Let Sweden, er, Freedom, Ring

With the United States going out in the first round of the World Cup, a Belgian leading the Tour de France, not a single American reaching either the men’s or women’s quarterfinals at Wimbledon, and an Australian winning the U.S. Open golf championship, things were looking grim until, appropriately, on the day before the Fourth of July, an American stepped up and won a major athletic competition. Thanks, Annika, we needed that.

BART ROBERTSON

Torrance

Everyone could learn from Monday’s U.S. Open playoff between Annika Sorenstam and Pat Hurst. Their camaraderie and sportsmanship, blended with their obvious friendship, was a joy to behold.

ROBERT F. FALLER

West Covina