19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

ADVANTAGE SNOW
Sirs:
Your description of the ruggedness of the Connecticut platform tennis players amused me (It's Wintertime, So Let's Play Tennis, Nov. 18). After introducing paddle tennis to Mr. F. W. Wilson of Montreal and Magog, Quebec, my husband and I often found ourselves playing in temperatures as low as 20� below zero and at night. Since the intense cold froze the sponge balls hard as rock in very short order, Mr. Wilson invented a heated box that thawed hard ones and kept a heated supply ready.

The Canadians are rugged beyond belief!
CLAIRE ANNE PULRANG
Plattsburgh, N.Y.

Sirs:
As president of the American Platform Tennis Association, I am writing to express our appreciation for your fine article, which, I'm sure, will cause many tennis players to want to try platform tennis once the snow flies. We invite them to write this association care of me at 55 Church Street, White Plains, N.Y. for further information.

As a perpetual tribute to the memory of Fessenden Blanchard, the co-founder of our game, the Board of Governors of the APTA and of the Fox Meadow Tennis Club have established The Fessenden S. Blanchard Memorial Fund. Donations will be gratefully received.
PAUL G. SULLIVAN
White Plains, N.Y.

HOW ABOUT HOWE?
Sirs:
I strongly suspect that the Sportsman of the Year as chosen by SPORTS ILLUSTRATED will be Jimmy Brown, Sandy Koufax or possibly a pro golfer. Any of these would be excellent, as would Warren Spahn or Bob Cousy. However, how about an athlete who has lasted longer than any other in a sport requiring a fantastic amount of durability and coordination and even now continues to be the most feared competitor in his sport? If you haven't guessed to whom I refer, it is only because ice hockey doesn't receive the amount of publicity to which it is entitled. How about a Grecian urn for Gordie Howe?
CHARLES E. HOKE
Huntington Woods, Mich.

PUDEL POINT
Sirs:
Your very interesting article on the pudelpointer (Not Poodle, Not Pointer, but Both Dogs in One, Nov. 18) has answered many questions about this new breed. I have heard rumors about it for quite a while and this is the first bit of solid information other than the standard accepted by the Canadian Kennel Club.

Such an article will no doubt interest many Americans in the breed and prompt them to buy pudelpointers. These people should be aware, however, that although most of the dogs registered with the Canadian Livestock Registry (the actual registering body) are registrable with the American Kennel Club, a few are not acceptable. Among these few not recognized by the AKC are the pudelpointer, drever, Eskimo and some Belgian sheep dogs. Several other breeds recognized by the Canadian Kennel Club are not registered by the AKC but are allowed "listing" privileges and shown in a miscellaneous class. These listed dogs are breeds that are being considered for acceptability for the AKC's requirements for pure breeding. The pudelpointer is not eligible for this listing.
DOROTHY B. HOLLISTER
Middleville, Mich.

MASQUERADE
Sirs:
Isn't a man innocent until proven guilty?

Your full-page picture of Tommy Neville and Mississippi State friends tackling Auburn Quarterback Jimmy Sidle (The Upstarts Hit Judgment Day, Nov. 18) does not show Neville grasping Sidle's face mask. Neville's hand is definitely across Sidle's face, but I cannot see any clear indication that he is holding the face mask. The roughness of the tackle is obvious, but the "illegal grip" is not.

Your accusation casts the stigma of dirty tactics upon a game that was cleanly played.
V. THOMAS RHYNE
Newport News, Va.