12
SOFTBALL CHATTER
By "SPECTATOR”
THE HONGKONG TELEGRAPH, SATURDAY, MAY 8, 1948.
HE WANTS TO GET OFF THE GRASS
END OF A SEASON, BUT SPORTS FEATURES Australian Sprinter
GAME IS CATCHING ON
Softball has come back to its own, giving high hopes In spite of conditions, not en- of better things to come. tirely favourable the senson Just concluded was in most ways highly successful,
The outstanding disadvantage under which the League session was conducted was the lack of a regular playing fleld with a stand for spectators. That lack of accommo- Untion kept not a few supporters away.
However, the biggest
crowds of towards the Association. He has the post-war perlod Bocked to the been at the helm from the resump- andlots In King's Park whenever tion of League affairs. Keep up there was an important game. The the good work, Prexy! management in quite aware of the
a land and
advantage of having
even
the
thing, the
now in
oul
the
MORE HATS OFF
Then, hots off to the another
was the other
well conducted:
CHAPMAN PINCHER LOOKS AT SOCCER'S GLAMOUR BOY
16,000,000 WOULD LIKE TO BE LIKE MATTHEWS What Is It Makes Stan Tick?
To excel at football has been a top priority project at some time in the lives of most of Britain's 16,836,000 grown men.
It has been
that suggested Stanley Matthews inherited his foot- work
from father, who
to
his Was it
Yet really outstanding players in the class, for example, of. Stanley Matthews, Blackpool's Cup Final outside right-are so few that their names are known 'even to my possibility of one for the next season "trelan" of a backbone behind the
wife. And her Idea of Saturday sport is reading by the Breside.
The total failures take up A note of satisfaction was
Some of the less successful carry on playing football. the gamecenes-Ion, Treasurer Philo Reme- gaining popularity of
President of the dios. He is also Their "mass"
watching it instead, deriving comfort by shouting advice and abuse at their betters. apork the Chinese. presence, say at the semi-finals of Junior League, which was under his
Or, like me disgusted with charge, and the International Series between cole
their incompetence, they turn noted with offeln scorer as well. China and India, was
The three of them surely did a their backs on the game and anti- appreciation.
Chinese, who furm lot for softball, for the "rehabilita-
for a non-competitive cipated that the forth, It
in most tion" and return to popularity of go in majority in numbers
measura sport like fishing. were in big will
give added interest to which they
Why cannot we all be good responsible. enjoyable ball game.
Or to pinpoint Yes, it was a "successful season: footballers? It does look like the Chinese are:
there is the League Ypa entching on-ut last. Yet
ference between Mr Matthews another section that in getting in- followers were increasing to nearly the problem, what is the dif- terested. This is our United King- outnumber pre-war enthusiasts.
and me? dom community, not a few of whom
The League competition in all tho
To look at us there is little might not have watched a softball three sections was close. There was
We each weigh difference. game before coming out
One ardent footballer thinks the no marked superiority of any one
others in any of 11st. stripped and are the same takes 10ins. He gome is "dair" which, of course, does squad above the
divlclons. However, the height 6ft. not mean a thing. Another went in the three the ball park one week-end and strongest side on paper turned out only 8% in shoes, but my feet important for ball
10 be actually the best-the iuniors' confessed later that he lid not know it could not be gauged before. are not so much bigger as to
youngsters of the the winners came through
in talking most commendably
the pennant. This hind first appeared highly Improbable."
what was it all about.
"This
way.
He noted it was "funny" the slant ond the he heard, the arguments
when
gum-chewing players, He thought the
was "lough"
he heard 1 and sundry shouting near especially at umpires, et al. *sult"
In cricket, it would be scandalous, he thought-but, of course it isn't this port fun cricket. However, conceded that in softball, a player would have to "take" and "give" with equnt cheerfulness.
Nevertheless, the "prejudice" was only "loud" but held no spite. Many of the UK. people were going to the ball game and their number gradually increasing towards the end
of the season.
Was
It will be remembered that in the pre-war period British soldiers en- tered A tearn to participate in the could hit the ball league,
They hard and were learning fast.
