19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

ANOTHER WINK
Sirs:
I thoroughly enjoyed Mark Kram's look at Baltimore (A Wink at a Homely Girl, Oct. 10), but I feel obligated to suggest that he visit Milwaukee before passing judgment on Baltimore as the deadest big town in the country.

He mentions that big-time baseball, basketball, college football and hockey are not supported well in Baltimore. Let it be known that, despite a population of over one million (including suburbs), Milwaukee doesn't even have any of these sports.

The Braves were popular as long as they won, but they have since departed. The NBA Hawks fled to greener pastures in St. Louis. The minor-league hockey Falcons folded, as did Marquette University's football program. The fact is that anyone seeking big league entertainment must travel to Chicago (90 miles south) or do without.

The Chamber of Commerce is constantly seeking a way to lure tourists into the city but is denied the only solution—horse racing. The State of Wisconsin is so against all kinds of gambling that it won't even allow bingo at church picnics. An exciting night for a Milwaukeean is to dance a polka and drink beer at the nearest tavern.

If Mr. Kram spent two weeks in Milwaukee, he would soon consider himself lucky to have been brought up in Baltimore, where at least something is happening.
R.P. GRIFFIN JR.
Milwaukee