Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-01-12
nERTINENI COMMIT
Esshappenin&$s 1SPortdom
coming there would put the ban on the
fight game in that state.

coming there would put the ban on the
fight game in that state.
Present indications are that the next
American League race will be much more
holly contested than was the last. II was
virtually a fight between the Athletics and
Tigers last year. and not much of one az
that. but there is chance for several
other teams to break into the limeliSht
next season.
Boston for instance. should be stronger
! than ever before. The return Of Jake
Stahl has plugged up one hole through
which victories slipped last season. and
in addition there is a better pitching staff
at the Hub now than has been there in
several years.
New York is not apt to go as poorly as
1t did last season. Under Wolver'o on s
management the team will very likely
take a brace. and while t cannot be fig
ured as having pennant chances. still 1t
will prove troublesome. and has chance
for a first division berth. Detroit. of
course, will be contender. though unless
It's pitchers are In better form than last
season Jennings team S not going to be
dangerous But the teams most to be
feared are Cleveland and Chicago. That
Cleveland team, IL 1t has any breaks and is
fortunate enough to get consistent per-
former a. third base. cannot be kept out
Of the hunt. On the form those Nap
pitchers showed last season. and they are
all youngsters, that ought to be as good q
pitchers. with two 40 hitters like La joie
and Jackson to look after the offensive
work, should make winning team.
Chicago will be largely experimental.
but there is a splendid nucleus there for a
pennant winner. There is little hope for
st. Louis. and there g no occasion for
figuring that the Nationals can finish
much higher than they did In 1911.
The Nationals position in the race will
depend almost entirely on GriAith's sue
cess in developing youngsters. II he is
fortunate enough to pick up good man
or two. he will have fairly good bail
team. which will be hard to. beat II his
youngsters fall down, as did the entire
batch Ia st season then ii will be a scram-
BILE to prevent the Browns from forging
ahead OF his team
But GrtHlth has given indications of
eventually being success, because OF his
determination to build up a young team.
For years the effort was made to build
ND a team here with caSt-offi, and 1t Is
needless to say that this proved a failure.
Griffith's system is sure to be more sue
cessful than was the former plan, but
there may be no substantial evidence Of
it the first year OF his regime here.
Unless the Jockey Club comes to the
realization of its own weakness. and does
not attempt to control a sport in which
it has no representation. it is very apt to
suffer the humiliation Of Icing absolutely
ignored by race tracks and horsemen.
So long as the racing game fourished
around New York. where it was the
ambition of all .horsemen to race. 1t was
but natural that those who controlled
these tracks could rule the sport the
country over with an iron hand. But
since there is not track in operation
in the territory over which the Jockey
Club should preside 1t is assuming much
when it tries to tell horsemen thousands
of miles away what they ought to do.
The Jockey Club served Its purpose so
long as 1t control ed the sport, but it is
out Of it now. and one Of these days 1t
Will be convinced of its own condition
by a stand which the horseman are sure
to take.
Just how much chance Flynn will
have. in the proposed match with Jack
Johnson Is perhaps best shown when his
former fight with the colored champion
is recalled. Flynn did not land blow
on Johnson In that battle. which took
place in 1906 johnson just kidded with
him. laughing at his efforts to reach him
Flynn finally lost his temper and calico
Johnson a name. whereupon the laugh
left JOhnson's face and he got down to
business. Result. knockout, and that
when he was trying in only one round