Sincerely,

Jon Gallo, Sports Editor,

The Baltimore Examiner

Are you INSANE ranking David Robinson before Cal Ripken Jr.? In 10-20 years from now, Cal will STILL be remembered, as for David Robinson, I already had to scratch the cobwebs to go oh yeah, the guy from Navy. Cal will be in the Hall of Fame, David will just be some banner at Navy. To say David Robinson is one of the NBA?s best centers ever, just proves the point that the NBA hasn?t had many good centers. Despite his size, he REALLY wasn?t a very good and quick player, so I DEFINITELY dispute your claim.

Michael Phelps at No. 5? Let?s not forget his drunk driving bit, guys. Ray Lewis at No. 2? Hello: Mr. Injury and attitude. Brooks Robinson at No. 6 or 7? Are you definitelyINSANE ranking the BEST third baseman of ever that low?

PLEASE, come to your senses and rank the players CORRECTLY! You OBVIOUSLY are NOT from BALTIMORE! You probably even think the COLTS are really from INDY. I?m surprised you didn?t rank Peyton Manning as No. 1 given your INSANITY.

Get back to the readers with a REAL ranking when you have been in BALTIMORE enough.

? Keith Carey, Baltimore

On Jon Gallo?s list, I would have Jim Palmer ranked third, Ray Lewis fourth, Frank Robinson fifth and Roger Staubach sixth. I?d would throw out Michael Phelps and Travis Pastrana. I can?t believe you didn?t have Palmer on your list at all, and Staubach was great in college, as well as the NFL. He won THE HEISMAN TROPHY in 1963 and was a Super Bowl?s Most Valuable Player. He led the Cowboys to 23 wins when they were trailing in the fourth quarter, with 17 of them coming in the last two minutes. He is in the College and NFL Hall of Fame.

? Pete Binco, Fallston

Dear Matt and Jon:

Your top-10 lists omit Hall of Famers Lenny Moore, the “Reading Rocket,” and Westport?s greatest son, Al Kaline, who made his mark with the Detroit Tigers. I was at the Colts? ?58 and ?59 championship games. Moore was the premier player at his position for many years. Your lists only prove that you are both handicapped by your youth. I also take exception to the high ranking of Ray Lewis. From a perspective of 69 years, here is by top ten list:

1. Babe Ruth

2. Johnny Unitas

3. Lenny Moore

4. Frank Robinson

5. Brooks Robinson

6. Cal Ripken, Jr.

7. Al Kaline

8. David Robinson

9. Michael Phelps

10. Ray Lewis

I remember an amateur sandlot game at Latrobe Park, south Baltimore, many years ago. I was a bat boy for a team opposing Kaline?s. He struck out the first time he came up. We all thought: “Well, he?s just not that good!” The next three times up, Kaline hit homers to right, left and center fields. I swear, they are still looking for those balls!

? William Hughes, Baltimore

Southern High School?s Al Kaline was a star for the Detroit Tigers and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame. You also could have named Roy Campanella, who played for the Elite Giants before the Dodgers. Willie Lanier who played at Morgan State before the K C Chiefs, and I won?t even mention all the Colt and Orioles who are in their respective Hall of Fames. Are you new in town or just too young to know our town?s sports history? I suggest you take a trip to Sports Legends Museum and study up.

? Tom Savage, Locust Point

You left off Bucky Lasek on the list of Baltimore Greats! Bucky has won six gold medals in vert skating in the xgames and won the AST Dew Cup last year ? he was just here in Baltimore with the Tour that was attended nearly 50,000 people. He is amazing, and he was born right in Dundalk!

? Isabel C. Towson