New-York tribune., 1912-03-04

rlavers far aheld. and as result the Ath-
letics were in such poor condition at the
start OF the pennant race that they strug-
gled along in last place for time and nad
a. hard. uphill fight to work TO the front.
that experience was a lessen that the wise
manager took TO heart, so that this year
he took a leaf out Of John ]. McGraW
book and has mis- players training in Texas
10 the end that they may be ready 10 get
flying start If possible this year Mack IS
not counting another pennant won. ne
knows full we'll that other teams have beeh
strengthened and that the Detroit T1gers'
the Boston Red Sox and the New YORK
Yankees will be hard to beat, 10 say noth-
ing Of the Chicago White sox and the
Cleveland Maps.
The idea Of frank Chance to have one
set of uniforms for the Cubs made VHthout
collars is a sensible one. Comfort means
lot 10 any man IN the neat of conflict AM
anything that tends to irritate should oe
avoided A flannel collar on a hot day Is
enough to irritate job.
The spirit behind a provisional challenge
Of anv kind is not the spirit of true sports
manship. It puts the man or team tAdt
must defend at a disadvantage. Inc CHlIeu
States National Lawn Tennis Association
has challenged Australia for the DAVIS cup
once more. but il is openly acknowledged
that II is provisional and that team VIII
be sent only at the discretion Of the eXecu-
tive committee. The purpose Of the clause
in the deed Of gift which provides that
challenge must be made not later than
March ! each wear was TO give the DEFEND
ing nation every chance to make the neces-
sary preparations The position assumed
by the national association here really
nullifes the value of that clause. The de
Tending team has no option If It finds itscf
crippled on the eve Of the matches. but the
challenging team can quietly withdraw If 1t
finds itself unable 10 put forth its greatest
strength. even though its opponents have
exhausted much time and effort in prepar-
ing to take the courts. It is poor rule
that does not work both ways.
In elancing over the report Of the COM
mittee named at Yale to devise plans for
more general athletic equipment for the
undergraduates in the current issue of The
Yale Alumni Weekly" my attention was at
tracted to the following words The plans
will provide opportunities for at least half
of the undergraduate body to exercise at
one time" This is as It should he. ana
means far more than the building Of huge
stadium that will seat 10000 persons for
big football game. Yale needs a freprcof
stand. but Yale also needs an athletic
equipment which will encourage a wider
participation among the undergraduates in
III Vol
be more willing 10 contribute 10 the good
cause when il is pointed out that while the
total expenditure for the full needs OF the
project will approximate 100000, the foot
ball stands will not exceed in cost $215,OOO.
1t shows clearly that the committee is
thinking of Yale athletics as whole and
not only Of football in particular
was not surprised at Princetons de-
cisive victory over Yale at water polo on
Friday evening after seeing the team in
practice a few days ago. Captain Battles
is a marvel on the attack He seems to
be quite as much at home under the water
as on ton. and he has the build and physique
Of a Hercules. Wight, the football end
who only failed 10 be running mate OF
sam White last fall because Of an injury.
is not far behind Battles, and McLenahan,
too. is a strong powerful swimmer. \
word should be said also for Bartlett IN
goal A better defensive player has rarely
been seen on a college team.
The Princeton players had their hearts
set on beating Yale at water polo. Judg-
ing from the interest, one would nave
thought that a football game was at stake.
Beating Yale, by the way. appears TO be
getting a habit at Princeton.
The first step in building the new home
Of the Superbas, which will be taken to-day,
means much to baseball in Brooklyn.
HERBERT.