New-York tribune., 1918-03-10

hockey players 10 Soii'S ~ "e GO N<'-
regulation number of nine lives.
surface.
The third round goes this way
sporting Editor, The Tribune.
..Dear Sir: read with mucn in
forest the comment in last Sundays
tribune by Fred Hawthorne, on the
relative merits as hockey players O.
Herb Drury. of Pittsburgh, and the
dashing and spectacular Eobey
Haker, row IN service in France.
Comparisons ordinarily are odious,
hut not so in sports, for the mere
TACT Of a man being put IN the same
class with the great players of the
game is compliment. Such is the
esse in the question recently raised
in hockey circles over the great
athletes, Hobey Baker and Drury.
think Hawthorne, IN his contention
that the latter is the better of the
TWO. is absolutely correct, and he
backs up his argument in strong
manner.
II have followed up hockey in New
York almost from the time it was first
started here. and in that time l have
seen some wonderful hockey players,
and Baker IS among them. His play,
however, centred entirely around his
marvellous speed He was never a
finished hockey player; no man can
be who can shoot only from the righc
or left side. or who is unable to stop
in his own tracks and double back
and catch the opposing forwards.
In these two departments Of tha
game Baker was weak. He was a
phenomenal skater and great
dodger. and had cannon-like and
accurate shot from the right side. but
By clever opponents was easily bo--
tied up Had he played with and
been coached by some OF the great
Canadian players, ne would have
ranked as among the greatest play
ers Of the game. AS it was. when he
was at his best. as Hawthorne says,
he was II mediocre company.
"To ny mind. Drury's comparison
should not be with Baker at all, for.
without delving into the records. I
can recall six or seven men whom all
hockey followers agree were above
Baker a his best. They are Tom
Howard OF the New York Athletic
Club and Wanderers, father Of the
Tom Howard now playing with the
navy; Bob Wall, who was a snail 10
speed compared TO Baker, bat one OF
the coolest and most effective play
ers we ever had here; Arthur Lift
ton, Billie Dobbie, Drysdale and Ru-
pert Howard
The first five were Just as effec-
tive and valuable men to their teams
as Drury, wonderful player as the
latter Is. Drury. however, can work
MS way out Of q tight hole better
than any man ever seen at St. Mich
olas Rink, with the exception of
Russell Bowie, OF the old Victorias.
OF Montreal, who was in n class by
almseif, that Is, among amateurs. He
also would compare favorably with
any OF the professionals seen here.
Il note with amusement the come
back OF a writer in an evening paper,
claiming Dcury should not be men
toned in the same breath with Baker.
He knows little about inside hockey.
and. like many others, was carried
away with Bakers speed and could
see none Of his hockey short-com
lngs. EX-CANADIAN."
This comment on the matter seemz
SO excellent TO US that we are well
content to rest our case for the time
beng, or until the next assault upor
Our will to compare. This We vii,
say. however, IN answer TO the state
meHt made by the writer or an even
lhg newspaper, referred 20 by "F,x-
oanadan.' that 1T is e. waste Of inb
and paper to compare Herbert Drury
with Hobey Baker"
Both ink and paper would have beer
better employed in :. comparison Of
Drury with men like the elder Ton
Howard, Wall. Lifiton or Dobbie. mey
wao knew the great game from "sour
TO nuts' and who would have IN
Termed the great Hobev for most o.
NE games in which ne played, had hc
Deen on opposing teams. Yet, after
Feaclng over the arguments IN favol
o. Baker advanced bv the evening
newspaper critic, we believe we under
s.anc the lat-er's viewpoint, but o
course. II ali depends upon the wa.
you USE the ink and paper.
The triumph Of Mrs. Seton Bercs
,ord, Of England, a. the St. Nichola
Sna last week. when she defeata,
Miss Theresa Weld. % Boston, Tor tn,
women international figure skatin'
championship, came as q distinct shoci
=, % many o. the spectators who wa:chct
'nese two queens Of the ice perform
On the tina! night, when free skatin,
was the programme.
AZ shis style Of skatins Miss Vel,
showed clear superiority, bet tn
.ree skating counted only onc-thlrd il
sae point score, and at tho schoo
aagafes, or the previous Afternoon
Ars. beresford had demonstrated he
advantage oYer tho Boston eirl al
aost as deeisiyely. However, both ar
s"h exceptional uis.ressez Of the ar
sad 50 closely watchod, that there /
aohor enough for each.