19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

THE PRICE OF PEACE
Sirs: In my humble opinion, the Boston Bruins are doing O.K. (Watcha Doin', Brother Bruin? Jan. 3). It seems to me that the Boston fans are far too critical of all their professional sports teams and expect, if not demand, perfection. As long as the Bruins are winning, what's the difference? More power to Bobby Orr for minding his own business, namely defense, and for his better all-round attitude this season. At least he's contributing to the team's success. Bobby is good enough for me any day, and so are Phil Esposito and all the other talented Bruins. Peace horrible? Never! Peace is wonderful!
WILLIAM F. O'BRIEN
Cincinnati

Sirs:
As usual, the greatest hockey writer of this century, Mark Mulvoy, has written a story that all hockey fans will be interested in reading. The former Stanley Cup champs have lost only two games in their last 25 outings, and if that is deep trouble, as Bruin fans contend, Buffalo Coach Punch Imlach said it perfectly, "I'd love to have such trouble." As many a hockey fan has noticed, the fearsome Bruins have not hit as much as they have in the past, and the other teams in the league are taking advantage of this. Boston is trying to skate rather than fight, but the Bruins have a reputation to maintain, and they are not the type of hockey club to finesse their way to the Stanley Cup. To beat the high-flying Rangers, the Bruins must show a little more muscle, as they did by winning 8-1 on Dec. 16. Still, I think I'll put my money on the "new" New York Rangers!
ALAN BOYTON
Carteret, N.J.

FIGHTING WORDS
Sirs:
" Maryland was going to be the best this and the biggest that, but what it came up as was a victim of foot-in-mouth disease" (Sweating Through the Dreads, Jan. 3).

After routing Western Kentucky 103-67 and crushing ninth-ranked St. John's 90-69 on successive nights, Maryland's feet would seem to be planted firmly on the ground. Your diagnosis of foot-in-mouth disease might more aptly apply to yourselves.
TOM REILLY
Rockville, Md.

Sirs:
I would like to make a few comments on Curry Kirkpatrick's unreport on Maryland basketball. First, it seems to me that it was SI and not Driesell that put Tom McMillen on the cover, that ran an article on last year's freshman team proclaiming it perhaps the best in the country and that this year ranked Maryland in the Top Ten.

Second, to say the Terps cannot score unless they get the ball to big Mac is just bad reporting. Tom was the leading scorer in only three of the team's first nine games, and he averaged only 19 of the team's 90 points per game. This is not to knock Tom but merely to indicate that a team that shoots better than 55% from the floor has more than one shooter.

Instead of reporting on the early-season struggle of a team trying to come together, Curry gave us a string of ad hominem arguments and a treatise on Southern dialect implying that the Terps just are not as good as their press. One can only conclude that Curry is the type of guy who would spill out fine wine after tasting it before it had a chance to age properly.
ROBERT H. ROSENBAUM
Riverdale, Md.

Sirs:
As a teacher of journalism, a lover of the sport of basketball and a great fan of Frank McGuire and his University of South Carolina Gamecocks (who are now up where Mr. Driesell said Maryland was going to be), I say thanks and thank you again to Curry Kirkpatrick for telling it like it really is on the court at UM. Bravo!
GEORGE P. MARSTON
East Paterson, N.J.

Sirs:
To be the best, to be No. 1, is to strive for perfection. It takes hard work, and Maryland's Lefty Driesell has worked hard in striving to reach the pinnacle of college basketball. As a member of Maryland's mediocre basketball teams of the past three years, I would boast, too. This year's team shows the dedication and hard work that Driesell has put into coaching and recruiting. Hail to the chief!
DICK STOBAUGH
Newark, Del.

THE PLAYOFFS
Sirs: Tex Maule has always been more than fair in writing about the Dallas Cowboys, who have had their ups and downs. I want to particularly compliment him for his article The Cowboys Fly—The Redskins Die in the Jan. 3 issue. It was well written, and it was most deserved. Thanks, SI, for a great year of football coverage.
JOE SPENCE
Dallas