PROSPECTIVE ADDITIONS
Yes, sir, there we have prospective
hd, but the Braves,
constitute a handicap. But there are seven differencer.
hidden
13 Impossible for
boxer. But
be footwork "in the blood." What he inherited of was the type nervous system
muscles
and leg
|
capable trained.
of being
thene muscles the mus!
control orc the
ficzors-which-
run from the back of the leg to the role of the fool-
and the extensors which run down
the front of the
leg nu top of the foot.
of
For kicking, the most important is ibe muscle quadriceps of the thigh, which capable of exert ing a force GOO15.
is
of
ADVANTAGES Mr Matthews has the rapit, ner- tists, St. Joseph's, the sentor were strong all-round
with special vous reactions, of a speedway rider, the balance of n boxer, the "eye" of emphasis on their batting power. which paid dividends. A "Mura batsman, the lungs ned heart of a derers' Row" of Arturo Ozorio, tung-distance runner, the legs of n
the suppleness- Ramon Castro, indoo Hussain, Stan sprinter. And and Dave Leonard was hard to beat specially in the ankle Joints-of a
ballet dancer. and they did win out.
I have none of these attributes. Of course, many of Mr Matthew'
the rewards are advantages, patient training.
By regular exercise he has boosted the efficiency of his lungs and blead system in supplying exygen to his about and kick a 15oz ball for muscles. Se he will be able to run minutes while I shall get puffed after ten minutes mowing the lawn.
romad
by
The explanation is simple. When a muscle is working it sets free lac- the acid-the acid you find in SOUT milk-and this causes the feeling of fatigue. When I stroll in the gar- den there is enough oxygen in my
A fine showing was returned the dighting underdogs. the Merry Madcaps, who came out runners-up, They did not have big names. bul youngsters are the most
Including Sabu found in this Sumy and Sid Hollands. They were strengthened in a big way, of course, by that classy plicher. Dale Cramer With a little luck, they might have even surprised the Mighty Champs. As it is, they surely did exceedingly well, with the Town" Recrelo cating and "Big Nalse" Canadians
1 them. The Recs together with the Chinese, who sbare with the Britong in keeping most disappolating sides. The well-nuseles
But if I am driven to mowing away from the "man's" game, to organised Portuguese were lacking
the lawn the acid builds up faster deed, softball is fast gaining and in sting in attack and their fielding. although considered the best in the regaining popularity.
Why was the past season
con- Lengue by a good majority, could than I can supply oxygen to it. And sidered successful?
First, it was a not make up for the attacking deficit. that's what wives will not under- a well-run League, com-Strong in attack and second to none Reason of a
defense, "A" in
the disappointing scetions--Men's prising three
"B" Divisions
und the Women's Canucks Iacked nighting spirit, which decisions which were the same number led them to drop close Juop of divisions run In pre-war days. which told in the race. There were about the same number
to
SIXTH SENSE Mr Matthews' muscles serve him way. in another They give him a sixth sense called the Kinseл-
theile sense, which by. helping him to
balance
additions to the softball world, 'And humble pied Canucks were the blood to remove the acid in my leg plays a vital part in drib-
isthi
of teams participating, with the ex- lengue, the women's ception of which, however, was short by only about three teains.
Arthur Peall says:
A-MUOI-DISCUSSED stroke, tho Jutut, la shown on right of the dikerim. it is undoubtedly stroke you want to jump over pink and packet the last red, with black
10
view
to follow.
J quito fair. There
14
RED
BLACK
nothing
7
the picia
Дляк
weak
WAHOOS THE BEST
excellent assistance.
to many
Ribeiro,
stand.
muscles.
arc
bling.
Muscles are continually sending messages to the brain keep- that over-all muscles 30 other ng it informed of their position. The brain then automatically moves This scuse werks together with the balance of the body is maintained. main balancing organs located just inside the cars.
