Los Angeles herald., 1906-03-26
GREAT ATHLETES
WILL COMPETE
OLYMPIC GAMES AROUSE MUCH
INTEREST
American Track Men Are Feared by
Foreigners and Indications Are
That They Will Easily
Win the Meet

Within a few short weeks the entire
world will culver with interest as it
watches the Titanic struggle of the
foremost athletes of modern times as
they compete on the Grecian plains
surrounding Athens, for a supremacy
which will render them fit for the flow
of human interest and adulation which
has always attended the peers of ath-
letic life.
For various reasons the games Olym-
pic will call for a recognition that
could not be expected in connection
with any other sport competition. Great
national meets have excited keen an
ticipation among the peoples of the
earth, but the coming games at Athens
will command an attention which must
result largely because of the environ
ments that are to characterize the
Grecian contests.
Intermingled with the associations of
the athlete which have Travelled down
the ages and one that necessarily lends
zest to the coming games is that which
recognizes Greece as the early home Of
physical beauty and activity. To the
Greeks her famous athletes were held
as those favored of the gods and
whether prince or pauper they were
surrounded with halo that approached
reverence.
The Pagan idea of virtue centered
strongly upon the physical perfection
of her men and women and the pris-
tine virility Of her populace arose from
the constant resource to the methods
productive of bodily strength and agil-
ity. The efforts of the great Hellenic
geniuses resulted in tributes to the men
famous for their Valor and physical
prowess and the early type of the
1. tAI loaP4 f111r1 11Is-
talities of a more recent time had
wreaked it's ravages has ever been held
as the model of physical perfection.
"Built like a Greek" is an expression
which attends the appearance of one
whose proportions are sufficiently per-
feet to excite immediate admiration and
indicates the impression which still
exists as regards the idea OF Grecian
physical perfection.
For this reason perhaps, more than
for any other, the April games, which
are to occur amid surroundings where
linger the traditions of such a people,
have already attracted a cosmopolitan
interest.
Teams from every civilized country
of the world will enter and the fortu-
nate winner of first place in any of
the events may well feel proud over
his victory. The question of course
which most concerns Americans is the
chance which the men of this country
will have against the champions of for
eign nations and no end of speculation
is rampant as to the outcome.
There has been considerable criticism
meted out to the committee which Sc
lected the American team, as several
men have been chosen whose abilities
when brought in question with others
who do not appear on the list appear
lacking in many respects.
Eastern critics ask why Charlie Par
sons of Wisconsin, formerly of the Uni
versity of Southern California, is not to
be a member of the team that will
represent America. They figure that
he is as fast If not faster than any
sprinter in America, and hence the roar
In the case of Parsons however, there
is no cause for criticism, as the speedy
track man has refused an offer to ac-
company the representative team. He
is hard student as well as a good
athlete and would be compelled to loose
practically a years credit should he
travel to Athens. For this reason he
has refused to leave college and will be
content with winning additional laurels
on the American tracks.
While it would be to the public liking
for Parsons to participate, he cannot
be criticised for his action in remaining
at home. On the other hand there is
something Of praise coming to him, as
the prospects of such a trip are enticing
to say the least, especially where a
probable worlds championship lies in
the balance.
Other men have been chosen whom 1t
is thought are inferior to many athletes
that will not be given the opportunity
of crossing the ocean, but at all events
it is almost a foregone conclusion that
Uncle Sans boys will win the meet in
the same sweeping manner as char
acterized their performances at Paris
in 1900
The dashes and field events are an
ticipated as certain victories for the
Americans, though they will stand small
chance of doing anything with their
English brethren when 1t comes to the
distance runs Notable for their en-
durance the Britons should capture the
long runs with little trouble.
Archie Hahn and w. A. Schick are
probably the peer of any foreign dash
men and between them they will un-
doubtedly win the 100 and 220 yard
events.
Hillman of the New York Athletic
club Is picked as the winner of the 100
meter race He is known as the Sy
sonby of the cinder world.
Bonhag, the two-mile indoor cham
pion, is slated to start in the five-mile
race, but may meet with a snag in the
British hounds
Kerrigan. the Portland high jumper,
has cleared feet 11s inches in cham
pionship events and is expected to put
the foreigners out of the leaping.
The remainder of the team, providing
they enter the contests trained to the
minute, should stand more than an even
show with any competitor that can he