THE READERS SOMETIMES E-MAIL

Saturday, Nov. 10, 2007 | 7:58 a.m.

Great article regarding the Vegas Grand Prix (" ... downtown's latest venture to fall flat," Nov. 8). Upon learning of the event, I called some friends from Chicago, and we booked a few rooms at the Golden Nugget, ate, shopped, drank a few beers and gambled over the weekend while enjoying the race. That was the last time any of us visited downtown.

Andy Duggan

Henderson

Andy: I agree. The deep-fried Oreos won't taste the same after you've heard Sebastien Bourdais and his pals rip through the gearbox on Ogden Street.

In truth, I give Vegas Grand Prix promoters Dale Jensen and Brad Yonover a lot of credit for even pulling off the event. Most anyone else would have pulled the plug before the green flag dropped.

Mike Henle

Las Vegas

Mike: I think we should vote the Grand Prix promoters a full downtown share - 54 ounces of beer in a plastic football.

You are right that downtown has struggled. But to ignore all the good things that are happening there is shortsighted. You overlooked the Charlie Palmer Hotel, the performing arts center, the jewelry building, the expansion of an already successful outlet mall, plus the fact that almost all of the property has been spoken for by a multitude of big developers. Oh, and you conveniently missed the 12 million square feet of the World Market Center. I guess it is so small it was easy to miss.

Derek Marlowe

Las Vegas

Derek: Because I don't manufacture Early American dining room sets, I will never get to see one square foot of the World Market Center. But I do agree it made one heck of a press room on race day.

I was a shipmate of Napoleon McCallum's (" ... a rare Navy victory over Notre Dame," Nov. 7) on the USS California in the 1980s. He was always working out and running laps around the deck of the ship when it was at sea. It was nice to see him get back with the Raiders and I felt bad for him when he suffered his career-ending injury against the 49ers on Monday Night Football when it appeared his career was about to take off. I hope he's doing well today and not bitter about the past.

Stephen Anthony

Las Vegas

Steve: Napoleon is doing well and he isn't bitter. Part of that is because he keeps things in perspective. The other part is because Navy has been beating Army like a rented mule.

Great chart on the California and Trinity lateral plays ("Which miracle win was better?" Nov. 3). I'm sending it to players and fans too young or too weak on history.

Storrs Warinner

Las Vegas

Storrs: You didn't play trombone in the Stanford band, did you?

Regarding athletes with singing careers ("Others of note," Nov. 1): You forgot about Rosie Greer and the rest of the Los Angles Rams' Fearsome Foursome with "Backfield in Motion."

Ginger McGraw

Henderson

Ginger: So that's what happened to Question Mark (?) and the Mysterians.