Omaha daily bee., 1910-01-02
GOLF CHAMPIONS OF YEAR


back who is rast and who knows how to
use his hand, to make most brilliant runs
while his opponents we're scattered over
the field. The best team l have seen
play, the Har.equlns. an amateur team
Of London. instead OF continually passing
the ball to the pounds have varied IL by
throwing 1t toward the center, This was
clever and seemed to offer great oppor-
tunities for skill, but / nave not seen
the college teams try It to any extent.
When I saw my first game 1 wondered
how it vas that the rules had been in
terpreted so as to develop the game as it
was played. 1 afterwards was told that a
team from Australia came over here once
for a match, and that the two teams could
scarcely play against each other at all be-
cause their styles OF play, developed under
the same rules, was so totally different. 1t
is just what l should have expected.
Oxford beat Cambridge readily this year
in a poor game. In point Of skill l should
rank the game with those of the smaller
colleges in the west. This is regarded the
big game of the season and yet the teams
90 right On playing. This in itself has a
Significance to any observer in regard to
the excellence Of the teams. 1t seems to
~presuppose that the members play some
what more for the exercise and the fun
h a for victory or excellence.
Individual Skill lacking.
The particular hero of the big game was
a h~alfback who made several touchdowns
and brilliant runs around the end by hav-
ing the ball passed to him on the end. This
player has a great reputation and yet he
carries the ball in such a way as to abso-
lutely preclude him from anything like
perfection or great skill. He always car
ries the ball in both hands in front of
him. as we would say, like an old woman.
II is evident that ne has nc hand to use
in warding off and he cannot run as fast.
1t would be amusing to see a game be-
tween Yale and Oxford. / imagine that
English officials would put many STUN
bling blocks in Yale's way of playing.
$ to training, / am Informed that the
players have no training table and smoke
or live just as they would do were they
not representing their university. When a
player has broken a shoe string or some
similar accident has happened 1 nave seen
a player run the whole length Of the field
to replace It, thus using up the strength
which might be so much needed.
I must not forget to say a word about
the officials. 1t seems to me that the
officials nave the greatest power and yet
their decisions are never questioned in the
least respect. The people of England would
not tolerate the conduct that has so often
disgraced us and spoiled so many games
which promised so we'll. In games wit
messed by me penalties were inflicted which
Jeopardized the game and put the losing
side ahead, and in no instance did 1 see
a gesture of Impotence by any member of
the side affected by the penalty, and in no
Instance ave l seen roughness or ungen-
tlemanliness in any respect. Surely here,
as elsewhere, the Englishman has great
control of himself, and furthermore, be it
said to his credit, hat he always seems
to want to do the square thing.
Inherently the game as played in the
two countries is the same. If the English
game was better played I should like 1t
as well as ours, but 1 doubt IL 1t ever will
be played as well. The English do not like
the intensity which is the chief cause of
our excellence, and their love OF pleas
urable and beneficial outdoor sport is
greater than their love of victory at such
a cost as to the above. My dear editor,
please remember that l am not speaking
critically, because my knowledge is not
sufficient to justify it, but am rather CIV
ing you my Impressions.