52 Top Athletes
As an assiduous reader of your magazine, I congratulate you on your excellent article on the Top 50 Latino Athletes. I can only imagine that it was an honest oversight not to acknowledge Sofia Mulanovich, the past Women’s World Surfing Champion who is already on the Hall of Fame of the United States and actually, as of March, was recognized by the Olympic Museum of Lausanne in Switzerland.
The museum has an exhibit of Sofia next to figures like Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Michael Phelps, and Diego Maradona among other important athletes. She has been recognized for going beyond her sport by promoting feminine surfing in the world. She is a national hero in Peru, an icon of world peace as well as a source of inspiration.
Mario Ledesma
Glendale, California

It is unfortunate that Diana Taurasi’s accomplishments in the sport of women’s basketball were not enough for her to be included her as one of your Top 50 Latino Athletes. Her accomplishments and success at the University of Connecticut, the Phoenix Mercury and the U.S. Olympic Team not only qualify her for this recognition, but should include her in the top 10 of any type of recognition of this type. Her parents’ Argentinean roots, her fluency in Spanish and Diana’s Southern California upbringing would also make her a top candidate for this honor.
Daniel L. Tapia
Chino, California

A Double Standard
I read Ruben Navarrette’s column in Hispanic’s Sports Issue [about USC football player Mark Sanchez and the controversy after he wore a mouthguard with a Mexican flag.] Great article, as usual! One thing that seemed to have been glossed over, however, is that Mark was playing against the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame. How ironic is it that the fans saw nothing wrong with cheering on a team that expresses an ethnic heritage, but were so upset when Mark displayed his Mexican flag mouthguard. When folks were yelling at Mark to go back to Mexico (even though he isn’t from there) why didn’t people yell back and tell those folks to go back to Ireland? I know the answer, but wasn’t that the perfect venue to make a point?
Maria Enriquez
Via e-mail

A Reader Request
My wife and I have been receiving Hispanic for about six months and each month, I’ve perused it looking for a change that has yet to arrive. That is the stories and faces of the Afro Hispanic/Latino. I see the same thing on Spanish television programming. What’s the deal? You are giving the rest of the world the impression that we don’t exist. For over 45 years I’ve had to inform Americans in my various communities that there are black Latins because television and print primarily show the white and indio versions. The polarization is sickening and shameful.
Antonio Leon
Mitchellville, Maryland

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