1 DMN photojournalist Elías Valverde II — Re: “Ode to Joy — Joy (and passion) were the undeniable hallmarks of Beltré's masterful career,” by Evan Grant, July 22 SportsDay column.
Kudos to staff photographer Elías Valverde II for capturing a special moment at this year’s National Baseball Hall of Fame induction ceremony for former Texas Rangers player Adrián Beltré The quintessential picture of Beltré suffering through Big Papi’s playful taunt as he touches Beltré’s head while Beltré is about to read his acceptance speech captured the fun players like Beltré had on and off the baseball diamond.
Anyone who has followed Beltré’s storied baseball career knows how he dislikes anyone touching his head. Big Papi, David Ortiz, knew the exact moment he could take advantage of Beltré’s defenseless moment. Priceless.
Tony Torres, Garland
2 The Olympics — It’s the opening night of the 2024 Olympics. I was never an Olympian, although I’ve been an amateur athlete in many sports all my nearly 80 years on this earth.
Yet with the opening of the Games, I am inspired as never before. As I watch, I can still feel every lightning bolt of adrenaline, that unexpected surge of energy and strength, that elation of competing if not winning, the respect for those who struggled to their limits — and the emotion of knowing I gave it everything I had.
All of that, even today with declining physical skills, replaced joints and the subtle handicap of advancing age, makes my memories and especially my emotions as heightened as ever.
Of course I’ll be favoring our USA athletes, but I’ll feel every agony, every emotion, every exhilaration of every athlete who competes. I’ll feel youthful again. Let the Games continue.
Jack Carroll, Irving/Las Colinas
3 Simone Biles — After she and the women’s U.S. gymnastics team won the gold medal in the team finals at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, Simone Biles now has more Olympic medals than any other American gymnast. She has eight Olympic medals in three games, breaking the tie she had with Shannon Miller.
She already held the most gold medals by an American gymnast, having won four at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. She also has a silver and two bronze medals.
I think Simone Biles is not only the greatest U.S. Olympian of all time, but also the greatest Olympian of all time. Congratulations, Simone!
Paul Bacon, Hallandale Beach, Fla.
We welcome your thoughts in a letter to the editor. See the guidelines and submit your letter here. If you have problems with the form, you can submit via email at letters@dallasnews.com