WW welcomes letters to the editor via mail, e-mail or fax. Letters must be signed by the author and include the author's street address and phone number for verification. Preference will be given to letters of 250 words or less. CUT TO SIZE I just finished reading your article about the dangers of high-school football ["Blood Sport," WW, Oct. 18, 2000]. I think you overlooked a major reason for the popularity of football as a high-school sport in spite of the dangers. Football is one of the very few "non-cut" sports in high school. Unlike soccer, basketball and baseball, any child who turns out gets to play. A child who wants to enjoy the positive aspects of being on a team and participating in a sport can do so in football regardless of his ability. As a result, there are huge disparities in size, speed and talent. These physical disparities, combined with the physical nature of the sport, can lead to some very serious injuries. One possible solution is to require high schools to follow the lead of West Linn high school and require a "no cut" sports policy. That is, field as many teams as there are kids who want to play and find the level of competition that matches each team. This policy would perhaps allow kids to participate in their sport of first choice rather than feel the pressure to play football because it is their only option. David Brands Northeast Portland LEYKIS MY ASS Your cover story "Inside the New Male Mind" (Oct. 11, 2000) made me feel awful for those sexually "deprived" and "depraved" guys out there. Aren't these lost boys aware that bringing so much attention to their hostility towards women only accentuates just how much they care? This movement appears to be nothing more than a backlash to women's growing independence. Obviously these men are being "duped" by an unattractive male (Mr. Leykis), who has probably struggled his whole life on finding ways to get laid. At least find a more attractive specimen to emulate. This attitude would have been timelier a couple decades ago, when women were still influenced by the "Beaver Cleaver" era, being labeled a spinster past 30. My friends and I are all in our early thirties, still quite attractive, going out and having fun, meeting men, and all without a thought of getting married, let alone having children. Nowadays women are perfectly capable of creating their own happiness and wealth. Don't get me wrong, we absolutely love men, especially when they're aesthetically pleasing. My heart does go out to men who don't always have close male comrades. Sadly, they are probably looking for that (slightly homophobic) male nurturing, turning to Tom Leykis for the support they need. However, you guys need to "get with the program," in this modern world we live in, or you might get left behind. S. L. McCarthy Southwest Broadway Drive