Tut-tut, K.O., for your Typical New England puritanism in casting aspersions upon the sexual habits of this giant among men. What Marv does behind closed doors is no business of yours, and, for the record, (to paraphrase Washington, DC mayor Marion Barry) 'Bitch set him up!

Besides, having shared a house with K.O. during our final year of law school, I can only say that none of us, not even our two gay housemates (not that there's anything wrong with that) wanted to so much as guess what he was doing in his room.

K.O., now that you have a weekly column, I'd think that you have more important issues to sink your teeth into than Marv's personal life... like, for instance, the fact that your Sox continue to alienate their lone superstar and now-likely free- agent (Mo Vaughn). Don't worry, K.O., someone will pay him what he's worth. You'd just better hope that it isn't the Devil Rays.

In closing, I have to say that the return of Marv, will be the single best thing to happen to the league in 1998... or whenever it is that they get around to playing ball. And as for you, K.O., stop gnashing your teeth over the fact that Boston will never be as great a city as New York, and keep your biting commentary out of Marv's private affairs.

- adam


Dearest Adam,

Interesting that with all the people in this world whose causes need championing that you (and, I might add, another New York City sports fan) would take the time to write to me to defend "poor" Marv.

Let me answer your charges one at a time:

First, as to your charge of anti-New York bias and "championship envy." I must cop to one form of envy of New York, and it's a strand that runs through more than a couple of my columns. I am jealous that in baseball, where there is no salary cap in place, teams from one of the nation's largest market[s] can afford to have ridiculous amounts of depth. Mo Vaughn goes down, the Red Sox have Midre Cummings batting cleanup. The Yankees soon will have Chili Davis, Darryl Strawberry, Tim Raines, Chad Curtis, and down in Triple A, Ricky Ledee, all available to them to fill two spots in the lineup (left field and designated hitter).

Other than that, there is very little to envy about New York. And it's obvious that the envy between the two cities flows both ways.

How else to explain the recent poaching, by New York from Boston, of a football coach (Bill Parcells), a police chief (William Bratton) and a star running back (Curtis Martin), just to name a few?

Now, as to your charge of "New England puritanism." I hardly think that coming out against forcible sodomy makes me a prude. I agree that what goes on between consenting adults behind closed doors is their business. But emphasis is on the word "consent." It's obvious (to me at least) that the smoke in this case resulted from at least some degree of a fire, but that Marv just thought he could wriggle free by hiring Roy Black (Sorry, Marv, guess that only works for true "innocents" like William Kennedy Smith. Haha.)

I guess what's really at play here is that in different communities [of] people draw the line for acceptable behavior in different places. I'm rather proud that the Red Sox showed little tolerance for Wil Cordero, even though he was a blossoming hitter. Ditto for the Patriots and Christian Peter and Dave Meggett. (It will be interesting to see, however, how the Patriots handle the fact that it appears from today's Boston Globe that star tight end Ben Coates, a much more important part of the team, has kept pace with Meggett illegitimate child for illegitimate child.)

Meanwhile, in New York, I'm left to wonder if anything is "over the line." The Jets suffer an injury to a starting linebacker, they go out and sign a guy who once flipped off an entire stadium and has been a problem child whereever he's gone. Peter ended up across town with the Giants. I've heard a rumor that hundreds gathered at Laguardia to welcome Tony Phillips after his recent trade.

Problem was that they weren't Mets fans, but probably crack dealers vying for his potential business.

Finally just a word on your characterization of Mo as the Red Sox "only" star. There's this guy named Nomar who will outpoll Vaughn in this year's MVP voting, and may even win the award if the Red Sox make the playoffs and Griffey's Maris bid falls short. He and Vaughn were recently flip-flopped in the Red Sox lineup. Seems Garciaparra can handle hitting without lineup protection better than the big guy.

Then, there's this other guy named Pedro, who has a leg up on David Cone and the exiled Roger Clemens for the Cy Young award.

As I explain in my latest column, I would hate to see Mo go. But we'll still be in pretty good shape. In fact, probably better shape than the Mets after Piazza bolts to Anaheim in the off-season.

Thanks for your response.

Your friend, K.O.

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