ESPNMAG.com - Backtalk: Ask again later

Moderated by Mark Giles
ESPNMAG.com

Here's a selection of some of the best Backtalk we've received over the past few weeks, along with responses from deep inside The Magazine's headquarters, across from Milano's Gourmet Deli on East 34th Street.

To send us your Backtalk, click here, and check back in two weeks to see if we answer your question. Or, to submit a letter to the editor (we'll consider it for publication in The Magazine), click here.

"I am looking for an article that I read in the June 12 edition of ESPN Magazine to forward to a friend. I am wondering why you don't archive articles and allow a search on the Web?"
--Tom Egan, Boston

Because we don't have an electronic archive yet, believe it or not. When will we have one? We consulted the office Magic 8-Ball, which responded, "ask again later." One thing we can guarantee: We'll have it before there's revenue sharing in major league baseball. We think.

"I really would love to see a consistent feature done by Kenny Mayne in every issue. I realize Dan Patrick gets the high-profile, Rick Reilly position, but Kenny has major appeal too. Let him do a story on tackle football or even (shudder) auto racing in every issue. I'll read it. Of course even if you don't I'll still buy the magazine. It's just a hopeful suggestion."
--Aaron Scott, Madison, Wis.

So would we. In fact, we at The Mag love it whenever one of our Bristol cousins breaks into our lineup. Dan's "Outtakes" has been one of our most popular departments from Vol. 1, No. 1, and in every issue Linda Cohn adds smarts, spice and meaning to The Life.

Kenny has done some fine work for us in the past, from describing the Kentucky Derby to getting down with former UNLV teammate Randall Cunningham. With the debut of ESPN's new game show 2-Minute Drill, Kenny is probably a little pressed for time right now. (Despite that, he dropped us a postcard that's running in our most recent issue.) We're always try to think of new ways to bring the network folks into our pages. (Here's a heads-up -- watch for a new column by Stuart Scott, coming soon to The Magazine.)

"I remember in your first few issues of ESPN The Magazine there was a section in The Post called From the Cheap Seats. It was great to see others' responses. Why did you get rid of it and will you ever bring it back?"
--Chris Carmona, Nashua, N.H.

With our A-list reader input, our ESPN.com polls and Ask Bristol, the real estate in The Post just got too expensive. But nothing is forever (not even Cats).

"Watching the Arizona-Minnesota preseason game a while back, and watching them carry off the Astroturf casualties for yet another year, makes me wonder what percentage of injuries occur on the carpet as opposed to real grass. Do you have any stats on that? I'd be willing to bet that the number of wrecked knees and ankles will be far higher on astroturf. Why are we still stuck with this Jurassic approach to cost control? I'd also bet that money lost on turf-related injuries far outweighs the savings realized by its use. What's your bet?"

I'm from New York City, and I've seen the synthetic turf at the Meadowlands lay low some pretty mythic figures. Simms. Testaverde. Kotite. Hoffa. So I'm with you.

But, on the other hand, since they ripped up the turf at Giant's Stadium and replaced it with grass, it seems like neither the Jets or the Giants have been able to make a field goal, and both teams have been bitchin' about how hard it is to play on sand and bad grass.

On East 21 St., in Brooklyn, where I grew up, we played in traffic, on asphalt. That was hard.

"I really hope baseball will do something to help out small-market teams. As a Royals fan, I think that there should be a way to share the wealth. Johnny Damon, Mike Sweeney, and Jermaine Dye really should be getting more props for their skillz this season, too!"
--Ryan Owenby, Kansas City

Last year, The Magazine did a story on Kansas City teams and their rabid fans ("Goin' To Kansas City," by Mike Levine, which appeared in our October 4, 1999 issue). We're all about giving props, markets be damned!

I also hope the small-market vs. big-market team discrepency will be resolved. I also hope the Dodgers will move back to Brooklyn.

Mark Giles is copy chief and lion tamer at ESPN The Magazine.

To send us Backtalk, click here. We'll be posting a new file of questions, comments and responses in two weeks. Remember, Backtalk is not for publication in The Magazine. To submit a letter to the editor, click here.