19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

Thanks. I needed that issue.
JIM MILLER
East Lansing, Mich.

Sir:
Damn the irate subscribers; full speed ahead.
TOM SQUITIERI
Lower Burrell, Pa.

Sir:
In spite of a few chauvinistic remarks about how it can "teach a man or boy the toughness of the desert," I really enjoyed Robert F. Jones' article on Baja. What worries me, though, is that such a vivid account of all the fun to be had down there is going to inspire hordes of "intrepid" adventurers to swarm over a land that isn't ready for them. Despite all those images of toughness and fierceness conjured up in most of us, the desert is actually a very frail place, acutely sensitive to man's mechanical encroachments. I am sorry that Mr. Jones did not add a few words of caution.
TOM SHELTON
Arlington, Va.

BOUQUETS
Sir:
In response to your question in SCORECARD (Jan. 12) referring to the European UPI poll that selected male and female athletes of the year for the entire world, Joao Oliveira is a Brazilian Army corporal. In the 1975 Pan-Am Games he won the long jump at 26'10�" and set a world record of 58'8�" in the triple jump. As to who Nadia Comaneci is, I guess I'm a male chauvinist.
SAUL NEWMAN
Far Rockaway, N.Y.

Sir:
To answer your question: Nadia Comaneci is a fantastic young gymnast from Rumania who did such a great job competing in European matches that she is considered to be much better than Olga Korbut ever was or will be. I'm not sure if she has competed against the Russians, but she should do well against them in Montreal.

As for Jo�o Oliveira, I can't pronounce his name, much less know him.
GARY BAILEY
Moline, Ill.

DAVIS CUP
Sir:
Thank you for the fair and accurate treatment of the U.S. vs. Mexico Davis Cup competition as reported in SCORECARD (Jan. 5). It was unfair to Mexico's inspired performance for others to state that Mexico should not have won.

Our U.S. players took the match very seriously and tried especially hard, perhaps even too hard. The officiating was excellent and extremely fair to the U.S. It just happened that at that particular time and under those particular conditions the Mexican team was better.
STANLEY MALLESS
President
United States Lawn Tennis Assn.
New York

SOLUTIONS
Sir:
Since we won't have any peace until the matter of the TV replay for disputed NFL calls is settled, I offer this suggestion:

A coach who wishes to challenge a call may do so, but only by using one of his team's time-outs. The officials would then gather in front of a sideline network TV monitor, and the alleged infraction would be replayed from all angles. The officials would make their decision, and the call would either be sustained or changed. However, if the officials felt that the available video tape precluded a clear-cut determination, the original call would stand.