19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

Sir:
Your article confirmed what television coverage of the Tour de France had indicated: Greg LeMond, who deferred to teammate Hinault and finished second in the Tour, is at present the leading candidate for Sportsman of the Year.
TODD CLARK
Vincennes, Ind.

MARY VS. ZOLA
Sir:
My congratulations to Kenny Moore on his fantastic cover story on the Mary Decker Slaney-Zola Budd rematch (Sweet, Sweet Revenge, July 29). I have been a fan of Mary's since she started her career at the age of 12, so as far as I'm concerned, no one is better, not Russians, Romanians, British or other Americans. Although Maricica Puica of Romania, the reigning Olympic champion in the 3,000 meters, was not there, Mary still went out and beat the clock and everyone on the track, including Zola. 1 still say that Mary would have won that race in the Olympics, Puica would have been second and Zola would probably still have finished seventh.
CRISELDA VELA
Spearman, Texas

Sir:
The joy and relief expressed by Mary show that she definitely is back on track. Now she can channel her great talent and competitiveness into a meeting with Puica.
BILL DELRING
Orono, Maine

Sir:
I pulled for Zola all the way.
TED E. LARSON
Jamestown, N.Y.

DENNIS LEONARD'S COMEBACK
Sir:
The article on Dennis Leonard (A Fight Against Pain And Doubt, July 29) should have been your cover story. Here is a man making $800,000 a year who could just sit back and say, "I'm hurt, I'm gone." Instead, he is making every effort to come back and play the game. Your cover on the Mary Decker Slaney-Zola Budd race should have read SLANEY BEATS BUDD: BUT NOBODY'S INTERESTED AND NOBODY CARES. Stories on human courage, not crybabies, are the ones worth reading.
CHARLES P. OWEN
Charlotte, N.C.

Sir:
Jill Lieber's article on Dennis Leonard is a real profile in courage. I wish Leonard a complete recovery and the best of luck if and when he returns to the mound—except, that is, against the White Sox!
EDWARD G. LARA
East Chicago, Ind.

AWESOME ELLIOTT
Sir:
The racing Elliott family (Bill's Driving 'Em Bananas, July 22) has to be applauded. Winning one Grand National race in a season is hard enough, but midway through the NASCAR schedule the Elliotts have already won eight times. Ernie and Dan are proved engine builders, while driver Bill is well on his way toward becoming another David Pearson or Richard Petty.

We respect their hard work and sacrifice but, more important, we admire their honesty and lack of pretension. The Elliotts are a breath of fresh air in the sometimes egocentric world of professional sports. We sincerely hope that they win the million-dollar bonus.
RICKEY WYATT
JUNE WOMACK
BUDDY FUNDERBURK
JACKSON FUNDERBURK
Forest City, N.C.

Sir:
Sam Moses for President! Finally someone has recognized Bill Elliott (and NASCAR). Bill's thundering 'Bird has made a shambles of the world records. As I write, Bill has just won the Summer 500 at Pocono Raceway.
AARON LAY
Vandalia, Ill.

Sir:
Come December, please note that Awesome Bill from Dawsonville has my vote for Sportsman of the Year.
DAVE LANGLEY
Rockville, Md.