19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

THE WORLD SERIES
Sir:
Congratulations on an outstanding World Series issue (Nov. 2)! The photography is superb, and the opening picture of Graig Nettles is breathtaking.
BRIAN J. FAHEY
Chicago Sir:

As an East Coast sports photographer, I've taken pictures beside SI's photographers for the past eight years. My compliments to Tony Triolo for capturing Graig Nettles' diving catch during Game 1 of the World Series.

Baseball action is tough to shoot, but this picture records one of the best line-drive catches I've ever witnessed. As always, your photographers are the best.
ART REDDING
Bowling Green, Ky.

Sir:
Tony Triolo, Manny Millan, John Iacono, Walter Iooss Jr., Ronald C. Modra, Heinz Kluetmeier and Richard Mackson covered everything from Nettles being airborne to Ron Cey's great play at third to Jay Johnstone's pinch-hit home run to Bobby Brown's blunder to Steve Yeager's celebration of his homer in Game 5. My hat goes off to all seven photographers, who were in top form at the Series.
MIKE MATHISON
Avila Beach, Calif.

NETTLES' REPLACEMENT
Sir:
It might come as a surprise to Ron Fimrite (The Series Was Up for Crabs, Nov. 2), but when the Yankees replaced Graig Nettles with Aurelio Rodriguez at third base, they were really putting in a very appropriate substitute. Going into this year, both players had some 14 years' experience in the majors, mainly at third base. Nettles had 1,493 put-outs, Rodriguez 1,441; Nettles had 3,900 assists, Rodriguez 3.897; and Nettles' fielding average was .966 to Rodriguez' .963. Furthermore, each had won the Gold Glove for fielding when Brooks Robinson put it back in circulation by retiring. To even hint that Rodriguez couldn't make a play at third that Nettles could is preposterous.
TOM MORGAN
Oakville, Conn.

MARATHON MEN
Sir:
Alberto Salazar breaks a 12-year-old record with his awesome performance in the New York City Marathon (A Man Who Is as Good as His Word, Nov. 2), and your cover photo shows Davey Lopes, Aurelio Rodriguez and a National League umpire. Fie! I know that baseball used to be the national pastime but, let's face it, it was a pretty sorry excuse for a season.

How many world records in any sport go unbroken for 12 years these days? Kenny Moore's article was masterful, as always. But Salazar belonged on your cover.
MIKE SULLIVAN
New York City

Sir:
Alberto Salazar has to be your Sportsman of the Year!
DAVID GOSSARD
Seattle

Sir:
The article on Fred Lebow (The Man Who Runs Running, Oct. 26) made him sound almost monastic, as if he had taken vows of chastity and poverty when he took over as director of the New York City Marathon, and the entrants had taken vows of obedience to him! When my entry form for the man thon was rejected for the fourth straight year, I thought that Lebow must be a #@$�&!! So, for the fourth straight year I flew 3,000 miles to run the race unofficially. It was a truly wonderful experience. The crowds cheered us through the five boroughs, feeding us hard candy in the Bronx and beer in Central Park. I guess it takes a real #@$�&! to put on the best #@$�&! race in the world!
TOM BASSLER, M.D.
Inglewood, Calif.

SWEAT
Sir:
As a physician-marathon runner, I applaud the outstanding support provided runners during the New York City Marathon. The efforts of hundreds of volunteers made it possible for the 14,496 starters to get adequate fluids throughout the race. However, your article on sweat by William Oscar Johnson (The Story of Sweat: A Warm Tale Told in an Inoffensive Manner, Oct. 26) conveys a false impression about the risks of dehydration that each runner confronts. While salt supplements in the form of salt tablets aren't necessary and perhaps are undesirable, runners must consume sufficient fluids during and after the race to promote prompt urination. Rather than suggest, as you perhaps did in the minds of some readers, that marathon runners who don't void until the day following a race undergo no health risk, you should advocate that race organizers ensure that each runner produces urine before leaving the finish-line area. Cases of acute renal failure following a marathon have occurred because of uncorrected dehydration after a race. Because a large number of the runners in a race such as the New York City Marathon are first-time competitors, an understanding of the need for adequate hydration is critical.
ARTHUR J. SIEGEL, M.D.
Boston