Good Cops, Bad Cops?

I hope that Mark Kennedy realizes the strength that it takes to live with something horrible like this and I wish him all the best of luck. I will be praying for his healing and for continued strength to deal with this.

Name withheld by request

Touching tale: I just finished reading your column about Mark Kennedy, and have only now begun to dry my eyes. I don't know how to get ahold of Mark, or if he would even care to hear from a stranger, but if you do talk to him, please let him know how courageous I believe he is for making his past public.

While it is painful to recall, it brings things forward for many people, including myself, and thus further healing can take place. I thank you, also, for your reporting that is bringing this to light.

Joanne Littlefield
Phoenix

Drug Talk

Getting a grip on steroids: Thank you so much for what seems to me a model of good reporting ("'Roid Warrior," Robert Nelson, August 15). It is so refreshing to see someone write honestly about something they don't approve of, or at least didn't when the story started.

For what it's worth, I really believe the only issue with respect to athletic use of steroids is full disclosure if competition is involved. It doesn't seem fair for someone to compete against a steroid user, unless the non-user goes in knowing the situation. Maybe if someone cares, there could start to be separate arenas for natural and chemically enhanced competition.

I'm one of the nuts who is outraged by the idea of people going to jail for sticking chemicals in their bodies. It is irrelevant if the chemicals hurt the people taking them. It is only a legal matter when someone hurts or endangers someone else -- whether the perpetrator is high.

Finally, having gotten some idea of the hysteria surrounding steroid use, don't you wonder about where the facts are on the whole "War on Drugs"?

Peter Cole
Healdsburg, California