The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1921-12-25
AMERICANS RETAIN.
SPORT SUPREMACY.
IN ENTIRE WORLD.
u. S. Athletes Uniformly
Successful in Competi-
ton With Foreigners.
POLO WIN FEATURE
Dempsey Carpenter Fight the
Greatest Spectacle of
All Time.
BY w. J. MACBETH.

Interest IN sports and recrca-
tons of all sorts developed, no
doubt, in the reaction from the
world war, reached the boiling
point of fervor in the year that
is fast drawing to a close. Dur
ing 1921 the high-water mark was
reached in practically every branch
of popular athletic endeavor, anna
teur and professional.
Though not an Olympic year, so
far as America is concerned, the
season was one which provided a
wealth of international competi-
ton. In this the Star Spangled
Banner was in no manner sub
jugsted or furled. Early in the
season our splendid tennis players
journeyed to the far-off antipodes
and reclaimed the Davis Cup, en-
blematc of the worlds champion
ship at the net game. These hon
ors later were successfully de-
Tended at Forest Hills against the
best of twelve nations.
Even more sensational, because
it was not so confidently expected
the issue would prove so hatter-
ing to American prowess, was the
victory in June of Devereux Mil
burns great polo four. Mr.. Mil
burn and his doughty comrades
wrested from England the coveted
Polo Cup and with such ridiculous
ease as to prove our polo quite
equal, If not superior, to the sup
posedly invincible British brand,
whatever credit they insist upon
giving our ponies for the achieve
ment.
Pros Avenge Amateurs.
1t is true our amateur golfers
who invaded the British Isles in
great numbers last spring met a
sad fate at the hands of their cous-
ms across the sea. But in turn
our professionals, led by Jock
Hutchison, took fitting revenge
and walked off with the open
championship OF Great Britain
Later in America our golfers in
turn successfully withstood the
combined onslaught OF Britain S
best amateurs and professionals
though it must be conceded that
Miss .Alexa Stirling, our woman
champion, was no match for the
wonderful Miss Cecil Leitch, I'M
doubtedly by far the most wonder
full woman golfer of all tims
But if Miss Stirling and Others
OF our fair sex failed after giving
OF their best with wood and iron,
not so Mrs. Molla Bjurstedt NAL
lory, the wizard of the racket. who
disposed of Mile. Suzanne Leng-
len, of France, considered as alb
solutely invincible before she de-
faulted at Forest Hills. This de-
fault, by the way, was the most
pathetic incident of crowded sea
son of international sports.
The Jack Dempsey-Georges Car
pentier fight on July at Boyle's
Thirty Acres was not only the
high light of the international COM
petition. but without doubt the
srandest individual sporting spec
tacle of all time. And the cham
pionship, needless to say, remained
in America.
The greatest surprise not only
OF the year, but ia decade, was
the defeat OF Willie Hoppe, for
fifteen years king of the balk-line
billiard game. by Young "Jake"
Schaefer, of Chicago. Hoppe had
come to be regarded as invincible.
His overthrow has precipitated a
mad rush back to this particular
cue sport which for many years
had been threatened with dryrot.
Uncle Sans marine flag was
dampened a bit by our brother