From the January-February 2008 issue

How does Masters Athlete sound?
Kudos to June Decker ("Letters," GeezerJock, November 2007). I agreed with every word she wrote about disliking the name GeezerJock! I have participated in the Pennsylvania Senior Games for the past 16 years and have competed in the National Senior Games in Orlando (1999), Baton Rouge (2001), Pittsburgh (2005), and Louisville (2007). The magazine really does have some interesting articles and warrants a better and more suitable name!

Nancy J. Cederlof
Fairview, Pa.

Looking for a rider
Team Great Grand PacMasters is a four-person team that competes in ultra distance bicycle races. We hold the Race Across America team record in the 60+ and 70+ age groups. We hold the record in the Race Across Oregon in the 70+ age group for a four- and two-person team. Three weeks ago we set the record for the 70+ age group in the Furnace Creek 508. We have entered the Race Across America in 2008 in the 75+ age group. We just lost one of our riders, and are searching for a replacement. He must be 76 years old and have some money to spare. Is there any way you might be helpful in finding this individual? We must have this rider prior to December 15, this year. My phone number is 513-539-7619. My email: rcash@siscom.net.

Robert E. Kash
Monroe, Ohio

A real comeback kid
I have played baseball with Ray Lammie ["AMS Comeback," GeezerJock, November 2007] for six seasons. He truly is an inspiration on and off the field and is worthy of any award bestowed upon him. Anytime I think I am having a rough day I think of what Ray has overcome and soon enough I obtain an inner strength and turn my day around.

Johnny Alutto
Jericho, N.Y.

A marathon issue
As a veteran marathoner, I feel qualified to respond to this article ["Marathon men," GeezerJock, November 2007]. I am impressed by Don McNelly and any 86-year-old who can even walk 26 miles, and a 9-hour completion time is just that, walking a marathon. I suppose that setting any goal that keeps you active is worthwhile, even if that goal is simply finishing the 26.2 miles. However, I do have a problem with McNelly running the Boston Marathon 30 times but only twice as a legal participant. Runners have a name for these people: We call them "bandits," because they steal the services that the rest of us pay for. Registration fees cover the extra police on duty, the portapotties, medical services and all the other services that help a marathon run smoothly. Boston is competitive and if a runner simply wants to complete 26.2 miles, then there are many other marathons available to do just that.

Neil Farber
Carol Stream, Ill.

Lifestyles of the healthy and obscure
Just received the latest issue of GeezerJock and found the same types of articles as I do every month about people who have overcome some sort of adversity to compete in the games. Yes, these are inspiring stories and I give those people a lot of credit for doing what they do. But why not write about some of the athletes who live a lifestyle whereby they don't have to overcome the adversities? Personally, I would like to know the story of how some athletes have avoided the usual pitfalls of the diseases of old age and don't need ibuprofen to get up and train every day. That should be the model we are all striving for. Please do some polls and interviews to find these kinds of people and let them share their lifestyle choices with everyone. It's never too late to start good habits.

Ed Scheid
Bradenton, Fla.

In spired at Huntsman
Training plan for the 70+ group: I attended the Huntsman World Senior Games 2007 not, to my eternal regret, as a competitor, but as an observer. I loved the organization, the friendly people, the beautiful setting, the bike courses, the grand opening ceremony and the marvelous outdoor performances at Tuacahn Outdoor Amphitheatre -- thoroughly enjoyed them all. My plan is to return in 2008 as a competitor and I heard Dr. Eric Heiden (who spoke at the event) say the same thing. I would love to learn about his training regimen to get into shape. I am 20 years older, in good health, live in altitude, biked about 4,000 miles this year (senior games and metric centuries), cross country ski in the winter, kayak the lakes around here and do yoga. I would appreciate any helpful suggestions to get into even better shape. P.S. I am not into suffering; I am looking for a sensible plan.

Helga Sable
Tahoe Vista, Calif.

In search of knee pain relief
I enjoy your mag for older Jocks & Jills. Thanks for the tips in your knee pain relief article ["In Search of Knee Pain Relief," GeezerJock, October 2007]. I passed copies on to friends. I need more help since my knee replacement a year ago. I never have gotten full range of motion back in my leg. I had an earlier manipulation, and then last month another doctor removed scar tissue -- a lot: It took almost three hours to remove. I am still working on my leg. It flexes to 100 degrees so far. I miss my tennis, including Senior Olympics tournaments. I don't want a revision. Does anybody have suggestions? Thanks for the motivation. I hope to be active after 75, too!

Maggi Mossholder
Eaton Rapids, Mich.

Wait until he finds out about the name change
I have just received my November issue of GeezerJock (love the name!). I am stunned to not see anything about the Masters World Championships of Highland Games held in October, right here in the U.S.A. (MacPherson, Kan.)! As much as I love GeezerJock, I am very disappointed.

Roland Drummond
Linden, Mich.

