deductio ad Absurdum" (Oct. 3): Is the Internal Revenue Service so stupid as to think that anyone can come out ahead combating the mutuel machines? Don't they realize that one of the foremost reasons why so many people gamble in America today is to try to gain a little "keeping" money? The wealthy satisfy their urge by trying for capital gains in real estate, stocks, oil and other investments. The little man can only afford the $2 window, the daily double, the football card and the bingo table.

The IRS makes a big publicity stunt out of collecting on daily doubles over $600, which will net the country very little money. Yet the bureau will not urge Congress to pass realistic tax laws on gambling that would net the country millions.

We note that wise old England makes her football pool winnings absolutely tax free. But, of course, we have fanatics over here who won't admit that millions love to gamble in every manner, shape or form and who think that they can stop these people from gambling by passing tougher and tougher gambling laws. This is not the way.
TOM JENKINS
New Orleans

WILD CARD GAME
Sirs:
Why should football be different from any other sport (EDITORIALS, Oct. 3)? In baseball, does the batter have the privilege of hitting without a signal from the bench? In basketball, do they take all those time-outs near the end of a close game just to rest? Between rounds, a boxer listens to his handler, instead of to a wild card substitute. The Davis Cuppers receive instructions during each change of court. Sure the coach can push the button, pull at his hat, draw on the floor with chalk or send in a messenger boy to talk to his faceless puppets, but he can't carry the ball, hit the home run, put the ball in the basket or knock an opponent out. I think there will be some exciting football left to enjoy.
DON GEORGE
St. Louis, Mo.

Sirs:
Of course, the wild card substitution is stupid. The entire substitution system in college football is pretty silly. The game officials, in addition to their duties on the field, have to be interrogators, recognition experts and bookkeepers.