Letters

Kelly Whalin, Ardmore, Pa.

Give me more stories like this and fewer about high school students with Hummers and an entourage flocking to the NBA.

Lee D. Wilder, Atlanta

James Hunt, Grantham, N.H.

It's not just because I'm a dyed-in-the-wool Philadelphian or because every time I go see my client in West Philadelphia, I drive through the Bottom or because I have an ongoing relationship with Valley Forge Military Academy that I found the piece fascinating and uplifting. It is because it described an activity I had no knowledge about and it was beautifully written. Congratulations for giving it so much space and to Gary Smith for an excellent piece of work.

Stokes Carrigan, Wayne, Pa.

Yo, Adrian

I enjoyed the article on Adrian Beltre (The Prodigy Arrives, Sept. 20), who is having a monster season, until I read that he is a free agent and a client of Scott Boras's. In the off-season we will no doubt read about how Beltre is now a surefire Hall of Famer worth A-Rod money. Sadly for some team, he will be overpaid and end up like Darren Dreifort or Raul Mondesi.

Charley Zwilling, North Bergen, N.J.

It's exciting to see a guy like Beltre turn it around and play great baseball, but for Boras to say that Albert Pujol's contract is a "starting point" is absurd. First let's see Beltre produce at some time other than a contract year, be in the running for MVP every year and help get the Dodgers to the playoffs consistently. Boras has earned the nickname the Great Satan in Dallas for good reason and may see the same sentiment develop in L.A. or wherever he might bankrupt a team for Beltre.