New-York tribune., 1911-09-11
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Much to Talk About Crowded
Into Six Lively Days.
{ RARE CHANCE FOR GIANTS
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Minute, Both Amateur
and Professional.

two on track and field, one In autoihoulnhe
and one in swimming. The Dixie ~ proved
the fastest and most consistent power boat
IN the world in successfully defending the
international trophy. commonly called the
Harmsworth Cup. Billy Larned established
his right and title to the national lawn ten
mis- championship for the seventh time, the
fifth in succession. Frank Gotch success
fully defended his worlds heavyweight
wrestling championship; the pesky Cuos
from Chicago crawled up perilously close
10 the New York Giants In the sizzling nght
for the National League pennant, while ac-
tfvfty was the last word" in pracuca"S
every branch Another interesting week Is
at hand Baseball is still at the boiling
point. while the struggle for the amateur
golf championship at Apawams ana the
continuation OF the preliminary match lor
the Davis Cup between the Engllsh anu
American teams promises plenty OF enter
tainment The worlds records established
last week were: One-mile relay. by shep-
pard. Gissing. Schaff and Rosenberger' the
bs-pound weight. by Matt McGrath; the
ouarter-rrile swimming. by r. NJ. Ritter
and the one-mile automobile on circular
track by wild Bob" Burman.
The Giants are still in the lead for the
National League pennant, hut the SEzhhe
race goes on IN way 10 keep the rams
IN q high state OF nervous tension. me
fight must now be continued away from
home. and many anxious moments are IN
prospect The Cubs gained little GROUND
last week. while the Giants were breaking
even in the five games played with the low
ly tsllenders-Boston and Brooklyn IheEe
IS no reason 10 despair, however as lne
chances are in favor OF a stronger poslu"4'
before the present week IS over Win the
Giants playing four games in Boston, "mle
the Cubs are facing the Reds IN two games
and the Pirates in four.
The holiness Of the charge against
Opay. one of the National League umpTes'
IN the warning from the home OF the heos
20 the Giants is likely 70 stir up peck OF
trouble.
With two matches won in the preliminary
,tes for The Davis Cup the American team
ts almost sure TO he the one 20 go ar'er
the CUP The Englishmen have proved
themselves worthy opponents, however as
those who watched the play on SATURDAY
are quite willing 10 bear witness Inc
Americans literally pulled victory out o.
the fire at the eleventh hour. Inc s'aho
Of Dixon and Lowe was surprising me
Rritons PLAYED far better at the net thah
they had been credited with doing Ac-
tuallv. Dixon throughout the nVe SETS was
the superior Of Larned in this respect
Every time the American came in TO close
rereA Dixon shot the ball past him. using
6r,,ss If q mower and speed that left
Tarned hopelessly out Of position Inc
national champion. however, proved MS
courage and cemeness as he did MS skill
nv overcoming a handicap that would nave
discouraged most players. The winning oI
Eve straight games when the loss OF one
would have meant defeat stamped him the
really great player.
one week has passed since Billy Larned
won the national lawn tennis championship
Int this is the first chance that nave hsu
70 comment on the fact. and q word must De
said for his remarkable skill and consist
sncv which has made II possible for him 20
hold his place at the top so long. Most men
al the age Of forty-one have lost the actlV-
itv so essential 10 success on the courts
but Larned appears 10 be quite as spry'
quite as keen. quite as forceful and quite
as strong as ne was I'VE and ten years ago.
His record is without q parallel IN the his
tory OF the sport in this country, as for
nineteen years he has been rated among
the first six. with the exception Of 1885,
when he was of with the Rough Riders and
did not play. II successful against the Eng
ushman. Larned has promised 70 90 70 lar
of Australia in quest Of the now famous
c,p held in that country since 1917. ana J
am willing 10 predict. even At this time,
that the quest will not he I'm vain The only
regret IS that some OF the glory may be
lost II Anthony y. Wilding. who with Nor
man z Brooks captured the cup In Eng
land and successfully defended II on two
. occasions. is not able 70 represent Austria
liza this wear. word Of which comes from the
other side OF the world II seems 70 be un-
derstood that II the American team wins
this week Larned VIII have Mclaughlin
and possibly Bundy as his companions on
the trip 10 New Zealand.
went down 10 Sheepshead Ray on
Thursday 70 get what ! supposed would oe
a last peep al FItz Herbert which. in my
opinion. ranks with the greatest thorough
hrefs ever bred and raced in this country
If nor In the world. Indications pointed
70 the fact that he would be purchased for
shlpn1ent abroad at the sale OF the Hi
dreth horses. but his number in the cata-
lorue was never reached and the son OF
Fthelhert NAV vet add another bright
chapter 70 the thoroughbred history Of this
country. A big crowd was gathered around
the sales ring. but as Mr. Hildreth SAID,
when he suddenly stopped the proceedings:
NOBODY seems 10 want q good horse az
this time" The failure OF the four offered
10 bring what some horsemen considered
even fa!r prices emphasized once more the
enormous loss and frizhtful shrinkage IN
values. so far as race horses are concerned,
since the passage Of the so-called directors
liability law year ago closed the gates OF
the tracks One optimistic soul said as the
horses were being led back 20 their stalls;
BE patient. sam. the sport Is not dead In
this state. even though the outlook IS so
black You did the right thing in with
drawing your horses II would have been
q reflection on racing 70 let them go for
song" Mr Hildreth was criticised by
some for putting a stop 10 the sale with
out offering Fitz Herbert Novelty and one
Or two others. 10 bid on which some horse
men had travelled many, many miles under
the impression that they would De sold
without reserve. as usually is the case.
There may have been some reason for these
10 feel disgruntled. but as q matter of fact
few men would have done otherwise. and
Mr Hildreth could hardly be expected 10
s.t quietly by and see The strongest stable
IN the country sacrificed for q paltry sum