LETTERS : C'MON, LAY OFF MCGWIRE.

What a reckless column by Karen Crouse (``McGwire Revelation Disturbing'' - Aug. 25) concerning Mark McGwire's use of Androstendione. Speak for yourself, Karen, and please don't use ``we'' when you mean ``you'' don't want McGwire to get the record. For those like you who want to cast stones, start by looking at supplements like Creatine, which is an herbal steroid that a majority of players use, including Sammy Sosa (Editor's note: McGwire also uses Creatine). Until all performance-enhancing drugs are banned, don't point the finger at McGwire, who is doing nothing illegal. You said it yourself - he hit 52 homers in '96. When he breaks any rules, then write your story.

- STEVE RILEY

Sherman Oaks

Kudos to Ms. Crouse for having the courage to speak out and take a stand contrary to public sentiment for Mark McGwire to break the home run record.

While I, as much as everyone else, find the chase exciting and McGwire to be a fine athlete, it is a shame that young children will see another idol of theirs using a drug banned by many leagues.

Because, as the Cardinal medical staff notes, there is no current research proving this drug harmful, that does not imply its safety. Who knows what researchers will find tomorrow or next year?

Mr. McGwire, I hope whether you break the record or not, you will never have to ask yourself was it worth it.

- DAVID JENS

Canyon Country

When you looked at the medical and scientific literature for the effects of Androstendione on testosterone elevation in humans, how many studies did you find in support of that hypothesis? I'll answer the question for you. You found zero. One, you did not bother to look. And two, if you had you would have seen that there weren't any. Secondly, I believe that any of the so-called ``experts'' you may have relied upon can't send you any such studies either. Go ahead, call them back and ask them to send you all the published studies in the peer-reviewed American Medical Journals supporting the use of `Andro' to elevate testosterone.

You stated that one 100 mg. Andro tablet elevates T-levels over 200 percent. Can you tell me then the range of normal testosterone levels in males, and list the 50-plus factors that influence our hourly 3 to 20 percent T-level variations? If I injected 100 mg. of pure testosterone cypionate, I would not get a 200 percent elevation an hour - and you really think you can get this from one 100 mg. oral tablet of an over-the-counter agent, when maybe 10 percent is even absorbed through the gut lumen?

Further, what evidence do you have that increasing T-levels transiently, for no more than one hour, in the mature adult, positively affects either the acquisition of muscle mass or muscle substrate restoration? Answer - no legitimate endocrinologist would say such events occur, or that there is any data at all to support such a contention.

The fact is the IOC and NFL have no legal or scientific basis at all to be concerned about this agent. They banned this product out of here - the so-called East German secret believing everything they read in muscle magazines and fraudulent ads. And what's worse, you obviously fell for the same pitch. In fact, the East German secret is so secret, absolutely no one can produce any evidence that it ever existed. What nonsense.

Don't clamor and hide behind the safety issue. Pro football is hardly safe as is. Bacon and French fries are likely more dangerous than Androstendione. How many bodybuilders have used this agent? 100,000, 300,000? Easily. How many injuries or complaints? Zero. Mark McGwire certainly looks and acts sick. Andro, melatonin, chromium, DHEA - taken orally, by normal healthy athletes? I suggest you re-explore this issue as a journalist should and then do the story again.

- JEFF EVERSON

Dodgers need to clean house

As expected, the Dodgers have crashed and burned. The cry for true Dodgers fans can only be ``wait until next year.''

A thorough housecleaning is in order. The Dodgers are no longer a premier baseball franchise. It's time to stop heaping all the blame for failure on the manager. Dodgers top management is guilty of assembling this cast of misfits.

Any housecleaning must include two of the Dodgers' announcers. Vin Scully is still the master and must be retained at all costs. Both Ross Porter and Rick Monday are second rate and should be sent packing. Ross can find work teaching statistics at a local university.

The Dodgers also need to find a radio station with a more powerful signal. It's a constant struggle with ``fade'' at the Dodgers' current flagship station.

- ROBERT SENNETT

Sylmar