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15
HACK LIFE
Reading how Nolan
Arenado is “a star
typical of today’s
game—dynamic on the
field, low-key off it” in
the same issue that
highlights the fashion
choices of athletes was
an odd paradox. Here’s
to more athletes like
Arenado who understand
the only thing real fans
care about is their
performance on the field.
Frank Lawrence
Sparks, Nev.
PROVING GROUND
So MLB is attempting
some changes to help
make the game more
entertaining. But given
the dearth of fans
attending the Atlantic
League game in the
photo accompanying
THE SERENA CODE
Is this the Swimsuit
Issue? I was taken
aback by the latest
cover. I am not against
the display of the beauty
of an athlete’s body; in
fact I am often in awe
of how these finely
tuned machines can
look when training,
diet and exercise
are taken seriously.
Serena Williams is a
remarkable athlete who
has achieved success
at the highest level
and continues to do so
despite the enemies of
age and injury. But I feel
that the cover photo gives
a more intimate look than
I want on the cover of
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED.
Jeffrey Bragg
Malta, Ohio
STUCK IN THE MUD
Thank you for the article
on the magic mud that
is used to wipe down
new baseballs. I have
heard about this special
mud from a secret
place before, but Emma
Baccellieri gave us the
whole story on this old-
school process of getting
the special sauce for MLB.
This well-written piece
makes the baseball prep
process “plain as mud.”
Kent Stockey
Anderson, Ind.
CORRECTION
In the July 1–8 issue, the
subject of a 1970s-era
photo in Genders Game
was misidentified as
Richard Raskind (now
Renée Richards). SI
regrets the error.
the article, the future is
a work in progress.
Bob Fuller
Vermillion, S.D.
GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY
Americans don’t
need the Olympics to
“get along with each
other for a change”
(SCORECARD). Most
Americans get along
just fine and are proud
of our country, warts
and all. The narrative
that Americans are at
each others’ throats is a
product of the political-
media-celebrity vortex,
of which big-time sports
play a part. If we tuned
out the doomsayers
and jumped in the next
pickup game, we’d all be
a lot better off.
Charles Kels
San Antonio
JAM
IE SCH
WABEROW
(AREN
ADO); JEFFERY A. SALTER (W
ILLIAM
S);
LEBRECTM
EDIA (M
UD); RICH
ARD H
EATH
COTE/GETTY IM
AGES (COVER)
FOR JULY 29–AUGUST 5, 2019
ON DECK
The next edition of SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
will be the August 26, 2019, issue. Look
for it on newsstands and in your mailbox
beginning on August 21.