Hoop it up
I read the piece about the basketball pickup games ["Holding court," GeezerJock, November 2007]. For the past 15 years on every Tuesday and Thursday, 15 to 20 guys show up between 5:30 and 6 a.m. to play full court ball until about 7:30 a.m. at the Park Ridge (Ill.) Community Center just north of O'Hare Airport. On Saturdays, between 20 and 40 guys show up and we start at 6:45 a.m. and go until about 9 a.m. Even on  Thanksgiving, the Community Center opens up at 9 a.m. and all the guys show up to go at it for a couple of hours. We play 2-point and 3-point baskets up to 16, or 22 if no one is waiting. We do subs when there are enough guys to make six players on a team. We match up guys based on speed mostly or just shoot some free throws to set the teams up. Over time you learn more about the guys and their families and even last names! We're always looking for new players to join in. I hear there are some noon time guys that hoop it up but I work too far away to join that crowd. I played high school ball with [former NBA player] Craig Hodges in high school for [former University of Michigan coach] Steve Fisher in Park Forest, Ill. I'm just turning 48, and I am coming off a ruptured plantar fascia in August. Before the injury, I could dunk, so I am going to give the dunk a try again soon as I am pretty much back up to speed. I missed basketball for the months I was off. Keep up the good work in your magazine!

Jim Schmidt
Park Ridge, Ill.

"Best article"
Best article I've seen in the magazine ["Holding court," GeezerJock, November 2007]! Our pickup game is at the Courthouse Gym in Jackson, Miss. It started in 1990 with four guys and grew through the years to 15 to 20 guys playing three days a week from noon to about 1:30 p.m. It always was a 4-on-4 format, make it, take it. Sometimes we had games going on at both ends of the basketball court with the winners playing "next." Skill levels ranged from no experience to college players. The ages ranged from 18 to 64. I was usually the oldest guy on the court, which was fine as I loved the competition. There was exceptional chemistry -- very little whining and griping and few jackasses. In basketball there always is some jawing or trash talk going but very few times did it get out of hand. Most of the jackasses who showed up usually did not come back after a few games in which they got "bumped/whacked" around a bit. The comment about first names was right on the money. To this day many of those guys I really liked I never knew by their last names. One time we had three Matts: a) Super Matt, a really fine player, b) TV Matt, a local TV personality, and c) Regular Matt, he was just "Matt." Me? I was known as Grandpa Willie. Now my back and knees are gone, and I can only shoot a bit at 65. Sadly, the game gave out after 16 years at the end of 2006. I remember though. Some days it was as intense as a national championship game. Other days it was relaxed and just plain fun with lots of laughing. It was a really wonderful time in my life.

Bill Haddox
Jackson, Miss.

The sane game
I read the recent article on pickup basketball ["Holding Court," GeezerJock, November 2007] with great interest. Having played at this sport for more than 48 years, pickup games have kept me sane and, to a certain degree, in shape. As you know, basketball junkies can tell you where there is a game in their neighborhood on any day of the week at any time of the day. If you or any of your readers ever find themselves in South Florida and, in particular, in North Palm Beach County, have them try the "Over 40" group at the North Palm Recreation Center on Prosperity Farms Road. On any Thursday night, you can find from 20 to 30 players ranging in age from 40 to 75 playing 5-on-5 full court games. Two courts working and very democratic rules depending on the number of guys waiting. For an older crowd, try the Rec Center in Jupiter, Fla., on Tuesday and Thursday at 9 a.m. The center is located behind the police station on the corner of Military Trail and Indiantown Road. There, a more mature crowd gathers -- mostly over 60 and retired. But, I understand that there is space to get in to the games. Games played depend on number of players in attendance. Lastly, the Jewish Community Center in West Palm Beach, Fla., instituted an over-50 league this past year to accommodate its aging players. Games are on Tuesday nights.

Lloyd Looram
Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

Gold medal games
Since our senior center opened its new facility in the fall of 2003 we have had pickup basketball. All of our players are 50 years old and up and we have grown to two days a week, full-court basketball, with more than 20 guys each time. This past summer we entered three teams in the Michigan Senior Olympics held in Oakland County, and all three teams won gold medals. We are located in Rochester, Mich., and we welcome all seniors who are interested in playing basketball. We have both inexperienced players as well as former college players. Come out and join us Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. and Saturday mornings at 9:30 a.m.

Gale Commerson
Rochester, Mich.

Join us
We have a great senior pickup basketball program at the recreation center in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. Our games are 4-on-4 on two courts at noon on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The "old" court is usually ages 62 to 78. On the "young" court the ages range from 50 to 62. We typically have four guys waiting for the next game on each court. Our games are to 17 points, we count 3-point shots, get free throws on shooting fouls, and it only costs a dollar. We have been filmed twice for Lakers pre-game shows and sent championship teams to local, national and international tournaments in several age groups. In April we signed up 54 local players, held a draft and had a great four-on-four tournament with "old" and "young" divisions. Of course we adjourn to a local pub after basketball to tell each other how good we used to be, and some think this is the best part of the workout.

Ernie Miller
San Juan Capistrano, Calif.

Rants. Raves. Loved it. Hated it. Tell us...
Remember to include your name & hometown. Sending a letter to Masters Athlete automatically grants permission for the letter to be published in the magazine, on our Web site or both. letters@geezerjock.com or mail to: Letters, Masters Athlete, 2033 W. Hutchinson, Chicago, IL 60618.