The Washington herald., 1922-01-28
Purely Personal.


Walter Johnson, Washington's
great pitcher, is complete proof Of
what form means in sport. Others
can at times get by without 1t
through a native knack, but they
can rarely last over the long route.
Johnson, using terrific speed, has
lasted sixteen years, because his
pitching motion was perfect rhythm.
with no jerk or strain, the last
word in top form, as form Is used
In this connection-which means the
easiest way to do a thing correctly.
And Johnson isn't through yet by a
number of strike-outs and hops to
his fast one.
Jesse Guilford. amateur golf
champion. happens to have the three
essentials for fine putting-aA un-
emotional nature, a firm, unmovcd
body under the test and a keen
touch with the fingers. There isn't
even a culver to Guilford's body as
he hits and puts His dexterity
with the hands is shown in certain
carvings he has made OF miniature
objects, calling for rare delicacy of
touch. Only Trsvers and Travis
have had this to any greater extent.
Bill Roper. of Princeton, Is au-
thority for the statement that things
can look entirely too well in ad-
vance. Last winter. at tbs time,
Roper seemed to have enough star
material to build UP two winning
teams. only to find the mental attI-
ture Of his squad badly adjusted in
the carly fan, with this followed by
a series of unkempt blows from
Fate. Now Bill says his squad will
understand in advance that only
hard work and hard training will
get anywhere. and there will be 4
better chance to get somewhere
The hardest thing in the world Is
to keep the right sort of mental at
tftude. meaning grim determination,
with too many things looking all
YOUR way.
Connie Mack Is wondering now
what single club he can beat out
this season to keep from skiddine
again into last place. Seven years
at the bottom is bad enough. with
OUT cracking any more records.
Mack's case Is the most remarkable
IN the history of sport. In 1914 he
stood out as the greatest manager
OF them all, with six pennant win
ners and three world champion
ships. He was the sole mandarin
to stand beyond McGraw, of the
Giants. To have this amazing rec
ord Followed by seven years Of COM
plete failure. seven years az the bot
tom OF the list. only goes to show
now quickly the tide can turn AT
times II you let it get under much
Roadway. The hardest thing in the
world to stop is a quick descent
that has attained a certain impetus
Ii seven years of failure could at
tack Connie Mack. only think OF
what might happen to an ordinary
mortal Proving again that more
than one great ball club has made a
great manager. 1855.
mig" Clarke was catching for
Atlanta in 1909. He came into the
league with one Of the Ereatest
throwing arms anv catcher has ever
carried into hattie. when "Sir''
went to Cleveland around 1905 he
led the league q year or so later.
since that early start Clarke has
been pegging them on a line to see
ond for nearly nineteen years. miss
ing only his neriod Of service with
the Marines during the war. He
writes US now that his arm Is as
good as ever. TN all that time, be
tween 1903 and 1922. I have never
had a sore arm. and" he adds, 'if
there is any difference from nine
teen wears ago 1 can't tell where II
is. This at least Is close to the
record for durability. Clarke had
a slow snap throw. much after the
manner of Jimmie Archer. And II