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 beard the Sonoma yes
terday, ready to compete in the big
gest tennis tournament ever held in
Haw ali -. ..t~.:. .-.... ..-. ~.
The trio Of racquet stars are conf
dent that they can uphold the honors
of the 2anific coast against the East
erners. NV In The city, and all are
in good shape for the tournament.
Johnston and St-achan have been play
ing in southern California where they
were successful in carrying off the
premier hpnors.
The California players practised on
the Eeretania courts yesterday and
will take the courts today for a
short workout Both Johnston
and Griffin have played here be
fore, and have many friends in Ho-
nolula 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 tonrnl-
ments.
"Peck" 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 Wilt
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. Griffin's play has been es-
pecially good in the doubles, and in
the indoor match played with Johnston
recently opposed to Mclaughlin and
Strachan, Griffin was bright star.
Stracfan Young Star
When John Strachan joined the
Golden Gate Juniors he was a mere
tot. His friends said that he was .,
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
practical joke on unwary strangers.
Some adult player, the larger the
better, would be invited to give the
boy a lesson The request would be
frequently declined at first, with some
such words as, The youngster is too
small to WELD racquet
"On2e persuaded to play, the
stranger received the surprise OF his
life. A sizzling service, powerful
drives, yolleys and overhead smashes
flowed off the racquet OF the funny
little figure in an irresistible bonn
bardment. BY the end of the game
the mere grown-up, who had started
with a patronizing smile, as If to
say, This is really too ridiculously
easy, was limp with fatigue.
Desperate DueIs
"Strachan made giant strides with
his tennis each month. He and Bill
Johnston had desperate duels for the
leadership Of the boys club. john
ston. as rule, was a shade the
better of the two, but only mere
trifle
AT one stage baseball threatened
A. - Of GfF4RhQn
played for the Lowell High team, and
did so well that many were afraid
he would be enticed to the diamond
permanently, but season was
enough. His tennis was also threat
ened for a period by his temper. He
was apt to sulk or lose control Of
himself and smash wildly out OF the
court in times of stress.
The stern training OF the game
eradicated this serious blemtsh, and
nowadays there are few players who
take the ups and downs of the tennis
life more gracefully. A strong temper
is an advantage rather than other
wise in competitive games, providing
it is under control. Tennis is an
excellent discipline for the temper A
player quickly learns that he who
loses his self-controf has not chance
against the calm, cool-headed oppo-
nent. r.~
Fasteners Practise @
George Church and Harold Throek-
morton who arrived in Honolulu Mon.
day morning OH the Shinyo Maru
held their first workout at the Bere-
tania courts Monday afternoon at
3 O'Clock. For more than an hour the
two Eastern tennis stars showed some
of, the greed that has placed them
among the foremost players of Amer
lea. -.7
Beginning the play they imbered
UP with short volleys at the net, and
in this play Church showed something
of the work which gave him a victory