Letters

Second City
My prayers go out to the Cubbies and their loyal fans [Is This the Year? (No, but...), Feb. 26]. As a lifelong member of Red Sox Nation, I too know the pains of late-season flops. I hope the bazillion dollars spent in the off-season works for them as it did for us. I'll keep the Cubs in my nightly discussions with God (just after the Red Sox).
Ken Gould, Somersworth, N.H.

Rushin's Farewell
In his farewell column, Steve Rushin may liken his career to that of Ernie Banks (AIR AND SPACE, Feb. 26), but I think it more resembles Tiki Barber's. Rushin wowed us with skill and creativity, and he is leaving the game in his prime with his fans wanting more.
William A. Stein, St. Paul

Photo Finish
Your picture of the Daytona 500 on page 46 (Smashing Finish, Feb. 26) clearly shows that Mark Martin was ahead of Kevin Harvick as all hell was breaking loose behind them. For the safety of all the drivers, the yellow caution flag should have been displayed then, or even a few seconds before. The race should have been over at that moment, the field frozen, and Mark Martin should have been declared the winner.
Mark Schott, Canal Fulton, Ohio

Roll Model?
I find it a little absurd that Tatyana McFadden and her mother are suing for her right as a wheelchair athlete to compete against students without disabilities in high school track meets (HIGH SCHOOL PLAYERS, Feb. 26). While I admire her desire and determination, her wheelchair gives her an obvious advantage and poses a risk to other runners. She has events in which she can compete against other wheelchair athletes.
Robert D. Newman, Medina, Ohio

Maybe the officials in Howard County, Md., should have to go around using a wheelchair to see what an advantage it is.
Matt Darlow, Brick, N.J.

Roy Rage
In all Roy Williams's years coaching at Kansas, I never understood what a "secondary break" was. I do now, after reading Grant Wahl's story on the North Carolina offense (Fast and Furious, Feb. 26). It will be fun to watch the Jayhawks' defense demolish it when Kansas and North Carolina meet in Atlanta.
Greg Tamblyn, Kansas City, Mo.

Past Imperfect
Am I missing something in your story on Caron Butler (Turnaround Wizard, Feb. 26)? A kid is arrested 15 times by his 15th birthday, and he gets to go to UConn, on a full ride? How does that happen? Oh, that's right—he can dribble a basketball. Makes perfect sense to me.
Kristy Larson, Mukwonago, Wis.

Not every youth who has a record like Butler's needs an overbearing, profanity-spewing coach to have an inspirational turnaround. What they all need are mentors who believe in them and have high expectations. In detention facilities near where the Wizards play, I work with young people who thrive with structure, discipline and a positive outlook.
Stacey Gurian-Sherman
Takoma Park, Md.

Missing in Action
Jeff MacGregor says of the Asian Games (Everything is Illuminated, Feb. 26) that " Israel's invitation probably got lost in the mail." I am disappointed that SI dedicated so many pages to an event that so directly discriminates against any individual, let alone an entire country.
Jeffrey B. Scheer, Manlius, N.Y

The Swimsuit Issue
I hope Marisa Miller's innovative use of the iPod-as-bikini in the 2007 Swimsuit Issue catches on. I wouldn't mind seeing that on the beaches this summer.
Ranpal Chana, Saugus, Mass.