You can prove that eyes are also important in balance by trying to walk along a chalk line with your cycs head on one side and your closed (Put the paper down for moment and try it!)
a
R5
First, they are not so necurate. For the best part et Ave years while he was out in the open by day and was ordered nine hours' sleep at night, f was peering down a microscope and studying.
one-
Second, I blink too much. I blink at the average rate of 20 times per third of a second. So my eyes are tinute, and each blink lasts blacked out 10 percent of the Ume.
blinks less, sa Mr Matthews
STANLEY
• MATTHEWS beats most of us on points-seven points which count in an athlete: (1) Swill reaction, (2) Fine balance, (3), sharp cuc- sight, (d) Good wind, (5) Strong heart,. (0) Sprinter's muscles, and (2) Ballet
ankiet.
Off To America
(By "RECORDER”)
The Australian sprint charapion, John Treloar, now rated top favourite for the Olympic 100 and 200 metres tilles, will spend the spring and carly summer in the United States.
Main purpose for the visit is his Intention to spend à term in the School of Engineering at the University of Minnesota, where his uncle is a professor, but another, and as important, is a desire to see how fast he can go on Ills record-breaking so doctored Amerlenn cinder tracks.
far has been on grass.
Treloar has best times for this year of 9.5 an 20.9 seconds and a convincing double victory to his credit against Jamaica's Herb McKenloy, accomplished at the Australian Championships in January. Minnesota is a considerable tance from Los Angeles and early the Aus- senson meetings between tralian and Southern California's white hope, Pell-Meli" Met Patton, are Improbable.
it dis-t Though a laudable Intention
may be that Treloar seaks top-flight- competition, he will have to exer- cise considerable care against such Olymple bogeys ns a pulled muscle, easy enough to pick up in compeți- tion
photo-finiches deelde every other race.
California Collegiate
With The season already a month old, Patton has yet to reproduce hin form of last year. His best times to date are 9.7 and 20.7 in April, as compared with his 9.4 and 20.4 last renson.
It is a doubtful point that Treloar. who is a transfer from Sydney Uni- versity, would quality to compete on the University of Minnesota's track team.
Though Freshmen have been ad- mitted to collegiate competition in the United States since 1944, Tretcar falls into a separate class as a trans- fer student and would have to be entering a second term to be ell- gible for lg Nine" track.
Hnd he been able to run for Min- nesota, he would start hot favourite for two of the biggest athletic events season-the Big of the Collegiate Nine Championships and the Inter- Conference meet against the Pacific Const, at which he would toe the mark with Patton and California's Donald Anderson, another up-and- coming champion.
where
The class of the year's sprinters in the United States in no high that the charley-horse casualties should be quite a few. The last Olympic *Games saw two of the strongest to Jesso challengers' American
the Owens, pull up long before
uple casualties. Games, ns pulled-musele
Both Eulace Peacock, the Philadel phia negro, and Californin's George Anderson, still considered by, some, as the best potential white sprinter who just didn't make it, were forced out of the Olymples through mid- season overstrals. The great Pat-
cind of inst ward the end of ton himself pulled out crocked to-
year's season, A half-dozen raees against Patton, Houden, Peters, Barney Ewell and 9.4 this year, could ruini Panatha's Lloyd LaBench, only man to turn in Treloar's chances as much an over- racing against slower Belds crocked up MacDonald Dalley in England last year.
However, a race in a race, be it Olympic or not, and it will be in- teresting to see how Trelour arch. in the States. I do not fancy his going faster than 0.4 and 20.0, und over the furlong I think he is, des- pite his defent of MeKenley, In- the Losferior to Patton.
UNLIKELY TO MISS However, it is not improbable that the feature-keen promoters of such all-star track festivals Angeles Coliseum, the Compton and Fresno relays, will seek to star Tre- loar
agains! Patton.
In Midwest regional. competition, Treloar will already face some class and in Wisconsin's Dick Houden
both 0.5 Indiana's Chuck Peters, dancer's
sprinters and Bualists in last year's National AAU meet.
THE ASHES ARE A PRIZE, BUT
THE DON WANTS A TOUR
FREE OF SENSATIONS
By Jack Hobbs
"Let us make this tour one of friendship and good will, free from unfortunate incidents and sen- sations." That was Don Bradman, speaking at an Institute of journalists luncheon at which I had the privilege to attend.
