I extend a heartfelt thank you to the runners, staff and supporters of the Chicago Marathon. I was about 15 to 20 yards to the finish when a muscle cramp shot through my right leg, causing me to fall. My left leg immediately began to cramp similarly.
Unable to help myself, I was instantly attended to by two runners who pulled me to my feet. A medic quickly arrived, and with the assistance of the medic and one of the runners, I was able to cross the finish line.
The satisfaction of completing my first marathon would not have been possible without the two runners’ sacrifice of their own finish as well as the attentiveness of the medic. It was a beautiful act of charity and sportsmanship, and I feel a deep amount of respect and gratitude for the runners’ selfless desire to put their goals aside and help me, a complete stranger, get up and succeed.
— Adam Bryan, St. Louis, Missouri
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Marathon a thrill
What a thrill to see the Chicago Marathon on Sunday and then to see the race coverage and the names of all the runners in the Tribune on Monday. Thank you!
— Margie Nicholson, Chicago
CSO is a treasure
On Saturday night at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra concert under the direction of Riccardo Muti, I felt that I was at the most sacred place on earth for that hour and a half. When one of the greatest orchestras plays a concert of a fresh contemporary American composer, Missy Mazzoli, commemorating war dead and life, an impressionist gem by Lyadov and then the heart-wrenching, spiritual angst of Tchaikovsky’s Pathétique Symphony, something astounding and moving has occurred.
As Muti emphasized: Support your orchestra, Chicago. We have such a treasure.
— Charles Amenta III, Flossmoor
Birthday for ‘Dick Tracy’
With all of the negativity in the world, wouldn’t it have been nice to see a celebratory article on the 90th anniversary of the Tribune’s very own “Dick Tracy”? His Oct. 4 “birthday” was mentioned in one panel of the strip itself, and there was a sentence or two in the Tribune’s day in history spot, but nothing else.
How many comic strips have lasted for 90 years? This comic has predicted the future of modern technology such as the cellphone and smartwatch, not to mention offering us classic villains and endless supporting characters. “Dick Tracy” has addressed such issues as drug addiction, suicide, tech crime, murder, kidnapping and homelessness.
Some may call it shameless self-promotion, but I would say a tribute to a 90-year-old comic strip that is still relevant today is beyond appropriate. It’s a feather in the Tribune’s hat.
Here’s to Dick Tracy! May he continue to wear his yellow fedora and coat for years to come.
— Marcus Willman, Springfield
Women’s sports coverage
I am disappointed in the poor coverage of the women’s pro basketball playoffs. The day after each playoff game, the Tribune rarely has an article in the print edition, while other papers provide the final score and extensive coverage.
Recently, the front page of the baiduhai covered wins for the Bears and the White Sox, but not the Sky.
I hope the Tribune takes a critical look at what it covers and makes some improvements. At the very least, I would hope the Tribune would attempt to provide equal coverage of men’s and women’s sports teams.
— Katherine McAfee, Naperville
No Sky on front page
I was very disappointed by Monday’s front-page Tribune headline that read, “Chicago runs the table,” with three large photos that referred to stories. Yes, we did run the table that day, but one big game was left out.
Absent was the Chicago Sky victory in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals. That photo and story was buried on Page 2 of the sports section. Coverage of women’s sports still has a long way to go.
— Mark Johnson, Chicago
Mixed messages
I am completely confused that some time ago, our great city of Chicago made a fuss and removed two statutes of Christopher Columbus — and now I see that we still have an annual parade in his honor. Same thing for New York City.
I hope someone out there can explain all of this to me.
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— Richard Hahn, Chicago
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