Thanks,  Linda.

I  just  came  across  your  nice  article  about   Swim  With  Mike.  We  appreciate  your  kind  words  and  support.

Ron  Orr  and  Mike  Nyeholt
Los  Angeles

Hi, Ross:

Who would have guessed Butler would play for the national championship in college basketball? What a great story. I’ll bet their young coach will be getting some wonderful job opportunities to go to bigger name schools. Who did you predict would win it all?

Steve Dalton
Alhambra, Ca.

Ross:

Going into the championship game against Duke, 33-year-old Brad Stevens had won 89 games at Butler, a record for any major college men’s coach in his first three years. He had lost only 14.

Steve, I told Bob Carter of Albuquerque in the March 15 column that I wouldn’t pick one team, but listed six, including Duke. Butler was not one of them.

Dear Ross:

It’s almost time to play baseball again which is a good thing. I still love the game. Here’s my picks.

• A.L. West ANGELS
• A.L. Central WHITE SOX
• A.L. East YANKEES
• A.L. Wild Card RED SOX
• A.L. Champion YANKEES

• N.L. West ROCKIES
• N.L. Central CARDINALS
• N.L. East PHILLIES
• N.L. Wild Card DODGERS
• N.L. Champion PHILLIES

• World Series Winner YANKEES

My toughest choices are the White Sox and Dodgers. If Joe Nathan were healthy, I think the Twins would win the Central.

I would be interested in your comments. I always respect your opinions.

Clyde Smith
Riverside, Ca.

Ross:

I’m in agreement with you, Clyde, that the Yankees and Phillies are the best teams in their leagues, and should meet in the World Series. I’ll go for an upset in the fall classic and take Philadelphia.

Mr. Porter:

That sportswriter who thinks Tim Tebow is the greatest college football player of all-time is wrong, in my estimation.

I would put three men at the top of my list, and not necessarily in this order——–Sammy Baugh, Doak Walker and Barry Sanders.

Cliff Gregory
Arlington, Texas

Ross:

It was Matt Hayes of The Sporting News, Cliff, who called Tebow the “greatest.” I’m not convinced he is right.

Ross,

I can’t believe Matt Hayes of The Sporting News believes Tim Tebow is the greatest college football player of all-time. From what I have read, two oldtimers, Jim Thorpe and Red Grange, would be at the head of my list. Thorpe was used as a running back, defensive back, place kicker and punter at Carlisle when they won the national championship in 1912. Grange also played on a national champion at Illinois in the 1920′s. He appeared in just 20 college games, but gained almost 170 yards a start. One day, Red scored four touchdowns in one quarter against Michigan, and the shortest was 44 yards.

Bert Alexander
Des Moines, Iowa

Hi, Mr. Porter:

I tend to agree with Matt Hayes about Tim Tebow. He was a threat to run or pass for Florida, and had impressive numbers against some good teams in his career. I’m also a bit biased because of Tim’s outstanding reputation off the field, and his missionary work with his family. It is heartwarming to see a young athlete with such wonderful character. Keep up the good work on Real Sports Heroes. My wife likes the stories your wife writes.

Al Rogers
Salt Lake City

Hey, Ross,

Did Matt Hayes forget the only player to win two Heisman Trophies——Archie Griffin? Not only was he also a three-time All-America, but he ran for at least 100 yards in 31 straight games for Ohio State. Archie started in four Rose Bowls, and no one else ever did that.

Tim Stokely
San Bernardino, Ca.

Dear Ross:

I have always thought Herschel Walker was the finest college football player ever. Several times it was my pleasure to see him play at Georgia when our family lived in the South. Herschel was on three All-American teams, won the Heisman Trophy, and set a number of NCAA rushing records.

Doug Blankenship
Bakersfield, Ca.

Glad to have found you, Ross, on Real Sports Heroes. We sure miss listening to you alongside Vinny during our Dodger games. Wish you were back!! Keep on hanging in there.

Thanks for all your years with us.

Bee McEachen
Los Angeles

Ross:

Thank you, Bee, for your kind comments. To Bert, Al, Tim and Doug, you have made some convincing arguments as to the best collegian ever to put on a helmet. We would be interested in more opinions so write us

Has a number 16 seed ever beaten a number 1 seed in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament?