The sentiment was primarily addressed to the writers on cricket who were present. The clear-cut reply is, “And so say all of us."
As we stand on the threshold of another cricket sea- son, it would be great if we all made a good resolution to have fun with our cricket, and put in all we know to carry out that resolution.
A COMPARISON
The two men fancied to break the of the Olymple negro monopoly sprint titles are so radically dif ferent both physically and in back- of the two that a sight ground running side-by-side could well de- velop Into a favourite with Enthers whenever they meet.
Trainer is 6 feet 34 Inches of rongy Australian and is all Tho. He is now 19 years of age and first broke even time for the 100 yards at 16. As a runner he is in M round- the natural class with cating stride of 7 feet 6 inches.
photo-
of
102
It is this long stride that may, per- haps, prove his biggest handicap. The great English Olymple champion, Harold Abrahams, who won at Paris in 1924, spent a long time reducing the length of his stride on a theory that speed come from kicking away at the ground as many times possible in a split second rather than
to from what amounts Jumping
that is, the long. without effort; striding style.
ng
Abenhams reduced the length of his stride and found that he war going faster. It took a lot of re- training but pald a dividend in Olympic gold.
LITTLE MAN MAKES GOOD
Air Matthews's trained body copes would paralyse my sheltered with quantilics of lactic acid which
BRAIN MESSAGES
the Training has also increased size of his heart and strengthened the The best all-round squad among the power of its beal. To do
pump the women were the Wahoos. They same work my heart has to
Big Chief 12, beats a minute faster than his,
'My eyes give me good service won nccording to form.
are interior to The most important and Insting Wahoo pitched her side
the game effects of training occur in the brain balancers, but they knows a viclory. She
nerves. Stanley Matthews Mr Matthews' eyes in two other ways perfectly and had her squad well and
superb dribbling skill depends on the vital to a footballer. Patsy under
control. Trenu Castilho and Tilda Soares rapidity with which the muscles that
move his feet obey his brain.
brain Messages from the The Wildcats fought most gamely
slowed down
in jostling Their always with indifferent material.
and Effle through the synapses. Sorry about battery of Dolly Brown
points Babida was strong but support was that, but they are the gaps in the
in nerve fibres rather like the Attack was powerful patches with the battery again in on railway lines. So messages rare- the limelight Thelma Watson con-ly travels at more than 50 miles on ngainat it
to the side. hour, but with training this speed tributed much force t5,0
could not can be Increased.
Mr Matthews keeps his points in Skipper Cynthia have been very with a
good order by never touching aleo-keeps his eye on the ball longer.
clog would quickly generally weak line-up.
One other Incior helps to them. Again he has me at a disad- Much was expected of the Mad-hal for this
Stanley Matthews a Soccer vantage. cap Aces, but apparently they did
His leg muscles probably witch tion-Mrs Stanley Matthews, not play well enough together. Mast
Psychologists say it would be high Player Girile Gaan was twice as fast as mine. This is good Valuable
per- hard-hitting for football but hard on rations, for impossible to maintain the
There are several reasons why in the side. So was
formance level he does if all was not
Of course these Australians will Celetes Guterres, but on the whole, fast-twitching muscles use up many
pur team will be better, and in pass- well in the home.
play to win. They just cannot help extra calories. batting was comparatively weak.
that of
my In spile of the many
doing that, and nobody would haveing I mention two-Dents Compton
in and Bill Edrich. Margie Xavier, training, great footballers are born ineptitude at football is no reflec The Remedioses,
otherwise. There is no joy
The question with which I tion on my wife. Otherwise I shall taking Alex Mea- rather than made. Without the in-
a cricket Therese Baptista and
prize which- plate by fellows greeted at every turn is: "Where with only handed out on tonen, all useful players, were also herited framework, training will never get away
bowlers to get these in our who are not putting in
they are our fost
Patton is far from being the Australians out?" carried out in. But the combination as one never make you worth an £11,000 minutes mowing the lawn
garden.
itnow. Gangothly. So was the International could not get going in close plays transfer fee.
