19th Hole: The Readers Take Over

THE HEART OF THE MATTER
Sirs:
My congratulations to Tex Maule on his successful battle against myocardial ischemia (Running Scarred, March 13). His account is an excellent example of the fact that many men are able to overcome physical disability by participating in sports. Although I certainly do not agree with unlimited exercise after a heart attack without a doctor's direction, slow, progressive exercise has been shown to be effective treatment for these patients. Mr. Maule's words should be an inspiration to many middle-aged men who have felt their sporting lives ended by a heart attack. I intend to recommend his book to many of my patients.
W. H. EVERSMEYER, M.D.
Charleston, S.C.

Sirs:
Tex Maule's fine article made chills run up and down my spine as it is almost an exact description of my life for the past four years.
LEE WITT
Carthage, Ill.

Sirs:
Tex Maule's story may be the necessary catalyst to get some of our more inactive, deconditioned citizens, men and women, to do more than sit up and take notice. I appreciated the article immensely because Mr. Maule's is not an isolated case. There are more than two million Americans who suffer heart attacks each year and more than half of them are not as lucky as he was in surviving.

Mr. Maule mentioned reading Dr. Kenneth Cooper's book Aerobics. I read it immediately after finishing the article and I believe this book will stimulate people into getting themselves in shape, if they will just read it and do what it says. I want to thank Mr. Maule from the bottom of my still-healthy heart for gracing us sports fans with his story. It made me realize I am lucky to be young, with plenty of years left ahead of me to get myself into better shape so that I may live a longer, happier, fuller life. I just hope that more people will read his article, and then Dr. Cooper's book, and realize that there really is much to live for.
DAVID CORR
Portsmouth, R.I.

Sirs:
As an immunologist, I was interested in Tex Maule's description of his treatment in Switzerland. Injection of whole cells from an unborn lamb would merely stimulate Mr. Maule's immune response to reject the cells from his body. The graft of lamb cells would no more survive, as indicated by the article, than any graft of foreign tissue, be it from lamb or human origin. Tell Tex Maule he had no reason to fear for "his" lamb cells, they were long gone while he was worrying about them. Come on, Tex, you have got to be putting us on.
RONALD E. PAQUE
Oak Park, Ill.

Sirs:
Though Tex Maule's excellent article should interest a lot of people in jogging, I believe it gives a mistaken impression. Tex appears to think that distance running is made tolerable only by competition.

There is serenity and delight in solitary movement through a quiet, natural setting. There is a joy in running, a celebration of one's initiative and pleasure in having the ability and will to exercise. I believe running cannot be fully rewarding unless it is enjoyed.
DOANE HOLLINS
Philadelphia

Sirs:
Under jogging handicaps, you might add, say, an elevation slightly above 7,200 feet (up here, the problem isn't how we use the oxygen we get—it's getting it), some morning temperatures of 20 to 40 degrees below zero, a foot of new snow on the ground and a truculent moose in the road. In case you are not familiar with the latter, a truculent moose is a horse of another choler.
HAMMER REED
Pinedale, Wyo.

SUMMING UP
Sirs:
Reading your report on college basketball in the West (THE WEEK, March 13), I was amused by John Wooden's ominous warning: "It will take a very good team, playing a very good game, to beat us." A look at his schedule indicates he has not played a very good team all year, with the majority of UCLA's games played within the friendly confines of Pauley Pavilion. It would have been interesting to see how his youngsters would have fared playing their third game at Memphis State and, later, an away game at South Carolina as Marquette did. Perhaps his team would have won going away; however, he will never know since UCLA was not put to the test. As a matter of fact, his main (actual and potential) foes even helped in furthering the Uclans' ultimate winning record. Paul Westphal of Southern Cal injured his knee and Jimmy Chones of Marquette joined the pros.
ROBERT W. HAUG
Elm Grove, Wis.

Sirs:
Once again the NCAA is showing what a lousy basketball tournament it can run. Teams that can't carry your Aunt Tilly's Adidas bag draw byes while a slew of Eastern teams—the region includes the South—battle like rats for a toehold in the quarterfinals. The tournament should be seeded without regard to region, and all the games should be played in one arena where fans who may never have seen the teams before can get to know and prize them as they advance to the finals. In all of sport is there anything as dull as two mismatched teams playing a one-night stand on a neutral court?
K. C. MUDD
Newtown, Conn.