University Missourian., 1914-12-31

HIT HARD IN 1914
1t Was "The Year of the
Great Upset" in
Sportdom.
BRAVES IN LIMELIGHT
New FavoriteS in Baseball,
Pugilism, Golf, Rowing,
Polo and Tennis.
BRAVES IN LIMELIGHT
BY Hal Sheridan.


the athletic year of 1914. Baseball, pu
gilism, golf, rowing, polo and tenni
furnished new candidates for the pub
lie favor and the downfall of cham
pions who were supposed to be en-
trenched in the positions. Football
presented many surprises although
Harvard was able to repeat in tn
premier place.
With the Braves great dash for tn,
National League championship and tn,
even more thrilling grabbing of tn,
Worlds championship in four straigh
games the world is reasonably famil
lar. To analyze that double feat-wal
Looping the naughty Giants and the
peerless Athletics twice in the same
year-is something which would be
vain and prof1tless. Manager Sailing:
tried vainly to explain in his vaude.
vile engagement how his cohorts won
Perhaps the only explanation that car
be made is that Stallings inspired his
men to have confidence in themselves
and the whole matter may be summed
up in that little incident when he can
celled the Braves hotel reservations at
Philadelphia after the first two games
and said that his team would not re-
turn to the city for his team would
win the next two games at Boston,
making a return trip unnecessary.
Harvard Champion Again.
In football Harvard won again large
ly through the splendid coaching of
Percy Haughton and such excellent
players as Mahan, Bradlee, Hardwick,
Pennock and Logan. Whether it was
Haughton or whether it was the ma
terial at his command which brought
impressive triumph will always be a
mooted question. The effect of Brick
ley's absence must be considered in
such a debate. Yale, under the tutel-
age of Hinkey, was a factor until the
crushing defeat in the Bowl. Prince
ton, with wonderful material, was a
The surprise, howev-
er, came in the excellent showing made
by Cornell and the Army and the still
more remarkable games played by
Washington and Jefferson, Pittsburg,
Williams and Rutgers.
Two new boxing champions came to
the front in Kid Williams of Baltimore,
bantamweight, and Freddie Welsh of
lightweight. Williams
knocked out Johnny Coulon in the third
round at Los Angeles on June and
Welsh grabbed his claim to fame by
Willie Ritchie in London
on July Z. For those fans who crowd
the fight clubs expecting to see a
change hands, 1t may be |
we'll to point out that neither of these |
two fights was worth a lead quarter or |
a shilling to see. The remaining di-
visions of the pugilistic world have the |
same champions as they had year
ago. Johnny Kilbane is still feather /
weight leader and the other classes, 1
with the above exceptions, are in |
ioubt.
Boston Claims Three Winners.
Boston claims its third champion in
golfer Ouimet, who trimmed the vete-
an Jerry Travers after he himself
lad been beaten by Walter Hagen, a
professional, for the open champion
hip. Just what the distinction is be-
ween amateur and professional golf
would be difficult to state, but if a
,olfer may have amateur status, young
)uimet is without doubt the leader
# that class.
Maurice Mclaughlin, for the third
onsecutive year, takes first rank as
he best of American tennis players.
'ome questions arose as to whether
r not a time-honored precedent should
e set aside In order to give McLough-
in front rank, inasmuch as he had
cen defeated by Richard Norris Will
Jams ii in the final round of the ma
lonal championship tournament. But
recedent never stood a ghost Of a
hance with good old common sense
nd the ranking committee put the red
aired Californian in the premier po-
ition. Williams was placed second
nd Karl Behr third.
Columbia won the Poughkeepsie re-
alta, defeating the Cornell crew, to
surprise Harvard's sec
nd eight went to England and defeat
l the best that England could send
yainst them for the grand challenge
Up at Henley. Yale beat Harvard by
foot at New London, which was a
stinct blow at the grand old dope.
And last of all, small type, Ameri-
ms Big Four Polo team was bumped
It of the top position by the English
artet at Meadbrook. :.