Dave Hyde, The Sun-Sentinel

June 28, 2009

Dave Hyde
The Sun-Sentinel
200 East Las Olas Boulevard
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316

RE: What did they do?

Mr. Hyde,

In your article about the former Dolphin, Edwin Newman, who is now a Florida Judge you made 3 references that need some fleshing out. They cannot pass unchallenged. Some things are owed to the ledger.

“There were bigger fights in that time:
Muhammed Ali passing on the Vietnam War;
Arthur Ashe taking on apartheid;
Billie Jean King fighting for equal pay for women.”
Today
You

#1 – While Ali “passed on the Vietnam War” the country didn’t. After Johnson doubled down but didn’t go all in on Vietnam the country elected him in a landslide in 1964. The country didn’t like the way the war was being fought in 1968 so they elected Nixon who said he would fight it better. He won 49 states in 1972. The only Logical inference that can be drawn from that in a Democracy is that the country approved of the way he was fighting the war. As to student protests it is an inconvenient truth that when the draft was called off the protest stopped. Look it up.

#2 – I had breakfast with an author of a book about apartheid. The book cost $35. I told him that since I knew he was against it I would save myself $35. Other than not playing there – Did they have tournaments there? – what exactly did Arthur Ashe do to “take on apartheid”? If memory serves he was criticized by more vocal activists for not being vocal enough.

Speaking of “taking on” things were there any other Second Lieutenants in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 who never advanced one rank? Were there any other Second Lieutenants in the United States Army from 1966 to 1968 who never served in Vietnam?

Just asking.






#3 – Billie Jean King’s biggest payday came when she played a man almost 30 years older than she was. Why didn’t she play Arthur Ashe or Stan Smith? Why doesn’t she lace up her Nikes and take on Federer, the age difference being roughly the same as when she played Bobby Riggs? If that’s not good how about getting Sampras out of retirement? If that doesn’t fly how about Connors or McEnroe?

Why not have the Wimbledon Champions – Men & Women - play for all or nothing?

You said that Billie Jean King fought for equal pay for women.

What the Hell could be more equal than that?