SPORTS LETTERS

Authoritative voices against boxing

From Mr H C Grant

Sir: Mr Willis (letters, 30 Nov) demonstrates quite extraordinary arrogance when he states categorically that anyone who opposes his views on boxing "knows nothing of boxing or boxing people". As a neuropathologist for 40 years, I have had something to do with the brains of boxers and, through radio and television appearances, have met professional boxers, some of whom share my opinion that boxing should be outlawed.

Tony van den Bergh, who is also campaigning to prevent healthy young men from scrambling their brains for the purpose of entertaining fans - 99 per cent of whom would never dream of climbing into the ring, used to be an amateur boxer. He was also for more than a decade an Inspector for the British Boxing Board of Control and subsequently a boxing commentator both for the BBC and for ITV. I suggest that his knowledge of this industry may be on a level with that of a director of the National Sporting Club.

Nobody - including opponents of boxing - questions the undoubted valour of boxers nor the dedication demanded of this dangerous discipline. As for the character-building claims - self-discipline and self-control - Mr Willis might reflect that the Krays and the Richardsons were all skilful boxers.

Finally, to compare the dangers of boxing with "coal-mining and the descaling of power stations" is to overlook its one unique requirement which is that, unlike any other "sport", its object is to cause brain damage.

Yours faithfully,

H C GRANT

London NW3 4XR

Not seeing the

wood for the trees

From Mr R E Massie

Sir: I have just watched Nottingham Forest manage to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Uefa Cup. Good for Forest, but I fail to understand the eulogising of Messrs Hansen and Hill. Forest were their own worst enemies; if they had the slightest idea of how to retain possession and play the ball into the opposition's danger area, Lyon would have been frustrated and dispirited long before the end.

As long as TV pundits tell us that this sort of performance is good, English football will continue its downward spiral.

Yours,

RALPH E MASSIE

Colchester, Essex

5 December

Cloth cap or dishes?

From Mr A Forbes

Sir: With future Premier league TV deals being so vast that they will be funded by pay per view television, the Independent is right to comment that most people will either not want or not be able to afford to watch football on TV.

One could wildly predict us going back to the future; a time when people supported and even watched their local club, and hung on every word newspaper match reporters relayed back for Sunday's first edition.

Progress? Will anyone sell me their cloth cap?

Yours faithfully,

ANDREW FORBES

Aberdeen AB2 1PF

Captain Christy

From Mr P Hughes

Sir: To defend the Ryder Cup successfully in 1997 it is imperative the right man is selected to succeed Bernard Gallacher as captain. He needs to be strong and resolute with current knowledge of what is going on in the world of golf.

Besides these attributes, he must be a winner in his own right and at the same time retain the gift of being a diplomat and a gentleman.

We have such a person in Christy O'Connor Jnr. His selection as captain would immediately put the Americans on the defensive.

Yours hopefully,

PETER HUGHES

Shepshed, Leics

LE12 9BH

28 November

Letters should be marked "For publication" and should contain daytime and evening phone numbers. They should be sent to Sports Editor, The Independent, 1 Canada Square, London E14 5DL. They may be shortened for reasons of space.