Christine Johnson
Baltimore

Ross:

No, Christine. There have now been 104 such matchups in the 26 years since the NCAA adopted that format, and with victories by Kansas, Kentucky, Duke and Syracuse this season, the top seeds have won every one of those regional games. As far as number 2′s versus number 15′s, it’s 100 to 4.

Ross:

What I remember about the late Willie Davis was the game in which he scored from second base on a long fly ball caught in the outfield. That is a tough way for a batter to pick up an RBI on a sacrifice fly.

Joe Ramsey
Nashville

Ross:

I believe that happened, Joe, in a Dodgers exhibition game in Vero Beach. Scoring from second on what is a sacrifice fly doesn’t happen frequently, but in 1998, six runs were scored in that fashion. The next season, the only two times it occurred were on consecutive days, and in 2002, it also took place on back-to-back dates.

Dear Mr. Porter:

Major league baseball did not have any regular season games played outside the United States last year after the A’s and Red Sox opened 2008 in Japan. What about this year?

Juan Cardenas
Escondido, Ca.

Ross:

There will be one series between the Florida Marlins and New York Mets held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on June 28, 29 and 30. That’s a Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. The Marlins agreed to move those home games because they want to expand their marketing efforts into Latin America. Juan, many native Puerto Ricans live in Miami, and the Marlins want to grow their fan base. In 2012, the franchise will change its name to the Miami Marlins, and move into a 37,000-seat, retractable-roof stadium in the Little Havana section of Miami.

Hi, Ross,

Attending Connie Mack Stadium in Philadelphia with my father around 1962, we saw the Dodgers with all their great fundamental players from the farm system go against my favorites, the Phillies. Willie Davis was on first base for the Dodgers, and someone, be it a Ron Fairly or Wally Moon or Frank Howard hit a single, and Davis (who may have been the fastest runner in the game at the time) scored from first on a SINGLE. I had to ask my dad if that were legal for it was the first time I ever saw it happen. To this day, I only recall ever seeing it done one more time.

Best wishes.

Harry Bluebond
Los Angeles

Ross:

Willie Davis, who passed away last week at the age of 69, was known for his blazing speed. Few hitters could run from the plate to third base faster than number 3, who was known as “The Three Dog.” Willie hit more triples than anyone in Los Angeles Dodger history.

Harry, one of the most famous plays when a runner scored from first on a single occurred in game 7 of the 1946 World Series. In the bottom of the eighth inning of a 3-3 tie between St. Louis and Boston, Enos Slaughter of the Cardinals broke from first on a pitch to Harry Walker with two outs. Walker lined a ball into the left center field alley. Slaughter never stopped running and when Red Sox shortstop Johnny Pesky hesitated after taking the throw from the outfield, “Country” scored the deciding run, and. St. Louis won the world championship.

Ross,

I was saddened to hear of Merlin Olsen’s passing. As a longtime fan of the Rams when they played in Los Angeles, it was my pleasure to see number 74 on many occasions at the Coliseum. That was a great defensive line they had——the Fearsome Foursome. Deacon Jones, Lamar Lundy and Rosey Grier were the others. How many of those men are still alive?

Stan Thurmond
Sherman Oaks, Ca.

Ross:

Rosey Grier and Deacon Jones both live in southern California. Grier is 77, has been an ordained Christian minister for 27 years, works with inner city youth, and makes inspirational speeches. He played eight NFL seasons with the Giants and four with the Rams. (1963-66) The 71-year-old Jones is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame after a 14-year career in the NFL, spending 11 seasons with the Rams (1961-71), two with the Chargers and one with the Redskins. Lamar Lundy died in 2007 at the age of 71 in his hometown of Richmond, Indiana. He spent 13 seasons with the Rams. (1957-69)

Merlin Olsen was in both the College and Pro Football Halls of Fame. He played all 15 of his NFL seasons with the Rams. (1962-76) Like Willie Davis, Merlin was 69. His friend and broadcast partner for 12 years, Dick Enberg, paid him a beautiful tribute when he said, ” God doesn’t create perfect men, but he came mighty close when he brought us Merlin Olsen.”