Nobody will persuade me to sug chunky type of sprinter, his bodily From "father" Don Bradman right
gest that an England side which has built hardly comparing with that of Series There were charity tames and succumbed.
Jown the line they have come here
to take the fleld without good fast the Michigan Midnight Express to enjoy
their cricket, n happy
bowlers-especially with the party (Eddle Tolan) or with Charley Pad family who will not go around look-
promise of hard wickets-is an ideal dock. both of whom looked all-in ing for trouble.
wrestlers when stripped.
Vet his manch considers him an a But suppose we free that cannot stretch our hands and grab potential first man to break 9.4 and for the two sprints. that 20.3 seconds a couple of real express men,
18.
in oftent
barred in clubs and This is apt to cauro con- Finion, and, in my opinion, the sooner the jump what is abolished viiendly the botter it will be for every game played on a billiard Batido.
inft or ahown on K8 cannon diagram is hot so difficult na it may pear. Al you have to do is to play cue-ball off red over the dotted
e and the kiss will do the rest.
All Bxtures were
butte
ad
in ald of the Boys' and Girls' As-
The other two teams in this ladies' soetation. They did not net much
after their fashion, softballers loop were the Canadians and Mad-
Canuckettes Ittle, cap Bees. The contribute their Something was better than nothing, dimculty most of the time flelding on the field. and they did their little bit. For a regular or line-up
Canton softballers Batting Champ Jean Lee was in the the first time, were entertained and the two games squad but her power was, wasted. the visitors played came off without
All-rounder Ulian Koo was play- a hitch. As a result of the visit, prospects of interport competition ing in a few games but later played began to be mooled. It is a be-truant, and was missed. Versaille Blb Chief Alice Mar was a formid- ginning to a good thing,
good able backbone but the regular
effects
must make it clear
he
make senso-
LIGHTNING KILLS FOOTBALLERS
Then
There is some
confidence that it i may be so, and while those whose game Job it is to. write about the
thic play their part, it is must players, first and foremost, who will set the key-note.
الم
JACK HOBBS AND THE DON'
the lessons which Apart from
mind for the should be kept in
us forget. Certainly future. let don't let us accept it as a reason for thinking we have no chance against the Australians.
one.
times. Maurice Tate,
ani
wa
Patton, compared to Treloar, is n little man who made good on long training without having been any- where near the exceptional schoolboy sprinter.
He
Is
03 #
exactly, 6 feet tall, a mero 147 lbs. in weight. He is now 23. an ex-GI, married and the father of nne child, He only touched class at world-beater at 22, 21, becoming He runs smoothly with mechanical wreck #physical precision and is
Hir end of each at
race. the record-setting sprints end often with a long sick spell in the washroom. His feet. In short, are faster than his heart.
of a runner
than Dean Cromwell,
does not necessarily mean ni is lost. Were it anyone else who held this
We did not always win the Tests extraordinary oulalon when we had Harold Larwood, the like Patton
knows more about fastest and most accurate bowler of the coach who recent
who world-beaters than anyone else in was not fast except off the pitch, get the game. I would doubt that Fatton us a few wickols, and there were could do It.
will and Cromwell, thinks he the other
medium hov Australians did not like particularly, Cromwell has been right so many plus some slow ones such as Hedley times before about others of his stars
who didn't look like champions. Verity and Jack White.
FOOTBALLER was taking a whistle to his lips for play to carry A throw-in in the Army Cup final on. But thunder, followed by before 3,000 people last month when | Ughtning, came instead. No sound lightning streaked across the field. came from the whistle.
Captain Green stood, unable to referee was transfixed ilke a The
Just Eke another referee, Stanley Cockayne, of Wolverhamp- statue. Nearly every player fell to move, the ground.
Soon afterwards, two players died. ton, whose whistle was struck by Three more, and four spectators, lightning in February.
the Green Captain
and It was a busy season but worth support lent by Ella Chinn, Mary were injured.
