The Fargo forum and daily republican. [volume] (Fargo, N.D.) 1894-1957, 1910-01-29
ATHLETES HAVE
QUEER NOTIONS

Athletes always develop a loo of the
cries about little tricks that may help
them to win. About as odd a system
az any was that Of a college broad
Jumper whose name is ON the list OF
intercollegiate champions.
This man was not a smoker. 80 that
an occasional pun Of a cigarette made
him nervous. In order to induce this
feeling of agitation hs was accustomed
to light cigarette just a moment or so
before he went on the field for his
jumping.
He contended that q man had to be
on edge to be either a good sprinter
or good jumper and that even II his
feeling of slight agitation were in
duced by smoking, IL was, notwith-
standing, good thing. He said. i'm
fact, that he rarely could get any sort
Of gingery feeling before the competi-
ton If he didn't get himself worked
up artificially that way.
Another man, who was more or less
successful quarter miller both as a col
| legian and CLUB athlete. nerved himself
up for the start of his races by swear
ing profuseIy to himself He had the
Idea that II he got thoroughly angry
at himself and swore a lot, II would
take his mind off the race that was
about to start
Consequently the men who were on
the marks next to him on either side
were likely to hear some half muttered
curses and profane words that they
might think were meant for them. In
fact, this athlete had to explain on
more than on occasion after a race
that he wasn't saying anything about
any one, but just to himself.
II is very often the man who hasn't
true courage who adopts these devices
for heartening himself up artihciaIly.
However, there have been men whose
nerve was unduestioned who resorted to
devices to work or what they called
hoodoos and 20 stimulate themselves
artiicially for their competitions.
Such, for instance, was one great
high jumper who used deliberately to
practice before the competition actually
began by knocking the bar Off at all
sorts Of minor heights He had an idea
that by doing this beforehand he got
IL all out OF his system so to speak, an
he entered his competition with tbs
assured feeling that he wasn't going to
slip up on any poor performances.
The blind reliance OF the novice on
externsls as the causes for good per-
formances by the craclSerjacIxs occa-
sionally has some odd sequences. There
was quarter mile runner who was ac-
customed to hold his index and second
fingers pointed down as he strobe
along: and Immediately after this was
observed by several new men at the
game they all began holding tadeir
finger so as they ran.
There was another man. a distance
runner, who strained his left leg and
as a result favored 1t slightly as he ran
for time until the strain passed away.
There sprang up a host OF limpers who
thought that was the way 10 attain
prominence In distance running
Then, again. a British runner whe
came over here about ten years ago had
a fashion OF working his arms like a
Splinter although he ran long distr
Almost Immediately after his first pub
lie appearance a great crowd Of young
athletes adopted that method. They
were surprised to find that IL didn't
make them run as fast as the Britisher.
Additional Sport on Page Fifteen.