REPLY ALL

Not just the mail …

Courtesy Utah Department of Corrections

FROM OUR INBOX:

"I hope that the dishonesty of Brant Davis (right) doesn't ruin the spirit of generosity¹ that so many people in the sports world feel toward sick kids. Kudos to the compassion of Steve Yzerman." -SUSAN K., MERRIMACK, N.H.

"Your story says it all². Stevie Yzerman was taken advantage of. But I'm certain Stevie Y³ will never stop sharing with kids." -CHUCK H., YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO

"I look at the article, and I have tears of anger⁴." -MATTHEW L., ASHBURN, VA.

1. The Make-a-Wish Foundation has helped more than 150,000 sick children, pairing many with their favorite athletes.

2. Not in our story: After its publication Brant Davis resigned as a head coach of the Rocky Mountain Renegades' youth hockey program.

3. Yzerman's other nicknames: The Captain, Stevie Wonder, Silk and Savvy, Wiserman.

4. A solution from WebMD: "Breathe deeply from your diaphragm. Slowly repeat a calm phrase, such as 'Relax,' or 'Take it easy.' "

ROAR OF THE CROWD:
An approximate breakdown of commonly held opinions sent to us by you over the past two weeks.

• 41% are convinced the Arizona Cardinals are cursed for eternity.
• 22% are sure Kevin McHale has no chance of reviving the Timberwolves.
• 16% can't believe they weren't considered for the cover of our Fans Strike Back issue.
• 14% would never have paid that much for Johan Santana.
• 7% couldn't possibly be happier that the Patriots' season is finally over.

Courtesy Jack Pike

ATTA BOY!

Dear ESPN,
After reading the From Our Inbox section recently, I had to send you guys this picture. According to your Roar of the Crowd survey in the Jan. 28 issue, .1% of readers "couldn't be prouder of their 4-year-old son for reading The Mag while making potty." Well this picture was taken of my 2-year-old son, Noah, on Nov. 13, 2007. Here he is making potty while reading the College Hoops Preview issue. When I saw him sitting there reading The Mag, I knew he was just like me. I must be part of that .1%. I was very proud
-JACK PIKE, BENTONVILLE, ARK.

UPDATE
Can sports change a culture? That's the question we asked when we profiled Sania Mirza (On the Line, July 3, 2006), who has struggled to be both an Indian Muslim and a rising star on the glitzy WTA Tour. The 21-year-old, ranked 29th in the world, caused a stir in December when she appeared in an ad shot outside an Indian mosque closed to women. And in January, she was accused of disrespecting the flag of India when a photographer caught her barefoot near the national colors. With all the commotion at home, Mirza has decided to skip tourneys in her homeland indefinitely, including next month's Bangalore Open, a boycott that has, of course, prompted a flurry of charged local editorials. It's hard to win on the court of public opinion. -DALE BRAUNER

THEY'RE OUTTA HERE!
Over the next few weeks, The Mag's resident seamheads, Tim Kurkjian and Buster Olney, will crisscross the 2,100 miles between the Cactus and Grapefruit leagues (and clock another 1,000 in rental cars) to bring you the skinny on all 30 MLB teams. Look for the fruits (get it?) of their labor in our 2008 MLB Preview, on newsstands March 26. Look for them in the sky somewhere.

WIN THIS SWAG …
Of all current and former MLB players, whose last name has the higest point value if used as an opening play in Scrabble? (Last name can't be longer than seven letters; blank tiles count as no points.)
Send your guess to post@espnmag.com. The winner, chosen randomly from all correct answers, gets ESPN 21st Century Trivia.

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