Letters

The story on John Carlos and Tommie Smith, the sprinters who raised their fists at the 1968 Olympics, struck me as tragic. How can two men whose shared moment defined the mood of an era allow their petty animosities to cheapen the historical significance of their act?
Dave Lowry, Ottawa

Your vintage photo of Alex Karras, Howard Cosell and Frank Gifford reconfirmed a decision I made to destroy every picture ever taken of me in the '70s!
John M. Casteel, Traverse City, Mich.

The Death of Cool

I agree with Phil Taylor that Cool certainly is dead (POINT AFTER, July 14--21). But I believe Cool was much older than Taylor stated. Joe DiMaggio and Ted Williams were cool long before the '60s.
Tony Ferrara, Coal Township, Pa.

I'm very sorry to hear of Cool's demise. I actually got to meet him once. He acted exactly like Barry Sanders.
Brett Kenschaft, Denver

Cool was mortally wounded by Muhammad Ali when he regularly bragged about his talent and taunted his opponents.
Francis W. Green, Albemarle, N.C.

Seems to me Cool died soon after ESPN's SportsCenter hit the airwaves.
Alan Marks, Concord, Mass.

I'll never forget when Cool went on the respirator: the day that Adam Morrison cried at half-court.
Brian Phelps, Indianapolis

Phil Taylor confuses enthusiasm and celebration with braggadocio. By his definition Tiger Woods (as seen ecstatically celebrating on SI's recent U.S. Open cover) is not "cool."
Peter Bertschmann, Sherborn, Mass.

Remember, Phil, even MJ cried after winning his first NBA Finals in 1991.
Peter Schock, Wenatchee, Wash.