19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

SPORTSMAN STEWART
Sirs:
You blew it this time (Sportsman of the Year, Dec. 24). O. J. Simpson rushes for 2,003 yards, Secretariat wins the Triple Crown, and you pick Jackie Stewart of Scotland because he wins a handful of auto races and then retires. No, sirs, O. J. Simpson is the Sportsman of the Year—by a mile.
LES WOODY
Rocky Mount, Va.

Sirs:
I am more than a little surprised at your choice. The year 1973 has given us two of the greatest runners ever, Secretariat and O. J. Simpson. Besides "talent, intelligence and discipline," they have the quality that makes a thoroughbred in the best sense of the word—spirit, the willingness to give everything and then some.

For my money, 1973 will always belong to the Superhorse and the Juice.
LYNN HUDSON GREEN
Houston

Sirs:
In light of the current fuel shortage, your naming Jackie Stewart as Sportsman of the Year is tantamount to giving Nero an award for fire prevention. Granted, the amount of fuel consumed by racing cars is minuscule compared to that used by leisure and business vehicles; the point is that racing de facto is not conserving fuel.
JOSEPH M. GALEOTA
Mt. Rainier, Md.

Sirs:
I thought that in at least one of these last two years you would have selected Jack Nicklaus, who has attained a plateau of achievement unmatched by any other golfer.
DAVID DORAZIO
Tarzana, Calif.

Sirs:
The LETTER FROM THE PUBLISHER (Dec. 24) stated that only two winners of the Sportsman of the Year award "have not been athletes." It should be added that the 1973 recipient is not only a nonathlete but, unlike past winners Pete Rozelle and John Wooden, he is not even associated with athletics.

Thanks, at least, for giving it to a human being.
KENDALL W. NEVILLE
Issaquah, Wash.

Sirs:
I would have been truly insulted if "that horse" had been selected as Sportsman.
EDWARD J. NIEBUHR
Mililani Town, Hawaii

Sirs:
How can we ever thank you, especially Robert F. Jones, for the fantastic article on a tremendous individual, Sportsman of the Year Jackie Stewart (Leaving with Love, and the Loot). He more than deserves the honor, but we are a bit surprised (and very delighted) that you stuck your necks out to present the award to someone like Jackie, who probably is not as well known in the U.S. as O.J.
TRISHA HARLING
CHRIS LEMKE
Camp Hill, Pa.

Sirs:
A great choice. Your insight into a sophisticated and uniquely challenging sport is appreciated. Jackie Stewart has been a tremendous credit to auto racing and truly deserves the recognition.
STEVE ANGELL
Evanston, Ill.