Letters

The Year That Was

Great issue (Stories of the Year, Dec. 30-Jan. 6), but you overlooked one of the most significant achievements of 2002. If the essence of sports is team play, then the undefeated national champion UConn Lady Huskies surely deserved recognition in your year-end issue. UConn's team play was as good as it could be. Shame on you for denying them recognition in what otherwise was a fitting end to a great year in sports.
RICHARD M. NELLS, Albany, N.Y.

Stories of the Year according to whom? How could you forget Clive Charles, the University of Portland soccer coach who this fall led the men's team to the NCAA second round and the women's team to the NCAA national championship, all while undergoing chemotherapy? What is this world coming to when the arrest of Jayson Williams for aggravated manslaughter is more newsworthy than the amazing accomplishments of these hardworking athletes and their coach?
STEPHANIE MESSER, Falmouth, Maine

I was sure that an Oakland A's record win streak of 20 games would be in the top 25 sports stories of the year. I can't imagine how such an achievement could be overlooked.
ERIK PILLOW
Inglewood, Calif.

The Twins' rise from near corporate elimination to their first division title in 11 years—in the year that exposed rampant corporate greed in the U.S.—was the feel-good story of 2002. Maybe there still is a place in baseball for the little guys. There sure is in Minnesota, where hope springs anew for a real baseball stadium to go with a very real team.
TIM PLANT, Minneapolis

How could you possibly leave out Emmitt Smith's breaking the alltime rushing record? This man passed a revered sports milestone while displaying grace and class that is rare in modern professional sports.
JOSEPH CHANDLER, Anniston, Ala.

I was disappointed to see that the Canadian men and women's hockey teams' winning gold at the Salt Lake City Olympics did not make your list. I guess the joke I have heard told by a number of Canadians has some truth: What's the difference between a Canadian and a U.S. gold medal in hockey? If Canada wins, it is not considered a miracle.
LYNWOOD WHEELER
Hattiesburg, Miss.

Where's Cael?
When you failed to put Iowa State's Cael Sanderson on the cover after he became the first college wrestler to finish his career undefeated—at 159-0—and won his fourth national title, you received flak. Now the man who performed what you called the second "most impressive feat in college sports ever" (Perfect, April 1) doesn't make the top 25 of 2002. At least you're consistent.
JOHN LARKIN, Chicago

Frozen Moments
When I turned to "Puck Naked" in Pictures of the Year (Dec. 30-Jan. 6), I laughed so hard that I had to close the magazine due to loss of breath, abdominal seizure and tears rolling down my face. The farcical expressions of the fans are priceless, especially the lady in the front row who is ready to lose her lunch.
MARK BOHN, Marietta, Ga.

It was nice to see the person responsible for your photo selections. Jimmy Colton (CONTRIBUTORS, Dec. 30-Jan. 6) does an excellent job. I particularly enjoy shots that include the crowd in the background. It's so much fun to look at the reactions on each face as they simultaneously view the same scene. Keep up the good work.
GAIL HABERMAN, Reno