Letters

Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Boxing ...
I was interested to read your cover story on Paul Nave ("The Great White Nope?" March 18) but even more interested to read Jack Boulware's description of a photo of Sugar Ray Robinson "making hamburger of Jersey Joe Walcott's face." If such a fight ever occurred, it was in Boulware's mind. Walcott was a heavyweight while Robinson fought mostly as a middleweight. The closest encounter Sugar Ray ever had with someone approaching Walcott's size was his bout with Joey Maxim, in the light-heavyweight division.

Josh Sens
Via Internet

... But Were Afraid to Ask
The piece on Paul Nave ("The Great White Nope?") mentions a boxer's hangout with an "image of Sugar Ray Robinson making hamburger of Jersey Joe Walcott's face" hanging behind the bar. Was that image painted by Dali? Sugar Ray was a welterweight and middleweight; Walcott was a heavyweight.

Frank Scott
Via Internet

The Fine Art
For the record, no court in the world has made any decision concerning the claims made by Dr. Bradley that he is a co-inventor [of the hepatitis C blood test] ("Viral Combat," March 11). The closest any court got to doing so was in litigation in Sydney, Australia, in an action brought by International Murex Technologies Corp. against Chiron Corp. I was counsel of record for Murex. The case settled soon after Dr. Bradley finished giving his evidence. Chiron settled the litigation with Murex in Australia and throughout the world.

The U.S. courts have merely decided that Dr. Bradley is stuck with an agreement he and the CDC made with Chiron. Whilst there is now litigation in the U.S. concerning Dr. Bradley's claims to inventorship, it will be some time before there is any actual decision.

Luigi Palombi
Via Internet

Blood-Drinking Hepatitans
Isn't it amazing how far we've come with medicine when two viral scientists and their respective employers can't share the rights to a discovery on which rests the warm fabric of dying humans ("Viral Combat")?

How easily attention is diverted from the "cause" when a megalucrative vaccine is in question. The once-noble endeavor quickly slides into a maze of marketeering rivalries from which the tallest hepatitans and their long line of henchmen can then come out savoring the gold honorably tapped from the fountains of our sweet blood.

Guy Sidote
Noe Valley

Holistic Hepatitis
Thanks for shedding light on hepatitis C, an important social and public health issue ("Viral Combat"). I am curious why there was no mention of some of the holistic/non-mainstream treatments that are available to alleviate some of the symptoms and control the elevated enzyme/viral load levels.

With major changes in my diet and supplement intake (antioxidants, milk thistle, diuretics, etc.) I have noticed a remarkable increase in my energy level and I can see the whites of my eyes for the first time in 15 years.

Andrew Blaisdell
Via Internet

Hawaiian Punch
I'm responding to the restaurant review written by Naomi Wise about the Punahele Island Grill ("Tropical Reigns," Eat, Feb. 25).

What I cannot understand is her uninformed comment about a deceased, heavyset ("quarter-ton") Hawaiian entertainer who was loved and admired by the Hawaiian people. His size had nothing to do with the restaurant and its food.

I understand she was unhappy with the service at the restaurant. However, she did not have to make a disparaging comment about the unrelated issue of an entertainer's size. It was unnecessary and cruel.

Jolson H. Nakamura
Richmond

Tahiti Treat
We really want to congratulate you for your article "The Great Bank Thievery" (Dec. 31).

We are sure you will be glad to learn that there is an international association which gathers information and tells its members how their own money (as well as public funds) is used by banks and similar institutions. Can we quote and translate your paper in our letters?

OMWO (Own Money World Organization) just published in November 1997 a document called "Les dix peches des capitaux" ["The Ten Sins of Capital"] which was a real anticipation of some parts of your paper -- but reality has gone beyond fiction! Congratulations again and thank you very much.

S. Jourdan, Treasurer
Own Money World Organization
Tahiti