19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

HOYA TACTICS
Sir:
If one were to believe Curry Kirkpatrick's story on Georgetown basketball (Hang On to Your Hats...and Heads, March 19), Cap Weinberger should scrap the MX missile and deploy John Thompson. Come on, Curry, the Hoyas play hard, study hard and graduate. This must mean something, because blue-chippers keep coming Thompson's way.

The Hoyas aren't the Vienna Choir boys and Thompson will never host a late night TV show, but Kirkpatrick's reporting got a little mean and, yes, plenty paranoid. In fact, it reminded me of a cheap shot away from the ball—and from the truth.
GEORGE J. TENET
Washington, D.C.

Sir:
I read Curry Kirkpatrick's article with great interest. Being a student sports editor for the campus newspaper, I encounter "Hoya Paranoia" virtually every day of the year. Writing a story on the basketball team or on coach Thompson often requires weeks of planning and I sympathize with Kirkpatrick concerning some of his remarks.

Nonetheless, I found the rest of his article to be perhaps the biggest piece of garbage ever printed by SI. First, I resent Kirkpatrick's calling Reggie Williams "the Wraith" and his referring to the players as "future diplomats" and "minions." Second, and perhaps most important, I resent his unfounded attacks on the Hoyas' on-court tactics. Georgetown is not guilty of rough play or cheap shots, but rather, as St. John's guard Chris Mullin stated, the Hoyas are "just aggressive." To even imply that Patrick Ewing would have to resort to such tactics is preposterous. No, Mr. Kirkpatrick, the only crime the Hoyas are guilty of this year is being far better than their Big East competition.

As a reporter who covers the Hoyas regularly, I cannot and do not allow "Hoya Paranoia" to interfere with my objective analysis of the team's play on the court. I only wish a writer of Kirkpatrick's stature could make the same commitment to objectivity.
CHRIS WHITNEY
Sports Editor
Georgetown Voice
Washington, D.C.

Sir:
Talk about hatchet jobs! Curry Kirkpatrick threw words the way he accused Georgetown of throwing elbows and fists. I would have enjoyed reading more about the Big East tournament and less—much less—about John Thompson's relationship with the press.

To answer two of Curry's complaints: Where did the Hoyas stay? Check out the Rye Town Hilton in Westchester County, N.Y. and the Port Chester High School gym; and "Would that Georgetown abandon its foxhole mentality." Gee, after that article, would you?
IRENE SHAW
Mamaroneck, N.Y.

Sir:
Curry Kirkpatrick's story drove home most clearly a point many basketball fans have observed during recent months. "Hoya Paranoia" is alive and well at the university, and it isn't necessarily a good thing. Unfortunately, the Georgetown basketball team has demonstrated on more than one occasion that it is an unclass act that is proving to be detrimental to the image of Big East basketball.

No one doubts that John Thompson has put together a fine team, but the behavior of some of his players on the court has been far from championship caliber and this raises questions about his real coaching ability. A truly great team doesn't need to employ intimidation tactics to be successful. Perhaps Georgetown should take a long, hard look at where its basketball program is heading.
DAVID E. BRONNER
Fort Devens, Mass.

Sir:
Thank you! Just as I was beginning to doubt my eyesight, someone else finally saw the same Georgetown Hoyas I did. Curry Kirkpatrick has done a masterful job of removing the mask of the Holy Hoyas to reveal the Hoodlum Hoyas that have been terrorizing the Big East. Even if Georgetown wins the NCAA title, thus legitimizing to some degree its "war games" style of play, at least I know I won't be the only one calling foul while John Thompson continues his apparent mission to convert college basketball into the NHL.
MICHAEL S. MORIARTY
Falls Church, Va.