Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1912-09-25
MURPHY STOPPED
BRITONS WITH
BET. TALK

Mike Murphy, the coach of the
Olympic team that just about swept
the stadium clean at Stockholm, is
noted for his repartee, and some of
the EngIishmen who were at Stock
holm have good reason to know the
sting of Mikes biting tongue. Now,
Murphy loves best of all to handle
good sprinters, and his one best bet
at Stockholm was Henry P. Drew, the
wonderful little colored boy from
Springfield Mass, who broke down
in the 100 meters. Mike thinks that
Drew is one of the greatest sprinters
he ever saw and he made no secret of
this fact around Stockholm.
A group of Englishmen and Ameri
cans were discussing the games in
general sone day when the subject
turned to sprinting, and the Britons
quite naturally started to boost Patch
ing, the South African, who was cred
tied with 8 As seconds in the British
championships in June. The English
men thought that Patching was near
ly as fast as Reggie Walker, etc, and
they were quite willing to bet sthat,
with rest from competition, he would
signally defeat any man on the Amer
lean team at 100 yards.
Everybody Looked at Mike.
Everybody looked at Mike Murphy
at this stage. Mike squinted his left
eye and gazed intently in the direc-
ton of the Englishman who had made
the crack about betting.
Tell yer what I'll do" drawled
Mike, you take Patching to London
and I'll take Drew. Five weeks from
today We'll race 'em 100 yards and
I'll bet $4,000 on Drew. (Long pause
and steady gaze by Mike.) I'll put
the money up now if you say So"
That ended the talk about the re-
spective abilities of Patching and
Drew.
Mike Murphy has one admirable
quality that is prominent in his every
action, l. e., he plays no favorites. No
matter how big the man is, if Mike
disapproves OF his actions the other
fellow hears all about it in good,
straight style. They all look the same
to Pennsylvania coach-raw novices
and members of the American Olym-
pic committee. The queerest part of
the whole thing is that an athlete
who is roundly cussed by Mike Muir
ply considers himself flattered with
that much attention. Other coaches
have tried in vain to initiate Muir
phys style, but in each and every case
their censure has at once aroused
spirit of resentment in the breasts
of the athletes that sooner or later
has caused trouble. There's only one
Mike Murphy the world over.
Craig Leaves Off 8andaee.
An instance of how the big ath-
letes take Murphy's calls was seen
after the semifinal heat of the 200
meter run at Stockholm. Previous to
this heat Ralph Craig had been wear
ing an elastic bandage over an old
strain in one of his legs. The limb
felt so good that Ralph decided to
leave off the bandage, which he did.
Mike was sitting in the grandstand
way across the field from the stretch
of the 2OO-meter course, but Craig had
hardly finished before the coach no.
uced a slight limp to his gait Mu"-
ply did not say word, but he started
slowly for the dressing room and was
waiting for Craig when the great De
troit Splinter came in.
Murphy Expresses Himself
What Mike said to Craig was 100
torceful to show here, but suffice TO
say that it took several minutes for
the coach to rid his mind of what he
thought of Splinter who took such
chances in worlds championship
race. Craig took the dressing down"
without a show of resentment, AMI
when Murphy finally ran down the
big DetrOiter smiled sheepishly and
said: All right, Mike, | won't 10 II
again"
Luckily the slight strain caused by
his leaving off of the elastic bandage
did not bother Craig seriously, but just
the same it was noticed that he wore
the stocking in the final heat the next
day.
Uoro Hri1-on ho b,- n 11oon