19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

HOGS IN THE HILLS
Sirs:
It has taken the people of Arkansas many years to overcome the hillbilly image imposed upon it by radio's late and beloved Bob Burns. Now Dan Jenkins comes along and uses a hillbilly song as the theme for his description of the No. 1 Razorbacks' win over the Texas Longhorns ( Arkansas on Top of the World, Oct. 25). We true fans prefer to forget the corny stuff and remember instead those athletes who have given our state a great sports image—men like Bill Dickey, Clyde (Smackover) Scott, Lance Alworth, Dizzy and Paul Dean, Paul (Bear) Bryant, George Kell, Johnny Sain and, more recently, Dick Sikes.
JOE BRINDLEY
Little Rock, Ark.

Sirs:
After 19 consecutive victories, Arkansas is "on top of the world," yet Dan Jenkins portrays us as a gang of Cinderella hillbillies. Hogwash!
DAVID A. DANIELS
Dermott, Ark.

?For another Jenkins look at Arkansas and further reflections on notable Razorbacks, see page 30.—ED.

Sirs:
Dan Jenkins' article on Arkansas' victory over Texas was a truly colorful and accurate piece of reporting, except for one glaring error. He says, " Texas thus moved four points up...and not a 'whoooo, pig, sooey!' was to be heard anywhere." In truth, at that point, the loyalty of Razorback fans was demonstrated with the loudest, longest 'whoooo, pig, sooey!' yell of the day!
BETTY H. ALLEN
Little Rock, Ark.

Sirs:
It is quite evident that this Jenkins cannot hear too well. Immediately after Texas made its final field goal, there came a soul-shaking "whoooo, pig" like I have never heard before, and I have heard many of them during the past years. There was hardly a minute when the student body was not urging their beloved Hogs on.
N. R. POND
Joplin, Mo.

FOR THE BIRDS
Sirs:
SI and Walter Bimson really know how to hurt a guy (The Week 2,000 Pheasants Fell, Oct. 25).

I read Mr. Bimson's account of his week-long stay in Scotland immediately upon my own return from the first Pelee Island pheasant shoot of the year and it took me 14 hours of tramping over rain-soaked terrain to bag my liberal two-day limit of 10 birds. Mind you, I don't (unduly) covet Mr. Bimson his opportunity to live and shoot in the grand manner. But I do resent his calling the outing a hunting party.

Mr. Bimson may have been on a helluva shoot, or he may have participated in a bumper bird harvest—but hunt he did not. We of the tattered-canvas-coat-and-pump-gun set would call it a different sport.
ED PIVCEVICH
Westlake, Ohio

Sirs:
Killing more than 2,000 birds in six days hardly qualifies as sport. My own conviction has always been that the killing is secondary to the relaxation and enjoyment of the fields and woods, but Mr. Bimson's article, apparently motivated by pride of accomplishment, seemed devoid of this understanding. Hunting, in the true sense of the word, is one thing, wholesale slaughter quite another. Coming home with the game pocket full is certainly rewarding, but an empty one should not imply that the day was fruitless.
THOMAS R. BROOKS, M.D.
Wilmington, Del.

Sirs:
I am sure you'll get a bushel of anguished protests against such "slaughter," but I really enjoyed Walter Bimson's Scottish shooting article. As Mr. Bimson said, few Americans realize that in Europe wildlife is the responsibility not of the public at large but of the landowners on whose property it is to be found. Hunting thus becomes a necessary harvesting job, to cull out a herd or flock to conserve it and keep it healthy.