America's love affair with rookie pro golfer Tiger Woods is still going strong, if our correspondents' letters are any indication (PEOPLE, June 16). Almost all who wrote expressed admiration for the charismatic 21-year-old winner of the Masters and for his father as well.
TIGER & EARL WOODS
In the world of professional sport, where not all role models are positive, it is refreshing to see Tiger Woods. From an interview I saw of Earl on TV, he gave his son what he needed to be a champion. The love and respect between father and son is obvious. Tiger seems to be polite and well focused, which speaks well of him and his parents.
CLYDE CAYA, Sonora, Calif.
Not only am I an aspiring young golfer, I am also a No. 1 fan of Tiger Woods's. Your article on him and his father, Earl, was absolutely phenomenal! Keep up the great work!
AMBER PATTON, Warriors Mark, Pa.
Let me make sure I have this right. Tiger Woods made the cover without any drug or alcohol treatment, trying to pick up a hooker, committing adultery, claims of being molested as a child, killing his ex-girlfriend or parents, blowing up a building, joining a space cult or coming out of any closets? Wow! That's amazing! Way to go, Tiger! Way to go, PEOPLE!
TRISH CARTWRIGHT, Phoenix
What took you so long in getting this young man on your cover? Tiger Woods is a fine example of perseverance, hard work and determination. A lot of young kids say they want to be the next Michael Jordan, Ken Griffey or Alex Rodriguez. Not my little boy. He wants to be the next Tiger Woods, and if he is, I will be a very proud mom indeed.
MICHELLE PADILLA
Mount Vernon, Wash.
Is it just me or does it seem like Earl and Tiger Woods are codependents?
J. KIM, Ann Arbor, Mich.
JULIANO
Someone might want to tell chef Juliano that the reason he lives alone is precisely because of his refusal to use shampoo or toothpaste. Hey, Juliano, "raw" doesn't also mean "fresh!"
JAN MITCHELL, Houston
JONATHAN LEVIN
I am shocked and saddened by the murder of schoolteacher Jonathan Levin. We both worked for the same company. When he quit, he told me that by teaching at Taft he would be doing something more meaningful with his life than playing corporate politics and collecting a paycheck. But allegedly one of those he tried helping snuffed out his life for $800. How many bright lights have to be extinguished before we wake up? All of our problems begin with poverty.
CHRISTINE MATTER, Lake Zurich, Ill.
I was deeply touched by your article about the slain educator from New York. I was a teacher for Dallas Independent Schools for eight years. Last November a former colleague of mine was found shot to death at his home. Dr. Reginald Rison was also a very dedicated teacher who loved his job. His death barely made the paper, with no emphasis placed on his life or love for his career. There have been no arrests, but he was murdered after testifying about gang-related vandalism to the school. His family may not be rich, but his life was.
NAME WITHHELD
MATTHEW PERRY
I find it ironic that Matthew Perry's weight loss spawned such concern for his health. If such words as "frightfully thin," "tiny" and "scrawny" were used to describe the women of Hollywood—Perry's castmates, for example—perhaps young women today would not be starving themselves in an effort to be "beautiful."
AIMEE CARROLL, Billerica, Mass.
MARIAH CAREY & TOMMY MOTTOLA
I am a big fan of Mariah Carey's music, but I am appalled that she broke up a family to make up for her impoverished life, and now she's leaving him! She felt trapped on a $10 million, 60-acre estate? She was into rap, and he was not? Didn't she know there was a 20-year age difference? She's no longer dependent on him? Of course not! She used him for her career, and now she's through with him. But what can you expect when her greed and his need for a trophy wife were the basis for a marriage?
WENDY HUGHES, Anniston, Ala.
Mr. Mottola—did you ever think that just "maybe" you were used? But then any man who leaves his wife of 20 years and children for an 18-year-old girl probably got what he deserved.
T. FARISH, Barrie, Ont.
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