INBOX
Visit SIMEDIAKIT.COM for
advertising rates, editorial
calendars, and sales and marketing
contact information.Letters should include the
writer’s full name, address and
telephone number and may be
edited for clarity and space. Email:
SILET TERS@SIMAIL .COMTo purchase reprints of SI covers,
go to SICOVERS.COM(^12) SPORTS ILLUSTRATED | AUGUS T 26 – SEP TEMBER 2, 2019
MORTAL COMBAT
We’ve always known
that boxers risk death
(SCORECARD), but that
doesn’t mean more can’t
be done to protect them.
The length of bouts
seems to be a huge
factor. Why are main
events 10 or 12 rounds?
Olympic bouts last only
three. Could something
be implanted in gloves
that could measure
the force with which
punches land? How
about having fighters
examined by doctors
between rounds? Let’s
do what we can to
protect these athletes.
Steven Chappell
North Syracuse, N.Y.Greg Bishop stated that
Muhammad Ali wasn’t a
“defensive specialist.”THE HARD ROAD TO.
Tom Verducci’s look
back at the last two
baseball players to hit
.400 (SI, July 29–Aug. 5)
provided a fascinating
view at two distinctly
different lives of
minor league players. I
enjoyed it immensely,
but it also made me sad.
Major League Baseball
has become so highly
specialized that it is
almost certain no
batter will ever
come close to
.400 again, which is
why the sport has
become stagnant
and boring. Home
runs alone are not
enough to keep MLB
alive.
Kevin Henseler
Sioux Falls, S.D.BACK ON TRACK
I moved to AustinWhen he floated like
a butterfly, Ali made
avoiding a punch
look easy.
Dean Garland
Overland Park, Kans.COVER
I just finished your
latest issue
on the role of
quarterbacks
in college
football.
I expected
to get to know
the cover subject,
Oregon QB Justin
Herbert, then was
disappointed there
was no story on
him. Hopefully this
disqualifies him
from the SI Jinx.
Matt Boda
Cochrane,
Albertaare no pro teams
here, but being a big
sports fan I gravitated
to the Longhorns.
The city goes nuts
over them. I had big
expectations this year,
but with your recent
cover of quarterback
Sam Ehlinger I’m
worried about the jinx.
Please prove it wrong,
Horns!
Dennis Kline
AustinMARKED CUBAN
The Olympic gold-
medal winning boxer
Robeisy Ramírez hadto overcome so much
to become a free man
in America (SI, July
29–Aug. 5). I don’t know
if he will become a world
champion, but he’s
pursuing his dream and
living in freedom, away
from Cuba’s controlling
politics. That’s more
important.
A le x is Tor r e s
Los AngelesSCO
TT TAETSCH
/GETTY IM
AGES (BOXIN
G); TH
EARO
N W
. HEN
DERSO
N/GETTY
IMAGES (H
ERBERT); SIM
ON BRU
TY (RAM
IREZ); KEVIN D. LILES (COVER)
FOR AUGUST 12, 2019
ON DECK
The next edition of SportS IlluStrated will
be the September 9, 2019, issue. Look
for it on newsstands and in your mailbox
beginning on September 4.