Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-09-26
HAGEN CRITICIZED FOR
ACTIONS ABOARD SHIP
Drove Over 600 Golf Balls Into
Ocean Just for Practice"
While Coming Over.
By Cross-Atlantic scrvice.)


AfAECH ESTER, ENGLAND. Sept.
2G.-Lionel V. Manning. writing in
1.-THE Dispatch" comes to the defense
OF the American as sportsman,
saying: 'Hagcn's recent Eolfing ex-
ploits on board a liner have been
much criticized by English sports
men. But has the criticism been
just?
1t Is n human weakness the world
over TO condemn what we do not
understand. We do not understand
the American OBJ a sportsman-and we
arc apt TO misjudge him. His su-
prone concentration, his frank belief
In himself. his embarrassing habit
aloud his Utmost thoughts. and the
national weakness for stunts" have
blinded US to his real worth az q
sportsman.
When Hagen, the crack American
golfer, came over TO take part In our
open championship. he drove some
sea-just for practice. When he ar
rived, he gave the Deal course what
he would term the once over" told
seouli do four Sss." and offered to
take odds OF 10 TO against himself
winning tho championship!
Upon the return voyage he nIeo
champion for -the championship OF
the Atlantic" and had the details
wirelessed from mid-ocean.
Yet those who played golf with
! Hagen Oh this side Youch for him as
splendid sportsman and n chiyal
rous opponent What Is tho expla-
II is partly that the American pur-
suos his games as he does his work
hcreely. lie is out to win. and con-
Issue "a II his business career was
! at stake The average British player
OF games has decp-rooted habit oil
ter!ng to an almost fatuous extern.
his opponent.
That is regarded as sporting
| Actually IT is rather foolish
The American Is a good loser and
more important--always q good win
ner. "Bill" Ttlden. the af1-eo nquerins
tennis champion. who has just beaton
f ihIs re ai cur o Wne best Is ssfa
iathletes went to the States a few
| months ago and: broke records, they
were lionized to a far greater extent
defeated Oxford and Cambridge.
Again. what to us SO often seems
an impsrtinence Is. in an American,
ihG @2 r F sayng 5os. What ,, b,
friend will say. Gee. that'e a bully
suit you're wearing. How much did
you give for itr' In Bond Street we
meet friend. and only think these
| things 1t il better 80. maybe but
which Is the higher virtue, diplomacy
or frankness2
The American boxing mans method
or "fEhting with his tongue" is, of
course. lndefensible, but II is not
quite 80 Objectionable when one un-
derstands the Americans. II is when
one comes to baseball that IL ia fnosf
difficult to get the American point of
view which is 50 alien to all our no
tons OF fair play.
Imagine, cay. Hobbs shaping TO bat
al old TraHord. Just as he Is about
10 make his stroke. the whole of the
crowd-if II were basebal-would
consider II part OF their business to
throw him of his purpose of hitting
the ball by hurting rude remarks at
nm. They would set themselves de-
liberately to confuse and upset the
player.
No American has ever satisfied
torily explained this to me- They saw
II Is just part Of the days fun for the
spectator; that IL IS meaningless, and
mat the players never take any no.
lice or 1t They point, in return. to
our football crowds and their attitude
towards the referee. but no football
crowd-even at the most exciting
Cupte-eyer rose TO the frenzied
heights of abuse reached by the aver
age "rooter" at an American ball
park