Wrestling Fair and Square

I was enjoying reading about the youth wrestling world in “Dirty Moves” (by James Brown, Oct. 30). I was cheering for this coach-father and his sons, who were competing cleanly in poorly officiated meets. That is, until the last paragraph, in which the father lowers himself and teaches some dirty moves to his sons. Can’t beat ‘em--well, then join ‘em, boys.

No area of these boys’ lives will remain unsullied because Dad taught them that dirty work can be brought to bear in a bind. He was right when he said he could not offer his sons a better world. He barely tried.

Linda Worland

Winnetka

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Wrestling is an underrated and underreported sport. As the parent of a high school wrestler, I was pleased to see a story about wrestling in your magazine. I was pleased, that is, until I read the article. Brown set himself and his boys up as white knights competing at a school in “an overwhelmingly Mexican American community.” It’s his opinion that because he and his boys are white they “get that dirty, lingering look that suggests we’re not welcome here.”

Both of his boys lose against kids whom he portrays as mean, cheating, dirty-fighting Mexicans. Though he protests that he really loves Mexicans, Brown’s racism permeates like a cancer throughout the story. Clean wrestlers and dirty wrestlers exist in all races. Wrestlers should be characterized by what they do individually.

Patrice Abarca

Paramount