19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

Sir:
I cannot let Robert H. Boyle's attack upon James Watt and others, most notably my father, John B. Crowell Jr., pass without comment: There is not an American alive who does not recognize the need for protecting our environment so that future generations may reap the same bounty we enjoy. Yet when we as a people lead a life that depends upon the consumption of a great deal of, energy and natural resources, the question is: How do we maintain that desired life-style and yet ensure that our children will also be able to enjoy the benefits of nature?

Broad-scale attacks such as Boyle's do not even begin to answer the question, much less face it. As an Oregonian, a respected lawyer, a longtime active member of the Audubon Society, a gentleman farmer and an avid fisherman for the noble steelhead, my father is uniquely qualified to give the U.S. Forest Service the change in direction it so clearly needs.
JOHN P. CROWELL
Lake Oswego, Ore.

Sir:
Enclosed please find page 9 of my Aug. 10 issue entitled " James Watt and Other Environmental Hazards," which was apparently included in SI by mistake. Just what does this have to do with sports—or has attacking Watt been elevated to the new national pastime by some publications?

Besides, Watt is just Watt is needed after the excesses of his predecessors.
J.F. KINNEY
Sioux City, Iowa

Sir:
I wish to express my objection to the inclusion of political editorials—regardless of viewpoint—in SPORTS ILLUSTRATED. What next? SI's official position on the air controllers' strike?
RICHARD H. KNIGHT JR.
Nashville

COVER JINKS
Sir:
Hail to SI for the most innovative coverage of baseball during this strike-ridden season. You immediately took a stand on the strike with your June 22 cover caption, "The Walkout the Owners Provoked." Later on, you brought us Frank Deford's perceptive portrayal of Tom Seaver (Behind the Fence, July 27). However, your Aug. 10 cover was the best. It's hard to take this baseball season seriously, and the reprint of the cover from your original 1981 Baseball Issue (April 13) says it all. This baseball season is a farce!
JOE SCHREIBER
Plantation, Fla.

Sir:
The next time you decide to replay a cover photo, I, for one, would like to see Christie Brinkley (Feb. 9) again. She beats an overweight George Brett any day.
TOM MALABO
Tucson

Sir:
In your 27 years of fine publications, is this the first time you've ever repeated a cover photograph?
CHRIS TURKMANY
Los Angeles

?Several SI covers have made multiple appearances. Our very first cover photograph—of Eddie Mathews batting, Wes Westrum catching and Augie Donatelli behind the plate (Aug. 16, 1954)—was twice reproduced, in smaller scale, to commemorate the magazine's first and second anniversaries (Aug. 15, 1955 and Aug. 20, 1956). In a similar fashion, the March 3, 1980 cover shot of our victorious U.S. Olympic hockey team was used once more as part of our Dec. 22-29, 1980 Sportsmen of the Year cover. And a full-size cover photo of star-crossed Pitcher Denny McLain (July 29, 1968) appeared again on our Feb. 23, 1970 issue. In addition, early (1956-58) SI Special Baseball, College Football and College Basketball issues bore striking resemblances to their respective counterparts because they followed set formats, each featuring a picture of a baseball, football or basketball against a plain background.—ED.

ANOTHER HANNAH FAN
Sir:
Hooray for John Hannah! And Paul Zimmerman, of course. His article John Hannah Doesn't Fiddle Around (Aug. 3) was one of the best sports stories I've ever read. It dealt not only with a great sports star, but also a great man.