Letters

To Ron Dayne: For your poem alone, you deserve the Heisman.
—SCOTT HILLMAN, Dublin, Pa.

Six Pack of Poise
Kudos for a sensitive, incisive Sportswomen of the Year story that looked not only into the heart and soul of the U.S. women's soccer team but also at how this group of athletes [including those pictured: (clockwise from top left) Michelle Akers, Briana Scurry, Kristine Lilly, Brandi Chastain, Mia Hamm and Julie Foudy] touched the lives of so many people.
John Larkin, Chicago

Matter of Opinion
As a 42-year-old professional woman and mother of two girls, I am thrilled by your choice of the members of the U.S. women's soccer team as Sportswomen of the Year (Dream Come True, Dec. 20). Their athleticism, dedication and teamwork made them worthy of consideration. Their grace and humility in handling everything that led up to and followed their World Cup win sealed the choice.
MELANIE LEVIN, Washington, D.C.

Are you kidding me? Honoring the women's World Cup champion soccer team this way is preposterous. To suggest that the team further ignited a movement in women's sports or soccer is dubious. To claim that the World Cup final "took your breath away" is ridiculous. A goal wasn't even scored!
NICK WISHART, Collinsville, Ill.

As both a Phish Head and an enthusiastic fan of the U.S. women, I appreciated your short feature on how guitar wizard Trey Anastasio showed his support for the soccer team. My brother and I were in the audience at the July 3 Phish concert in Atlanta, and we noticed that Trey was sporting a Mia Hamm jersey onstage, which was one of the coolest things we had ever seen at a Phish show.
ANDY JASPEN, Richmond, Va.

Not to take anything away from the accomplishments of the U.S. women's soccer team, but I must disagree with your choice. Lance Armstrong came back from near death to win arguably the most difficult sporting event in the world, the Tour de France. His courage is an inspiration not only for all athletes and cancer patients, but for everyone.
MORGAN OYLER, Pacific Palisades, Calif.

All the candidates listed for consideration for Sportsman or Sportswoman of the Year were exemplary. My list would also have included the U.S. Ryder Cup team.
RANDY TRACY, Butler, Pa.

Poetry in Motion
Ron Dayne's tribute to his uncle moved me to tears (SCORECARD, Dec. 20). As a retired social worker, I still teach classes on parenting. Herman Poetry will be required reading.
DAVID J. DENHOUTER, Ann Arbor, Mich.

It was nice to see the verse Dayne wrote to his uncle, but is that all the coverage he is to receive from SI for winning the Heisman?
JUSTIN BLAU, Madison, Wis.

Better Than We Thought
Thank you for the article on resurgent Dayton (INSIDE COLLEGE BASKETBALL, Dec. 20). However, your statement that the Flyers' win over Kentucky was their "first win against a ranked team in more than nine seasons" is incorrect. It was their first win away from home against a ranked team. Dayton did beat other ranked teams during that period, including Saint Louis and Xavier.
WILLIAM P. LANGLEY, Centerville, Ohio