Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-12-28
MONTY SUMS UP
LIST OF CHAMPS
Only Few Men Can Law
Clean Claims in all
Sportdom
MANY DISPUTES ON
Boxing Claims Are Most Mixed Tn of
Any One Lfne-II0ppe Remains
Undisputed Billiard Leader.
BY MONTY.

striking thing to student of the
sport situation is the fact that nearly
every championship of the year is
clouded in some sort Of doubt. Boxing,
golf, tennis, football and various de-
partments OF track and field athletics
are notable cases in point. Even
baseball offers ground for much ar
gument.
The champion team of baseball the
best team in the world, is one mat
ter about which there can be no
question after the overwhelming sup
eriority shown by the Philadelphia
Athletics. The Giants established
their claims as champions of the Ma
tional League equally as clearly, but
there are other things that the fan
likes to consider in which he can
Although most followers of the game
consider Walter Johnson Of Wash
ington the best pitcher of the year
there are plenty of good arguments
for those who contend that the hon
or belongs to Christy Mathewson of
the Giants. Tyrus Cobb of Detroit
Is conceded to be the premier batter
OF the year, but the question as to
the most valuable player, all con-
sidered, is an open one. Eddie Col
Inns, the Athletics second baseman
! has the most supporters, but many
will arise and proclaim Jake Dau-
bert, the champion batter and first
baseman Of the Brooklyns, his sup
erior in general worth. The hot con-
test to-. joe Tinker's services wl1eG
the Cincinnati Reds decided to get
rid of him also brings his name in
to the discussion.
In golf, many will proclaim Fran
els Ouimet, the Brookline amateur
the best in the country because of
his victory over both amateurs and
professionals, not to mention the
Englishmen, Vardon and Ray, in the
open championship. Yet Jerry Ira
vers beat Quimet on numerous oc-
casions, including the amateur tourn-
ament, and many regard Travers as
the likely Victor over Ouimet at any
time they should happen to meet
again. Travers was more consistent
than Ouimet and won many tourna-
ments besides the amateur one
In tennis Anthony F. Wilding, of
New Zealand, is ranked first by most
enthusiasts because of his beating
Maurice Mclaughlin, of California
the. American champion, in the all
English tourney But Norman Z,
Brookes, another Antipodean, was not
In that event and has claim on the
title. Moreover. Mclaughlin, by viz
tue of his being the big star of the
Davis Cup contests generally re-
garded as the worlds championship
surely has something to say.
Boxing Is Mixed.
Boxing is the biggest mixed up of
all. There is no heavyweight cham
pion, no leader of the middleweight
division, none in the welterweight
class, and the other grades all Of
fer ground for dispute. Willie Richie
generally called the lightweight
champion of America, has shown a
Discrimination to make the regular
lightweight limit of 1873 pounds ring
side, and he also has refused to meet
Freddie Welsh, the English champion
He also acted queerly in regard to
Tommy Murphy bout The feather
weight title is practically on the open
market, for Johnny kilbane can not
make the weight limit any more, AID
the same is true OF Johnny Coulon,
the bantam title holder.
A month ago everybody regarded
Hannes Kilehmainen. the little Fin
lander, as the best distance runner in
the world. But, when he was sick on
the day of the national cross-country
championship in New York, and Abel
Kiwiat. the little Hebrew runner OF
the Irish American CLUB, won lhe
event in. better time than koleh-
1nainen had made over the same
course in the Metropolitan cham
Dionship, the argument was on. And
there is no way to decide it.
Ted Meredith Of Philadelphia ION
Halpin of Boston, Kiyiat and Mel
Sheppard Of the Irish Americans OF
Nav york, and Homer Baker Of the
~ york Athletic Club all nave
n Aims to being the best middle dis-
tSilce runners Of the year. Howard
,the little negro Of Springfield.