Rick Reilly's Auto-Response To Reader Email Is More Clever Than Rick Reilly's Actual Column

Ever email your constructive criticism to a sportswriter, only to receive a crappy, needlessly hostile response? Forward the emails to us at [email protected], subject: Crap Emails.

Seven years ago, Joe wrote Rick Reilly after Reilly had hacked up the back page of SI with one of his shopworn morality plays about steroids in baseball. This is what came back to Joe's inbox:

Date: Wed, 17 Aug 2005 16:20:19 -0400 From: Rick Reilly To: Joe F. Subject: RE: Gutless

Thanks for writing. I haven't had time to read your mail yet, but I will. If it's about something you liked, thanks. If it's about something you didn't, it was probably not written by me, but by my evil twin. Anyway, thanks. Feedback means a lot to me.

Best, Rick Reilly ********** Editor's note: Letters about Rick Reilly's column may be considered for publication.