New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-24
COMMENT ON SPORTS
Columbia Crew May Force
Cornell to Take Its Water.
COLLEGE MINES IN TANGlE
News and Views on Live Topics
of the Day, Both Amateur
and Professional.

VI bllC 10y ONpAA
and Professional.
II form and Workmanship count for any
thing the eight-oared crews Of Cornell and !
Columbia will fight out the finish in the
varsity race at four miles in the big re-
gstta at Pouehkeepsie next Saturday. Cor !
nell is a slight favorite at this time, but
most rowing critics hold Columbia in high
respect and I, for one, would not be sur
prised If the Blue and White eight should
break the amazing sequence of Cornell
victories Jim Rice, the Columbia coach, |
is quite as optimistic as he was three or
four weeks ago. when he predicted in the
Comedian" that his crew would row to
victory on the Hudson this year. He Is
not the least bit boastful, however. and
his quiet confidence Is so convincing and
his acknowledged ability so apparent that
] feel disposed almost to join with him and
pick Columbia to win. TO he honest how
ever, it would be only a guess. as I have
not seen as much Of the crews this year
as necessary to form any definite conclu-
sion AS matter of fact, both crews
have impressed me with being so close to
the standard that no choice could be made
without manufacturing some evidence that
did not appear TO the eye of more or less
of a layman 50 far eight-oared shell
racing in its finer points is concerned.
There is little or no hang in either Shell
between strokes: the power in each APP
pears to be applied in way to make the
shell run smoothly and TO get the best
results. there is little or no swinsing out
of the boats or rushing the slides; while
Iii, I..t., InI to
any difference worthy of mention. Both
are strong, powerful finished crews
1t must not be forgotten that Cornell had
a close call last year, when COLUMBIA man
COLLAPSED within quarter Of mile oil the
finish at time when the Blue ana Nmte
crew was in front. Rice does not hesitate
10 say that his combination is a better ana
stronger one this year. and IT such turns
out to be the case there IS reason Tor Co
,umbia men to feel confident "Old Man
Courtney whose fame as coach has traN-
elled around the world, is saying little or
nothing. as usual, but it may be empha-
sized that he has practically veteran
crew lie seems TO be well content TOO
with tho work or his men, otherwise ne
would not nave devoted some time TO ln' |
LELAND Stanford crew, which has traVeiIeu
three thousand miles across the continent
to row in the big regatta.
4 week ago / accepted the opinion OF
a man whose. Judgment on rowing ] have
found reason to respect concerning the
syracuse crew. and remarked that it did
not appear up TO the average since the''
however have changed my ideas on the
subject. and expect to see Syracuse give
Cornell and Columbia a good race, Ihere
IS much about the crew to command aile"-
1ion. and in any case the shell Sips dlohE
through the water i'm practice with enough
sreeJ and smoothucss to mark Vt danger
oue II may be recalled that Syracuse won
the varsity race i'm 1904 and again IN lv'a'
The cycle Of four years has now arrived
again. and II is possible that history may |
,epeat itself The Stanford men again must
he applauded for their spoltsmahshp III
travelling across the continent with the
interest OF rowing at heart, but IT is hard
10 see how they will be able to overcome
The handicap Of strange shell strange
currents and strange water, and Tor tha'
raason they are not considered seriously.
Wisconsin Is Boosting Of one or the pest
crews that ever came out Of the West out
ludzing from all ] have heard and from
what 1 have seen the eight VIII have us
work cut out % beat Pennsylvania Tor
fourth place.
The college baseball season came 10 an
and last week. with the exception Of one or
two games. but I have decided TO postpone
the ranking which ! have undertaken to
make until next Monday, so as TO devote
more time to unravelling an Intricate tangle
Five games were played in the last few
davs which had distinct bearing on the
standing Yale won two games and the
sAries with Harvard. Cornell was badly
heaten in two games with Pennsylvania,
while Brown wound up a most successful
season on Thursday by defeating Yale, and
thereby earned what looks Ike reason
ah1, clear title 10 third place. Frank
olIinbv. the new amateur coach at New
Haven. deserves high credit for developing
a strong. finished nine outside Of three
.,,naccountably bad games, the Yale men
showed keen and comprehensive knoWI-
edge of inside baseball and it may be men
TONED that the team was sadly weakened
INST before the third Princeton game by an
sniurv TO Blossom. the brilliant shortstop
and 4 good hitter. The loss OF game to
Williams and two games each to Princeton
and Brown robs the team OF any chance 10
ne placed better than fourth, but the two
victories over Harvard made up in part TO
vale men for other defeats, as under or
binary circumstances a victory over far-
ward is worth two over any other college.
Il is hard TO account for Cornens slump
in the closing weeks Of the season, but
slump the team did, and so badly that
three games were lost 10 Pennsylvania,
while only one was won in the last five or
six played.
II the New York Giants and the wash
ington Senators, to say nothing Of sew
aaal other teams. had their way, j. Frank
m Baker. who has acquired the habit OF
making home runs at inopportune times
would be released forthwith. The man
who did so much TO win the worlds cham
rionship for the Athletics last October was
the same one who cut short the remarkable
winning streak Of the Washington Senators
on Wednesday He seems to be the self
appointed Nemesis Of all ambitious teams.
and clark Griffith now loves him about as
much as McGraw does. In coming within
three games OF the major league record
for consecutive victories, the Senators de-
serve high praise. They have been playing
Lind Of I4coba1t which wins DeDnaDts