More praise for the Not Too Late basketball camp and pleas for more rowing coverage and more fitness advice.

Overcoming illness

I am a avid reader of your very excellent magazine for older "jocks." I wrote a letter to the editor a while back asking for more articles from seniors who have overcome their illnesses and still participate in sports. The article on Dennis Holt ["Prostate of misery," GeezerJock, November 2006] was exactly what I needed since I too have prostate cancer and play senior basketball, tennis and pickleball. At 68, I'm captain of our Virginia 3-on-3 basketball team that will be going to the National Senior Games in June 2007 in Louisville. I'm sure there are a lot of "geezerjocks" out there that have continued to play senior sports after a debilitating condition. I hope we continue to hear from them.

Dr. Jim Viggiani
Manassas, VA

More training advice needed

Not all of us geezers are in competitive shape. I lift regularly but can't run. While I still enjoy reading about my peers, I would also like to see more advice on how to train, how to improve my fitness in order to be more competitive.

Hugh Ivory
Town Not Provided

More rowing coverage, please

First, let me say how very much I am enjoying your magazine and to learn the "we're not dead yet" set is alive and strong! The one sport GeezerJock seems to be missing is rowing. Rowing has become such a huge sport, especially in persons over 50! I currently row in an Advanced Masters Rowing program with the River City Rowing Club in Sacramento, Calif. I am 63 and row with incredibly fit women all over 50. I'm even rowing with the younger set in their 40s. In fact, we just finished yesterday competing in the Head of the American Regatta at Lake Natoma here in the Sacramento area. We took third in a group of 21 boats! Our next race is in Seattle at the Head of the Lake Regatta. We also have competed at the Head of the Charles in Boston, which is the largest regatta in the world, and we are training to row in the 2009 World Masters Games in Australia. You can always check out the U.S. Rowing Web site to just see how large rowing has become. We have 70-and 80-year-olds who compete all the time. So give the sport a chance, check it out and let's get some recognition.

Francine Plummer
Sacramento, Calif.

Camp Fan

I was one of the participants at the Not Too Late Basketball Camp and read the article in GeezerJock ["Not too late," September/October 2006]. I thought it was well written, though it couldn't begin to describe the enthusiasm and joy we ALL felt while being at camp and learning so much more about the wonderful game of basketball. I've been playing since sixth grade, but never had the opportunity for formal training such as Deb Smith offered. Though I've played and coached for years there was a wealth of information that I just didn't know. I commend her for her efforts, and your magazine for highlighting this terrific experience for us "senior" athletes! P.S. I am the captain of the NOVA United High Fives basketball team. We just won the bronze medal in our age group at the Huntsman World Senior Games in St. George, Utah.

Marie Danco
Alexandria, Va.

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