New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-06-05
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Polo Cup Likely to Stay on This
Side of the Atlantic.
DANGERS OF AUTO RACING
News and Views on Live Topics
Of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

ahternduondl polo cup at HeinpStedu TO-
day. but must confess TO an abiding faith
in the Meadow Brook four. with that
plucky uphill fight on Thursday in mind.
The rally. coming 1t did. commanded
the utmost respect and admiration of all
true sportsmen. The Englishmen did not
let down for one moment. They appeared
to play with the same aggressiveness and
skill toward the end as they did in the
earlier periods. and while II is possible, OF
course. that their ponies felt the strain
more than they did. il does not seem alto
gether fair to attribute the success of the
American players TO being better mounted,
when defeat was turned into victory. All
credit must be given TO Harry Payne Whit
ney and his men for their unbounded cour-
age and dashing play, and particularly to
the inspiring leader of the American forces,
who by his example and precept did so
much 20 turn the tide.
II has been my pleasure 10 see many
Brooklyn and Suburban handicaps fought
out many stirring battles on the gridiron
and diamond. many brilliant performances
on track and field and water. but rarely
II ever have / felt such keen exhilarauon
as in that sixth period on Thursday. when
the turning point in the great polo struggle
came ! am perfectly willing to ADMIT
that much depends on the speed Of the
ponies and their cleverness In following
the ball as they are taught to do with as
much acumen as a dog on the trail OF some
willy fox but ponies or no ponies. my chie1
admiration was for the directing mind, the
amazing skill I'm hitting and the daring
horsemanship that bordered on the reck-
less.
Polo has a charm all its own and 1t
seems a pity that its costliness should be
such a bar TO wider participation. NO sport
demands greater skill. greater courage or
greater self-control. II brings out and
emphasizes those qualities that make men,
and while il is strenuous even dangerous
there is lacking any form of brutality as
can he charged at times 10 football, poH-
ing and occasionally even baseball Ihose
who went TO the field on Thursday can
count themselves lucky Those who are
Manning TO go to-day TO see the second
match for international supremacy can
anticipate the keenest pleasure AS mas
been said on more than one occasion,
stimulus has been lent to the sport the
good effect Of which should be lasting.
automobile sweepstakes over the two and
q half mile motOrdrome at Indianapolis
on Memorial Day. and yet so common has
the sacrifice to the name Of sport IN auto
mobile racing become that it aroused little
comment In fact. surprise appeared 10 DC
general that so few accidents occurred
and conversation turned to this in discuss
ing the remarkable struggle-for remark
Of high SDppd
yeloped Of close TO seventy-five miles an
hour-rather than TO the unfortunate
crushing out of the life OF one of the
mechanicians. a death in football two
wears ago raised a hue and cry from one
ard of the country TO the other. A crusade
was started to stamp out the game as mad
hoor done on two previous occasions. Ser
mons were preached. men and women heId
I'D their hands in horror. and yet automo-
bile racing which invites death and dis
aster. goes on without any sign oI pio'o''
worthy OF the name.
There is a difference. of course, in the
comparison so far as the effect a death IN
football or a death in automooiling may
have. but the fact remains that men ana
women in their narrow way think rnuch
OF one and think lightly OF the other WITH
out full consideration. II has been SAID
.iroes without number that one life is too
big a price 10 pay for any sport or any en-
tertainment. This is true In sense.
have said II myself and felt It myself. but
il must not be forgotten that accidents are
hound 10 happen and that a sport should
not be condemned offhand. particularly II
that sport tends TO develop those qualities
which are so necessary 10 the manhood or
a nation. am great believer in football
hut I begin 20 doubt the ACCESSIBILITY or
those extreme tests Of speed IN automobile
racing which do nothing but satisfy lust
for the unnatural.
The Yankees have settled down on the
Hilltop for a long stay. and no doubt bet
Ter results can be looked for. The team
has been suffering from every possible
handicap since the season opened on Aprli
70 and when everything is considered much
credit must be given to Hal chase ana HIS
men. I'd to this time the Yankees nave
been travelling about the country, living
in hotels and sleeping cars and never pe-
ing settled In one place for more thah HVe
DAYS at a time, with the exception OF ten
DAVIS IN this city from April ~ TO May o.
AS a matter of fact, only ten games nave
teen PLAYED on their own diamond, anu
this combined with Illness, injuries ana the
loss at a critical time of the valued ser
vic.s OF their brilliant first basenlsh anu
manager. has built up difficulties nara 10
overcome 1t would not have been surpris-
ing II the team had become utterly derhor-
allied. but this. fortunately. has not peeh
the case, thanks largely TO those quahties
which have made the Yankees FAMOUS TOT
their gameness and courage. with Chase
hack in harness. with their own followers
20 lend announcement, and with the chahce
for much needed morning practice. the team
should now fight its way back 70 the nrst
division. where It rightfully belongs
Tho Giants were a bit lucky on Friday
70 pull a game out Of the fire from the
aggressive Cubs against a handicap OF SIX
runs. but that rally proved the caliore OF
the team IN no uncertain way and showed
that the men are imbued with the proper
61bting shirt critical point has been
reached i'm the fight for the pennant j
the Giants can tighten their precarious
hold on the top rung or even maintain their
rresent advantage while tghting In the
enenov's country, the fans" here will have
reason TO anticipate seeing some of the
Games for the worlds championship
Another food of letters from college men
interested iu the fight for the mythical
baseball championship has made me feel
more than ever like fighting shy of the sub
tect There is absolutely no way of rec
onciling the various scores or Of fixing on
q nremise from which convincing conclu-
sio,, can he drawn. There is chaos in the
L, ...-.lI n,1 ~ nrnnlinf ~