Letters

Adieu

Thanks for the terrific article on Lance Armstrong's final Tour de France victory (A Grand Finale, Aug. 1). The Discovery Channel team and the contingent of American cyclists actually made it look easy. Two U.S. cyclists, Armstrong and Greg LeMond, now hold 10 Tour victories in the last 20 years. Imagine how impressed with themselves the French would be if their athletes had achieved similar success in one of our national pastimes.

Branan Cooper, Landenberg, Pa.

Your cover headline may have read "What a Ride," but my first thought upon seeing it was, What a Photo.

Rob Creighton, Boise, Idaho

Back Pain

I read with interest your story about NFL teams not wanting to commit to big contracts for established running backs (A Question of Value, Aug. 1). In it, Edgerrin James compares playing this season--for $8.1 million--to serving a prison sentence. But why can't James and other players who claim they are just trying to make sound business decisions for themselves understand that team owners and general managers are trying to do the same thing? With apologies to these gifted athletes, it makes no sense to invest five to eight years and $50 million to $70 million on an aging running back when talented youngsters like Reggie Bush and Adrian Peterson are knocking at the NFL's door. It's true a franchise back is hard to find, but an older runner with a large contract and a bad attitude is even harder to get rid of.

Luke Hlavacek, Austin

Seeing Clearly

Thank you, Gary Smith, for your wonderful article on the Veeck family (The Sorcerer's Apprentice, Aug. 1). As a die-hard baseball fan raising a daughter, I feel a closeness to Mike and Rebecca. Because of his past habits, Mike has had his share of blurry vision, but because of his relationship with Rebecca, who is living with retinitis pigmentosa, his sight is now clear.