Columnist Christopher Borrelli hit the nail on the head (“Bad Bunny’s halftime show was close to art,” Feb. 10) — Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show “was close to art”! I don’t speak Spanish, so I didn’t understand a single word of any of his songs, but the show was such an exube rant, wonderful celebration of Latin culture and its kind, hardworking people, I couldn’t help but love it. No one needed to know the language to understand its underlying message of goodwill toward others. — Dianne Casuto, Lake Forest Entirely enjoyable show Not being a football fan, I normally would only tune in periodically as the Super Bowl proceeded, and I never watched the halftime show. However, with all the hoopla over this year’s show, I did make it a point to watch it. I have to give a thank you to the president and his MAGA followers. Without them, I wouldn’t have had any idea who Bad Bunny was and would have missed an entirely enjoyable halftime show. Although I do not speak or understand Spanish, I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the dancers. I also heard Bad Bunny say “God bless America” while he was flourishing the Stars and Stripes. And, on the football he spiked at the end of the performance were the words: “Together we are America.” That seems very patriotic to me! — Frank W. Tedesso, Harwood Heights Reflective of changes Super Bowl LX showed that it isn’t just a game anymore — it’s a data-driven mirror of where America is headed. ​While the “culture war” headlines focus on the uproar over Bad Bunny’s halftime show, the real story is in the demographics. This year, the NFL made a strategic bet on the future of its audience, and the numbers back them up. ​A recent study from Hofstra University confirms we’ve hit a historic demographic turning point: For the first time, minority births now make up the majority in the U.S. (with white births dipping to 49.6%). ​Why this matters for business: Hispanic births now exceed 27% of the U.S. total. Hispanics make up nearly 30% of Chicago’s population, making them the city’s second-largest ethnic group after non-Hispanic white residents. Latino fans are projected to contribute one-third of all U.S. sports industry growth by 2035. Bad Bunny — a global superstar and natural-born U.S. citizen from Puerto Rico — made history with the first all-Spanish performance, proving that “global” and “domestic” markets are now one and the same. Major brands and platforms such as the Super Bowl aren’t “going woke” — they are following the growth. They are using a multicultural lens to engage a younger, more diverse and more digitally active fan base that represents the next 50 years of revenue. ​I didn’t have skin in the game (go, Chicago Bears!), but from a strategy perspective, the NFL won, and millions of people from around the world are still talking about Bad Bunny’s most watched halftime performance. — Glenn Eden, Chicago Chicago Bears unite us What a great piece by Erendira Rendon (“My immigrant family and I became Bears fans this season. The joy was beautiful,” Feb. 8) about our football team bringing the joy of community! Go, Erendira! Go, Bears! Go, Chicago! — Roger Becker, Chicago A surprise in Boston In a recent letter (“Hawks fans’ hospitality,” Feb. 7), Richard Sawyer describes his son Michael’s positive experience with Blackhawks fans. My family and I had a similar experience several years ago while in Boston for a Blackhawks game. The Hawks played a particularly rough game and were shut out. Afterward, we walked into a local Boston bar still wearing our Blackhawks gear. As we entered, a man who was at least 6-foot-4 and dressed in Boston colors gave us what I can only describe as the evil eye as we made our way to our table. A few minutes later, he slowly walked toward us. I remember thinking, “This is going to get ugly real fast.” He had a menacing look, and we braced ourselves for an uncomfortable encounter. Instead, when he reached our table, he broke into a huge smile, stuck out his hand, offered his condolences for how poorly the Hawks had played and insisted on buying our group a round of drinks. He and his friends invited us to join them at their table. We spent the next four hours enjoying a great time with our new Boston friends. — Steven Sapyta, Brookfield, Wisconsin 2 sports stars inspire Living in Bloomington, Indiana, I’ve had the good fortune to witness firsthand the rise of two extraordinary athletes, one here at home and another just up the road in Indianapolis. WNBA player Caitlin Clark and Indiana University quarterback Fernando Mendoza are not only exceptional competitors but also remarkable people. Clark’s generosity toward fans is well known. She signs autographs for anyone, including supporters of opposing teams, and treats every interaction with warmth and respect. Mendoza, the humble Heisman winner, consistently credits his teammates before himself and expresses sincere gratitude to fans after every victory. His humility and authenticity are qualities that cannot be manufactured. This Valentine’s Day, I simply want to express my appreciation for these two young stars, who stand out not only as once-in-a-generation athletes but also as individuals who embody the best qualities of sportsmanship and character. Over the years, my enthusiasm for sports had faded. Watching these two emerge has rekindled my interest and reminded me why sports can still inspire. Happy Valentine’s Day, Caitlin and Fernando. — Scott Thompson, Bloomington, Indiana Valentines for friends For me, Valentine’s Day is the day I remember family, of course, but also my wonderful lifelong friends. Some of these friends, treasured as they may be, I wouldn’t know if they walked in the door because we have always lived great distances from each other. Nevertheless, our bygone days of carefree youth, joy and fun live on in happy memory. Marilyn was in the fourth grade when I was a first grader in a small Nebraska school. Now we are both in our late 80s, and we still exchange valentine cards. Claudette was the girl assigned by the nun to be my “guardian angel” when I entered a new grade school in Colorado. We exchange valentines to this day. Connie was the rascal I teamed up with in high school. Elaine was our dear friend who tried to bring some sense to the two of us. Both received my yearly valentine cards until they went to their heavenly reward late in life. Mark is the young man, a complete stranger, who from a distance saw a mysterious plume of smoke rising from the roof of my parents’ home and drove straight there to help. A yearly valentine for him is a must. Later in life, I had Billy in my fourth grade class, and after somehow reconnecting later in life, we now exchange Valentine’s cards every year. He must be in his 70s by now. I love dining out with Mary, Lois, Jean, Bev, Nancy and Pat, where the waiters at our favorite restaurant on Harlem Avenue always remember us. These friends probably have received their valentines by now. My grateful heart never forgets. — Kathleen Melia, Niles Submit a letter, of no more than 400 words, to the editor here or email [email protected]. ...read more read less