Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-02-07

pion last year, and John Strachan. Cal,
ifornia tennis champion. arrived in
Honolulu on board the Sonoma YES
terday. ready to compete in the big.
gest tennis tournament ever held in
Hawaii. -. .: -. 49,. .~.-
The trio of racquet stars are conf
dent that they can uphold the honors
of thu Ta cific coast against the East
erner3, naw in The city, and all are
in good shape for the tournament.
Jchnstcn and Straehan have been play
ing in southern California where they
were successful in carrying Oft, the
premier honors
The California players practised on
the Rerstania courts yesterday and
will take the courts today for a
short workout Roth Johnston
and Griffin have played here be.
fore, and have many friends in Ho.
nolulu. Strachan is one OF the lead
ing PLAYERS in the West and was rank.
ed SECOND in the Pacific coast list
last year. He would have certainly
earned a place in the first 10 last year
had he participated in enough tourna.
ments.
peek" a Tactieian
Peck" Griffin is known as the gen.
eral of the court. Honolulu tennis
enthusiasts who watched this player
in action here in the last Carnival
tournament were especially impressed
with his short angle shots close to the
net, which placed his opponent out
Of The running His returns of hard
drives was especially good and his
tennis tactics have been admired by
all lovers of the racquet game
In the play during 1916 Griffin had
the edge on Champion Norris Will
ans. At Longwood it was Clarence
Griffin first and Norris Williams sec
ond. The California player also de-
feated Williams at Newport, being the
only player to defeat the champion
in two matches. On the other hand
Griffin fell before Kumagae on two
occasions. Griffifs play has been es-
peeiaify good in the doubles. and in
the indoor match played with Johnston
recently opposed to Mclaughlin and
Straehan, Griffin was. a bright star
Strachsn Young Star
When John Strachan joined the
Golden Gate Juniors he was mere
tot His friends said that he was 3, !
but he looked less than that when
he first started to play. In his early
days the women used to call him
Angel while the boys called him
Shrimp" Other players who were
defeated called him other names.
His aspect was certainly deceptive, |
and enabled the boys to play many a 4
practical joke on unwary strangers.
Some adult player, the larger the
better, would be invited to give the
boy lesson. The request would be
declined at first, with some
such words as, The youngster is too
small to WELD racquet
Once persuaded to play, the
stranger received the surprise of his
life. A sizzling service, powerful /
lrives; voIleys and overhead smashes
lowed off the racquet of the funny
title figure in an irresistible bonn
,ardment BY the end of the game
he mere grown-up, who had started
With a patronizing smile, as if to
;ay, This is really too ridiculously
,asy,' was limp with fatigue.
Desperate DueIs
"Strachan made giant strides with
lis tennis each month. He and Bill
Johnston had desperate duels for the
leadership Of the boys club. John
ton, as a rule, was a shade the
,etter of the two, but only mere
rifle.
AT one stage baseball threatened
o rob tennis of star. Strachanl
,layed for the Lowell High team, and
lid so well that many were afraid
lie would be enticed to the diamond
but season was
enough. His tennis was also threat
ned for period by his temper He
vas apt to suIk or lose control of
himself and smash wildly out Of the
curt in times OF stress.
The stern training of the game
radicated this serious blemish, and
lowadays there are few players who
axe the ups and downs of the tennis
lie more gracefully. A strong temper
5 an advantage rather than other
wise in competitive games, providing
t is under control. Tennis is an
xcellent discipline for the temper. A
layer quickly learns that he who
oses his self-controf has not chance
gainst the calm, cool-headed oppo-
ent. -. l.. .... -....
fasteners Practise Il
George Church and Harold Throek-
norton who arrived in Honolulu Mon.
ay morning on the Shinyo Maru
ED their first workout at the Bere-
ania courts Monday afternoon at
O'Clock. .. For more than an hour the
wo Eastern tennis stars showed some
f the speed that has placed them
mong the foremost players of Amer
"a. ill., .-...:
Beginning the play they limbered
p with short yolleys at the net, and
l this play Church showed something
tho work which 0aVp him a victory \