I've been reading the IDS a lot lately on the Web to read about what's been going on with my favorite IU tradition, the Little 500. Unfortunately, I have to read this "heresy," as Matt Csanyi calls it ("Little 500: The stupidest IU tradition", March 28).\n"Heresy." Isn't that just a big fancy word for "crap?" Matt, you asked if anyone wanted a piece of you? Well, in the words of Bob Barker to Adam Sandler in the epic film "Happy Gilmore": "No, I don't want a piece of you. I want the whole thing."\nWhere do you get off criticizing a tradition in its 51st year of existence? It's one thing to bash the actual race, but to denigrate its purpose and the history behind it is a slap in the face to the 12,000 riders who have ridden in the event and to the thousands of Student Foundation members and fans who truly have made it The World's Greatest College Weekend. \nI'm sorry that you and your team finished 30th in 1997. (Oh yeah! I checked on your illustrious riding career in "The Little 500: The Story of the World's Greatest College Weekend," the Little 500 Book written by John Schwarb.) It's a good read. \nMaybe if you read it, you'll learn that the Little 500 is much more than just a bike race. Maybe you'll learn that this "tedious" and "boring" event is responsible for raising nearly $1 million in student scholarships. Well, maybe. \nPerhaps one of these scholarship beneficiaries could be one of your fraternity brothers, classmates or someone from your hometown? Did you ever think of that? I'm sorry your Little 500 experience was so miserable. What happened? Did you get a couple of cuts and bruises or cinder burns? Do you want me to kiss your boo-boos and make them feel better? Well, suck it up! \nWhile your Little 500 experience did not meet your expectations, I, and many others, had a wonderful time that we will remember for the rest of our lives. Never was this more evident to me than last year when the Student Foundation celebrated the 50th running of the race. \nI remember meeting a man last year who rode for Hummer House of Wright Quad in the first race in 1951. His team finished 33rd, dead last. He showed me his scrapbook consisting of all of the newspaper clippings and articles from that year. I saw him the next day at the Alumni Race. It was such a wonderful sight to see him ride on more time. He must have thanked every single Student Foundation member at the track that day for giving him one more chance to feel like a kid again. \nThat's what Little 500 is all about. Here's what else Little 500 is about. It's about the man who met the love of his life at the first race in 1951 and is still married to her 50 years later. I met that couple last year as well. Believe me, there are hundreds more like them. \nIt's also about a father who rode in the Little 500 25 years ago who returned to Bloomington to see his son carry on the family legacy. It's also about friendship, camaraderie and fun. These are words that you obviously missed the meaning of during your Little 500 experience. Perhaps if you were not just looking straight ahead on your bike and took a look around you, you would have realized that. \nI see that you are a senior. You have one more chance to share in that experience this April. I encourage you to take advantage of it. Just thought I'd call that to your attention.
Wes Reynolds \nAlumnus
