19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

SPORTSMEN
Sir:
The portraits by Walter Iooss Jr. of Sportsmen of the Year Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw (Dec. 24-31) were brilliant. The warmth, admiration and good cheer emanating from the cover photograph alone were striking, a wordless evocation of the Pirates' 1979 anthem We Are Family. And whoever thought of posing the two in a steel mill should get a medal—never before has the spiritual link between a community and its sporting representatives been so vividly captured. You have given us not only the Sportsmen of the Year, but also the pictures of the year.
MARK GROSSMAN
Minneapolis

Sir:
Thank you, Ron Fimrite! The article on Willie Stargell, Terry Bradshaw and the city of Pittsburgh (Two Champs from the City of Champions) was excellent, terrific, super! His praise for Pittsburgh is truly appreciated.

However, in giving credit, you forgot a few more of the city's champions: the Pittsburgh Triangles, winners of the World Team Tennis title a few years back; the Duquesne Dukes, who have one of the highest winning percentages in college basketball and who, during the 70s, won the first Eastern Eight crown (1977); and Duquesne's 1973 national champs in club football.

Even if our Steelers don't begin the '80s by again winning the Super Bowl, we fans have a lot to be thankful for: a successful decade and a nice tribute to two of our stars.
JOE KULIK
McKees Rocks, Pa.

Sir:
Congratulations on choosing two great performers. Terry Bradshaw and Willie Stargell are perhaps the most team-oriented players in sports. Each is a sportsman in every way.
JOHN MOLORI
Methuen, Mass.

Sir:
After the way you blew your Sportsman of the Year award last year by picking Jack Nicklaus over Ron Guidry, I am pleased you have redeemed yourselves with your selection of Willie Stargell and Terry Bradshaw. Two better choices couldn't have been made.
MARC BIRNBAUM
Philadelphia

Sir:
I wholeheartedly agree with the choice of Willie Stargell. But Terry Bradshaw? You must be kidding.
JACK O'CONNOR
Clarksville, Tenn.

Sir:
That's so typical of Willie Stargell to be smiling (on your cover) when he is sharing something with someone else.
GEORGE HAINES
Gladwyne, Pa.

Sir:
Terry Bradshaw's own teammates did not see fit to select him as the Steelers' most valuable player. Instead, they selected Huntsvillian John Stallworth. Your Paul Zimmerman (The Gospel According to Paul, Dec. 24-31) didn't even put Bradshaw on the SPORTS ILLUSTRATED All-Pro team. Come on, wise up!
BILL KLING JR.
Huntsville, Ala.

Sir:
Terry Bradshaw deserves every bit of recognition he gets. What a great athlete and person! I'd call him Sportsman of the Decade.
KATHY MARESCO
Bronx, N.Y.