You Can’t Please All of the People

Regarding Jim Murray’s report of a thief maiming Jan Stephenson’s hand: It’s 1990, right? These are the days of pretending sexism is dead, of rolling our eyes at those strident feminists, right? Someone needs to take Jim aside; he’s blowing our cover.

Why not discuss Hank Gathers’ sex appeal on the court, his firm brown limbs, his deep, soulful eyes? Why not reduce his opponents to a bunch of jealous whiners who know their legs are too gangly, their shoulders too hunched, their noses too big?

Tell yourself the difference lies in the magnitude of the tragedy, then ask yourself if you would have written any of this had Hank Gathers, say, broken his leg. The difference lies in your eternally prurient regard for women. Don’t you ever get tired of it?

DANA NEWLOVE, Santa Barbara