Madam, - Monday's Locker Room column by Tom Humphries on the contrasting lives of Tiger Woods and Muhammad Ali was yet another masterpiece from your columnist.
The tabloid world of sports reporting frequently produces an inane flood of meaningless comment and trite analysis. The work of Tom Humphries stands out as a polished pearl rising above that sea.
It brought back memories of a time when our one TV station closed down at an hour considered respectable and certainly well before midnight, when sports coverage came as one weekly package of highlights presented by Michael O'Hehir, and when the only live sports shown were major events such as All-Ireland finals and the Grand National.
A rare and welcome break in this humdrum coverage was the unique excitement created by an Ali fight. To be allowed stay up late for a special live TV broadcast from the other side of the world, or being woken up in the small hours of the morning to tune in to long-wave radio coverage are still strong childhood memories.
We loved Ali's skill, courage, athleticism and bravado; and as our knowledge of world politics grew, so too did our admiration for the manner in which he lived his life, never compromising on his principles or integrity.
Tom Humphries quoted Ali's sweet line summarising his own life: "I spoke plenty". May I suggest that these three words also neatly sum up your writer's outstanding contribution to sports journalism? - Yours, etc,
TOMMY MURPHY,
Farnogue Heights,
Newlands,
Wexford.