New-York tribune., 1911-03-13
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Nothing Is Sure in Baseball. Says
Manager of Athletics.
BASKETBALL UNDER FIRE
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

Philadelphia Athletics. who won the wor'd
chanpiorship last year. says: Nothing Is
sure in baseball" Connie Mack is risht
thinking no doubt about that old adage
anent taxes and death. He is doubly right
so far as baseball IS concerned So many
factors must be considered in looking TO
The dim and distant October for a pennan'
winner that the man mus, be bold indeed
20 hack his opinion before the first gun IS
fred. Such a man lives. however ana no
doubt there are many OF them. but tn's
ra-tictla~ one wasered a cool N"O on
Friday that the Philadelphia Athletics lea
bv Connie Mack. would repeat and win
the American I.eaeue pennant for the sec
ond wear in succession. The bet was mace
a. ever, money against the field. and in my
orinion the man was foolish rather tlah
hold The wager was not made IN the
f,,,,,re hook. concerning which such a hue
and cry has been raised. bit between TWO
friends. one a. least Of whom allowed hls
.,tbYsias-, 70 SET the better OF his judS-
nent
:, < quite POSSIBLE. Of course. that ire
=
+iev did q year ago The critics almost 70
: man are declaring for the White Ele-
rrants and 10 all appearances the team
ali ne ouite as strong. # not stronger. than
4, uae last season. when It made a run
auav race for the pennant and then took
,he Chicago Cubs into camp. BaseodH'
,nrever. as said before. IS most uncertain
md the champions of today are not a.
49, -. rr1 sl
,~oorrs. Bender or Plank 90 back or eve"
one ~ them. the Athletics may ind the
road co strewn with distractions IN 'he
D. -. ~ the New York Yankees, the Boston
De5 sox. the Detroit Tigers or the en-
o.co white Srx. to say nothing OF the
ot6er teams. that they may fnd themselves
- Iov,ly and despised as the Pltisour%
pirates were a year aso. when they faiie'
,o rla,. up 20 the standard that maze u
roeeirle for them TO win the WORLDS cha'h-
riC,,eii, i'm 14o9 There is much. OF course
,n vinrine corabioaticn. and nothing sue
cefds like success. but injuries TO n man
,,,.A Eddie Collins would also play havoc
sr5 connie Mack is wise ~ his gcne' alton
,,rer be said. few days aco; I'VE We're
,,c,,. IN 1910 in rot having our best play
ere c,iDpled. ard the same good fortune
must be with Us this year if We are gong
% land the penrant We are pretty Wel
s,,nrl,ed with substitute material. yet "a
ci9ents NAV upset my calculations ana
lo ro+ ~urroee 10 make any vain boasts.
II T should confess TO q leaning for the
varIees In The American League race ana
70 q feeling that the Giants VIII capture
the National League flag, many Woaid
oharrs ne with being preiIdiced foftu'
ratelv. a man has rieht 10 his preJudices'
more particularly II "A fair premise can oe
hacked Up by q reasonable conclusion Il
is not my purrose, however At this time
20 take W g. discussion Ct the chances o.
TIE various teams ia the coming struggles.
That pleasure must be deferred but ! take
this occasion 70 repeat what Connie MaoA
says in lookns into tho future;
There are seven other teams in the Amer
ican League. and lecre that al. OF mem
have been strer4thered. Two a. theIn i
Toth Mcclure end Dunv have added M
doubted strength 10 these teams. ana II
tsn't wise TO declare thcm out o. ccHieno-
ing positions. Detroit IS alWaNs Cahgei . :.
TIE Tirers can lit tho tall and know how
10 feht FOR eve~y inch ot ground. IHeN
should imvTCve this year. Wnch means
that the Athletes VIII h.Ne 70 ll,"> ,..'i oyo az,
20 heat thcm. TIE Boston RED SoN are
7-erv strong They have q great ritChi'S
~.IT ~ 2
staH; toor (c' .,,,,o5 I,n ~, co N D3Cces last
fali al the critical moment but beI9ve
that weakness WI! not ecu. dro H.
~. ~. WI TIia6'anders Thcv have a fast
,eor1 m tre field and thoY know how 20
Tlay inside bah. Tho pii'iihS Sl5u - =, "W,
dertullv Focd aiu IN ,rl,d or out
ln1Ne a. d az r,.i'I,,'5i~r Ia eIlvced NOR real
tSSerol science last year than any Of our
American LNaruc rivals, a.d " lne lc,,,,, l,,,.
was aH.lCsI w. W. ,au ,o,.o~e IN Tho rrofcs-
SION believe f. won't be long before he
IS rated ios' as ID th,y w. rs p Int,"tt ne ,.o,-
ten -, 49,. rcnrart. at least. that's
Row II appears 10 me.
-. = .-,o ,ri4b Connie Mack
-. .to ,e,,o .ba+ heats TIaI
III NY ..,,, 80. oer tho Amer
th'Se anu i''' a. 80. boei,o,o
10 express the hone that the wecious piece
q, bunting VIII nv over this city.
- a.. ,v,,,..ra,, c~Yh
- siiN'' ...,.,,o,,.,,, ,,o,,eo1
recently orsa".Ic' '.'- c.. a. -.
on the ullI''.' '' ''., -. ,,.,,i
thereanou's' o. inc w -il'''-." ~ -
III long iet want 'h ''e .,.o. &.
Of Manhattan because VI ''' o.,,
has a gymnasium "''i. 49, ,,
irvited mo 20 '"fe '''N
quarters one ""S i''' -,
found JACK H&TNey' WI" M
:, hrcli,c bronco presiding over 4 gym
.b., fairly invited one 20 throw off his
coat ard take tho exercise so much needed
.hoeo ,-f,tar dovs more ideal ulace 20