One of the dead players was 18-players slumped to the ground. The it, for the response was good. In- Ng, Mavla Bunn and Mary Bunnycarald Gummer Bertram Boardley 3,000 watched in silence until a
and terest spread
followers in- and Maud Wong was not good
for woman screamed. as professional
policemen and Division Barrow 12 months, At that milltary the enough to make up marked lack of who signed
I should hate anything Bradman A point to support ercased.
"emer-Third tha - observation that
stretcher bearers came 'running on which would make Don game has teamwork, due to usually
ogo. "It
less light-hearted than he is now. returned to command wide interest gency" raw battle squads.
4.25 by the clock in to the ground.
The captaina will set the note, and was the recent attendance at the
take, The Bees were all rookies. They
A spectator, Mr Fred Patrick, took with the spirit of give and prize-giving function at the Peninsula played gamely throughout and pre- Aldershot's Central Command ground Lance-Bombardier J. W.
to give over and began of experience
Captain free from petty bickering, we shall Hotel. Never at. softball dance
D
nce faumably got plenty was the hall so packed. The floor thereby. Improvement next season French picked up the ball to take Green artificial respiration.
The match was between the Royal That is what we want, "Whether was the scene of something of a should be seen.
WHISTLE SILENT
Armouri Corps (Bovington, Domet) "traffic jam." By the nationalities "Spectator" "disappears" after this
The referee, 48-year-old Captain and the 121 Training Regiment R.A.playing better and real cricket-iscerned but we should not have put do things, move, and so on, and sup- represented there, it was truly an writing-meet you again next sca-
F. C. Green, of R.E.M.E., put his (Oswestry Shropshire). son-I hope, ... "international social evening."
most
na" Soft-
across
the
ball can be said to be the "international" sport in Hongkong.
Behind all these activitica, men- tion should be made of the persons who steered them, especially
hard-working Association most Secretary wo have come Harold Winglee, who deserves the ho By the way, highest praise. was catcher of the Major League champions, St. Joseph's. Apart from his manifold duties as Secretary,
is also official
scorer manages the Women's
ha
the
and
Champions, Wahoos Quite a guy-more
you, Hall
power to
The President, "Doc" F. J Mol-
then, was a well-choron leader. He devoted much time and energy
was
when..
a throw-in.
SPORTING SAM
CUP TIE TICKETS ON SALE
12 HOON TONDSEN
By Reg. Wootton
CUP TIK
TICK
NOON
тенолом
་་
have reni cricket. we win or whether they
howlers whom
Ask yourself how long it is since the Australians had one really great
He must do something with the fast bowler, much less two,
They may have one in this party ball In addition to hurling It down we have to wait for evidence
on
con- win-by that so far as our pitches are
nt express speed; he must make it
1
as port it all with accuracy. fast Australians such recent
If we have not the fast bowlers wa not a matter of life and death.
ar-McCormick and Tim Wall in, the
will do without them. Certainly we We certainly don't want any
who Jack Gregory-Ted McDonald class. gument, on either side. as to
No, if we don't go too far back, we shall not put them in merely to take won by other than real cricket.
the shine off the ball, and play tho shall remember that it was Arthur opening batsmen in.
Clarrie Malley, Bill O'Reilly, and Grimmett who did most damage.
SPEED NOT EVERYTHING
CAN WE WIN?
Taking that as the cue, have we a real chance of winning back the Ashes? Let me deal. for a start, with the penalmista who are, felling us that we have not much chance against the Australians, not perhaps because they are particularly good, but because at the moment we hup pen to be other than good.
Of course, that West Indies tour was disappointing from the results angle, but I am not even going review St briefly,
of
These Australians are not world- the beaters in the opinion of everybody. I have just received a letter from a man at Melbourne who knows lot about cricket,
sent,
He sends me the view that from The point about fast bowlers in the cricket standard this is the worst not going to look Australian team that country has this. We are
Naturally, I don't around for one or two bowlers who over can hurt them down at the fastest subscribe to that opinion-yet.
Events may refute or confirm 'It. pace and choose them automatically.
Good batsmen are not frightened Let us tako courage and go to it pad
(World Copyright).
to out by a bowler simply because he is win.
fast.