19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

CAPTAIN WILLIE
Sir:
Thank you for Anthony Cotton's article on Willie Stargell (Fine, Like Good Wine, Aug. 20). It's Captain Willie, not Dave Parker, who's the Pirate leader. While an overrated Parker calls himself No. 1, the popular Stargell carries the Bucs with his bat, glove and team spirit, and he'll continue to do so through the playoffs and World Series. Dave Parker is good. But Willie Stargell is No. 1.
LELAND D. SEESE
Windber, Pa.

LOUD BAT
Sir:
Bruce Newman's article on Dave Kingman (Kong! Aug. 20) was excellent. But maybe the reason Dave doesn't talk to the print media is because of the unkind articles written about him in the past. I am referring especially to one in SI (Is It Daft—or Deft—To Draft? Nov. 7, 1977) when Dave was entering the free-agent draft. Your comment about Dave was "overpriced at any price."

I wonder. Do you still believe that? I, for one, hope that Kong keeps doing all his talking with his bat.
MICHAEL E. KEENAN
Chicago

Sir:
We all know Kong is King, but the photographs of beautiful Wrigley Field were just great. Thank you, Manny Millan and SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.
PAUL STRUBING
MARK FINCH
Highland Park, Ill.

BIRD'S-EYE VIEW
Sir:
I have always marveled at the photography in SI and wondered how you do it. But in your story on hang gliding (The First Step Is Always the Hardest, Aug. 20), you really outdid yourselves. The pictures were, to quote hang-glider pilot Reggie Jones, "beautiful, just beautiful."
BRUCE CARTWRIGHT
Somerville, N.J.

Sir:
The photographs by Carl Iwasaki were so incredibly breathtaking that I almost decided to take up hang gliding—until I read some mortality statistics on the sport.
JIM YOUSE
Hannibal, Mo.

IN DEFENSE OF REX CALDWELL
Sir:
Dan Jenkins' criticism of Rex Caldwell—"the unknown," "the hot dog," etc.—in his article on the PGA Championship (This Graham Simply Refused To Crack, Aug. 13) was a disgrace. Emphasis should have been placed on the fact that Caldwell was in contention to win or tie until the final hole, and on the fact that he did not choke. Rather he was a victim of David Graham's and Ben Crenshaw's superb play. It is a pity that Jenkins chose to needlessly castigate a refreshingly colorful individual with a swing that weekenders can identify with just because he does not fit the mold of the blond, pre-fab mannequins with the flawless swings and the charismatic appeal of marshmallows who seemingly rule the golf tour. Give us more Caldwells, Fuzzy Zoellers and Lee Trevinos. Professional golfers are, after all, first and foremost entertainers.
ROMAN SILEIKIS
Clarendon Hills, Ill.

SANDLOT ADVENTURE
Sir:
Congratulations in general on the uniformly fine writing in your magazine. And special congratulations for the delightfully witty piece by Ron Fimrite about the Parisian adventures of his sandlot Softball team (To Paris, with Glove, Aug. 6). The story is so warm, funny and human that it merits comparison with the best of Thurber.
ELLWOOD HOSKINS
Walnut Creek, Calif.

Sir:
Ron Fimrite's To Paris, with Glove was a gem. I laughed till I cried. SI would be well advised to consider 1) sponsoring a " Far East softball championship" and 2) making even more use of Fimrite's splendid wit.
JOHN S. DODD JR., M.D.
Atlanta

Sir:
Before Ron Fimrite's Washington Square Bar & Grill team looks to conquer the Far East and the world, we hope that it will come East and accept a challenge from the Raccoon's Athletic and Social Club. Although we can promise them a better game than Le Moulin du Village, the refreshments and scenery will be somewhat less enticing. We play for beer, not champagne. Moreover, instead of being in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower, the game would be staged in the glow and haze of the Three Mile Island cooling towers. Such a game would be good for the WSB&G team's character, and it would add to the growing reputation of the Raccoons.
JAMES L. HARTMAN
Harrisburg, Pa.