The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-02-22
BY FRANK G. MENKE.

NEW YORK. Feb 21.-Uncle Sam has
mapped out for himself for the COM
ing summer the busiest athletic season
that he has INDUCED In since John
Hancock and a number of other fellows
signed large sheet OF paper, thereby
detaching this section of the world
from English domain and made II a
nation by itself
Samnys going to tackle his English
rivals at pony polo iH-JuHeI sun1e-of
his offsprings are billed to battle with
the best tennis teams in foreign lands
in defense of Sammy's title as tennis
champion of the world one of Samny.s
home built sloops Will grapple with
Sir Thomas Lipton's boat to settle the
1914 supremacy of the seas, and Sam
mys juvenile golfing wonder. Francis
Ouimet, will. be called upon to defend
his title as open golfing champion of
the world.
Just now Sammy is the king of all
these sports. He's the champion, He
has stored away in his treasure vaults
all the ribbons. cups and other para
phernalia that one acquires when one
is able to wallop all opponents.
But 1T wouldn't be a bit surprising
/ II one or another of the hosts that
will invade these United States this
summer snatched a few laurel leaves
from the brow of Sammy. Not that
Sammys athletes have gone back :.
not that they aren't as. good. as, or
even q bit better, than they were when
they grabbed the several champion
ships. but there's a difference this year.
Sammy is on the defensive. Which
puts a slightly different aspect on
things.
Sammy and his athletic children have
everything TO lose this year and moth
ing to gain. Such a condition is liable
to make his defenders a bit nervous
and throw them OFF their real stride
long enough for the opponents to rush
in and clutch a trophy or two. The
challengers have everything to gain
and nothing to lose. So they won't be
very nervous and they'll take desperate
chances-chances that may risk defeat.
but may bring brilliant victory. Sam
my, as the title holder. can't take those
chances; he must go slowly and use
caution.
Americas chances OF repeating its
successes at pony polo do not seem
as bright this year as they did on the
eve of the 1913 conflict despite the
fact that the English at that time were
. to / betting favorites. The wonder
full American big Four" has been
broken up, and 1t seems doubtful II the
new combination can in few months
time develop the wonderful team work
I of the old Quartet.N
| Harry Payne Whitney. captain of the
1918 team. has announced repeatedly
that he will not try to make the team
this year. Whitney was wonderful
player, and an even more wonderful
leader, anu hts absence witt be felt.
Monte Waterbury. member OF last
years team has been elected captain
of the 1914 combination Deveraux
Mllburn. the wonderful backfield man.
no doubt. will make the team, but it
seems unlikely Just now that Larry
Waterbury, the other member of the
victorious team. will play again. II
he doesn't, and whitney does not
change his mind. there will be only
two members Of the old combination
on the new team.
The English poloists already have
begun practice. and early reports from
the other side indicate that they will
have even more wonderful team than
was sent over here last year and which