The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1908-07-10

One of the greatest contests in the
history Of sport will mark the Franco
British exposition in London this
summer, when the Olympian games,
which have been growing feature
each succeeding year since their re-
gival, will be held. Thousands and
thousands Of lovers Of track and field
athletics will crowd this immense
arena, the largest in the world It is
expected that the tiers upon tiers of
solid concrete seats able to accom-
modate $4,000 people will be filled,
that $4,000 more will fill the available
standing room, while down on the
cinder path the greatest runners and
athletes of the world win strain
every muscle and sinew to win glory
and honor, and it is confidently ex-
pected that American contestants will
give a good accounting Of themselves
and will be able to carry OF their
share Of the prizes.
That this country has every reason
to expect great things of her athletes
one has only to consider the list of
men who have been selected TO enter
the contests. 1t is without any doubt
the best and largest body of athletes
ever sent out by any country to cap
ture the championship Of the world.
The success of the American team at
Athens two years ago surprised even
its most ardent supporters. The vic
tory was clean cut and decisive. That
team was not the best this country
could produce A new system OF Sc
lecting men has been tried this year,
and the Stars and Stripes will be car
ried by the cream of this country's
athletes.
There never was time when Amer
ica could boast of such athletes as
she has at present Now almost every
one, from the primary schoolboy to
the college senior, is interested IN ath-
letics, and consequently rapid strides
have been made in running, jumping
and weight throwing.
Everything will favor the English
athletes. They will be on their own
soil, climatic conditions will be in
their favor and they will escape a long
and possibly rough ocean voyage and
week In which training viii be car
ried on under great disadvantages.
The Americans must meet and over.
come all these handieaps.
win America win the Olympic cham
pionship? Nearly every one who has
followed track and field athletics at
all closely in this country win reply
in the Affirmative and Immediately ask
"Who can beat us?" More than sew
I enty-hve men will compose the Amer
lean team. They will come from all
parts of the country-north, south,
east and west. Nearly dozen nation
alltes win be. represented, an Indian
from the government school. a Greek,
Germans, plenty Of Irish. a swede,
some French and Italian descendants
and a negro. The majority Of the
team will be native-born Americans
Americas greatest athletes seem I'd
be of Irish descent, and a glance at
the names Of the members will prove
this. Here are few Of them: Flan-
agan, Sheridan, McGrath, O'Connell
Morrissey and Hayes. And nearly all
of these will be point winners.
I a a.. 81 tha 4nnre. will hs, fhr
greatest physical trainer In this coun-
try. II not the world. Mike" Murphy
who now handles the athletes Of the
University Of Pennsylvania. He has
spent a lifetime in this work. and is a
wizard in developing and determining
the ability of a runner or jumper
Mike" as he is known, will have a
big Job attending TO rs high.strune
human thoroughbreds. but there Is nc
man more capable Of sending them "a
the mark in the pink Of condition than
he.
Many of the members Of the team
are college men, both students and
graduates. Some Of the universities
and colleges which viii be represented
are Pennsylvania. Yale, Princeton
Harvard, Cornell, Dartmouth, Mich
gan. Leland Stanford, Chicago. l,il
nols. Virginia and swarthmore. Some
Of the college athletes have just com
pleted their freshman year. while 9th
ers are graduates Of six years stand
ing.
Every man on the team Is an ANA
teur with not the slightest taint o.
professionalism. In selecting The mel