The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-06-22
~ r. J. GRIFFITH

(sporting Editor OF The Times Dis
patch).
In the olden days, when kid" FL
berfeld and lot OF others now in
the big leagues. used to play ball for
Richmond, which was then In the de-
funct Atlantic League. the fans got
into the habit OF asking, What was
the score?" taking 1t for granted that
Richmond had won. To-day 1t has
The Lawmakers are winning SO con-
sistentIy that a defeat comes as a
novelty.
There was a lot OF skepticism at the
opening OF the season. and again
when the lawmakers had their slump,
but now even the most pessimlstic are
declaring that the local lads are putt
ting UP as pretty a fight for the PEN
nant as the most fastidious would wish
to see.
Sometimes team will fall down
where 1t is expected to stand up. and
sometimes II Will stand up where II
Is expected to fall down. The former
may happen to Richmond several
times before the season ends, other
ciubs may take a few falls out OF our
team now and then. but Lipc's squad
will surely be strong at the finish IL
their present strength means any
thing.
Those Red Sox are a crowd OF hard
players, and are winning almost as
steadily as Richmond. The Lawmak-
ers go to Danville for three games
the first OF this week. and the fans
await the result with interest. Rich
nond got the best of the Red Sox al
their last series in this city, and the
question iy ba
trick In Dsnville? The chart students
say they can; and present form says
the same. which makes 1t look pretty
much In Richmond's favor. figure
that Lipe's squad will get at least
two out Of three. but still there's many
4 slip. etc.
Taking them as bunch. Lipe'.
pitching staff is head and shoulders
above any other club in the league.
Sparks. Mckenzie. Revelle and How
ard are duartette that are proving
to be winning combination.
Sparks has figured in fewer spec
tacular games on the home grounds
than any of the four. nevertheless his
work is of the highest order. For
working out OF holes think he has a
shade the better Of his mates. How
ards weakest point Is his fielding. but
he has made lots OF Improvement in
this department lately.
1t iR unfortunate that more Southern
colleges are not situated so that they
can enter into aquatic sports. There
is nothing prettier than shell racing,
and an annual meet of universities on
the James would be big addition to
intercollegiate sports in the South.
Crews Washington and Lee ara
forced TO race among themselves on
account of there being no other coll
lege in the State having crew. The
race at Lexington last Monday be-
tween the Harry Lee and Albert Sidney
boats was close and /exciting one,
being won by the former.
Some years ago the University Of
Virginia students used to row on the
Rivanna, which flows past the OUT
skirts OF Charlottesville. Mr.. Francis
Rives, OF New York, donated a club
house and shells, and some fast crews
We're developed for several seasons.
Finally. for some reason, interest In
the sport became lacking. and since
then the shells have lain idle in the
boat house..
Perhaps the principal reason for the
death OF the sport was due to poor
course. It Is said that II the dam at
+
Charlottesville is iafsed aboNt three
1eet that the river would become a
good place for racing. Let some phi
lanthropic alumnus Or admirer of the
university come across with small
donation and revive this valuable de-
partment of Virginia athletics.
Coach HecoX arrived in Richmond
saturday. and immediately set to work
getting line Jon the candidates for
the Virginia Boat Club crews. This
week promises to be a strenuous one
for the oarsmen II the initial spin
down the James Saturday is indicative.
About every member that returned in
the eight-oared shell on that day was
all In at the end Of the journey, which
goes 70 show that it will take some
stiff practice before the rowers get
into perfect racing condition.
- . / il y y.