davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
BOXING BUSINESS M ENGLAND IS ON DOWNWARD GLIDE

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-The prize fight business is in the bread line in England because Joe Beckett was badly constructed with too much ballast above the neck and too little below the ankles. Augie Rather tine American, army fighter and. since the war professional middleweight. thus laid the blame on the human horizon line when he returned here from some desultory campaigning in the rings of England and Scotland.
 Brittons were game supporters of Joe Beckett. Rather said. but after he had fallen flat on them a few times their enthusiasm was souashed out. As Beckett was the head man of the fight business in his homeland. being the British heavyweight cham pion, every time he tumbled the prido of the sportsmen went down with him. However they were flor" him after his first defeat by Car pentier and were flor" him still after tho ancient Frank Moran knocked him out. It was only whom he went down before Carpentisr second time in less than half a minute and made no effort to rise, that British boxing fans threw in the sponge, towel water bucket and camp stool and de- oided to quit
 Now. because of Beck ett's top- heayiness, Rather said the boxing business is going hungry in Britain.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
MRS. HOPPE HAS SON M CUSTODY

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-Mrs. Will liam Hoppe, wife of the worlds pro fessional billiard champion, and her four-year- son. William, Jr., are united today after separation of a month, during which time the boy was In the custody of his father.
 Mrs. Hoppe yesterday started suit to recover custody of her son and after Supreme Court Justice Barr had Issued writ of habeas corpus requiring Hoppe to produce the boy in court, the cue star returned Will liam, Jr.. to Mrs. Hoppe, who then withdrew the suit.
 The suit revealed that Mrs. Hoppa and her husband became estrarged in June, 1922. They continued t. live in different apartments in the same house until November 26, las., when Hoppe, his wife alleged. left. taking both his son ~~d daughter with him. He returned the siri three days later.
 Mrs. Hoppe charged that because his billiard playing kept him away from his home every night until mid night Hoppe was not in position to Iloperly care for his son.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
UPSETS FEATURE JUNIOR NET PLAY
Two Seeded Players Lose 7 Out In Indoor Tennis
 Tourney

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-Upsets which eliminated two more of the seeded players in the junior national Indoor tennis championship featured today's play at Seventh regiment armory.
 The first seeded player to fall was Horace Orser of Stuyvesant High school, the number one player list; the second was Weller Evans. And over academy star. Orser was easily mastered, 64 s-3, by Kenneth Apple of East Orange, N. J.. High school; while Evans surrendered, s-s, s-2. to John Van Ryn, another East Orange youth.
 |, Another outcome which proved contrary to predictions was the de- feat of Carl Schuster of Dartmouth, by William Einsman of New York. The scoring in this match. s-s. 4-s. lS-11, indicates how stubbornly fought the match was.
 In the remaining junior match of tho day, Louis Watson of Columbia and Jack daretson of Cornoii engaged In & three- set battle. which went to Watson. e-1, e-s, 6-1,
 The results leave Apple and Wat son as opponents in the first semi final tomorrow and Van Ryn ana li1insman the contestants In the seeond bracket,
 In the beys championship, Maieom F, Hill, Loemis sohooii Eugene Mo- Auliff, New York; John Pittman, Hill seheei, and Jack Peak, Lawrence, Long Island, High school, won the right to compete in temsFrews semi finals. Except for PittmanA who was carried to p-7 in his second set with Maurice Perlow, the survivors expe- -rienced little difficulty in mastering their opponents,
 Five teams. two of which have yet te play their fourth round matoh re- mains in junior doubles competition.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
FROM THE OBSERVATORY LOOKING PROSPECTS OVER
Paddock Case Expected to Cause Hot Discussion
 At IN. C. A. A. Meeting

mittee- William Tilden muddle Is an other instance of such action on the part of individual.
 O O O
 The year that comes to B close Monday night at 12 o'clock will be remembered as one of the most sen sational of all years in athletics. More records have been shattered and more thrills created in sports during 1923 than in any year in history. Football was at it's height, baseball, both col legiate and professional was far ad vanced, many titles changed hands in fistic fray, the turf fans were treated to more sensational races and the tennis world even came through with phenominal happenings during the year. It was truly a year Of great athletics.
 Johnny McGinty is slated for some real competition Monday night when he meets Battling Budd in the Bir- mingham Athletic club ring. Local fans hope for another boxer in Mo Ginty who will gain national recog- milton.
 With the Christmas holidays over basketball will get into full swing ill colleges and athletic cubs as well as high schools the country over. With its resumption fans who have watched the playing of the Passaic High school team of Passaic, N. J., are wondering just how high it will be aole to run it's string of victories Tuesday night this combination played its one hundred and twentieth consecutive winning game. It seems that this prep aggregation Is a near wonder team. Despite the fact that 1t was considered one of the out standing teams of the country last season 1t was not entered in the na- ttonal meet, however. Just what the real reason was is still matter of conjecture. However, the coach of the quintet stated that his team was too light to play in the tournament This seems to have been a thinly veneered excuse and 1t appeared at the time that the officials of the high school may have been a little fearful of their record. Any team can win 120 games II the proper competition Is selected.
 O o o
 Locally basketball prospects Is still little illuminated question. Coach Irwin. of the Birmingham Athletic club has lot of confidence and two veterans who starred on last years five with which to work this year. The Blues have a stiff schedule and will have to -be strong to make a good showing.
 Neither of the local college lives has got into action as yet but both have good material. Indications ara that Howard and Birmingham-South ern will have good teams
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
KENTUCKY CAGERS REPORT TO WORK
Team Is Improving Rapidly On Two Practice SeS-
 SionS Daily

LEXINGTON, Ky. Dec. 27-(Spe- cial.) .)-Varsity candidates for the basketball team at the University Of Kentucky returned to active practice Wednesday afternoon after their Christmas holiday layoff and were sent through their paces, including basket shooting and passing.
 Notable among the absentees were Captain Chuck" Rice, who Is still having trouble with his knee, Turkey Hughes, who was given an additional day of freedom by Coach Buchiet. and Ralph Boren, candidate for the backguard position, who missed train connections at Louisville and was to report for practice Thursday.
 Considerable optimism was evident on the school grounds today as result of the greatly improved work that the team candidates have been displaying in holiday workouts. The showing which they made Wednes- day afternoon warranted the com. mendations which they received and should they continue to improve at the present rate, will give many of their opponents a good fight in the contests to come.
 Realizing that the first game of the year with Vanderbilt is but five days away, Bucheit has called on his charges to report at the gymnasium IWlce udlly QufiHB lHe IeIIdlHueT ol the practice season. Which means that they will report at 10 o'clock in the morning and at 230 in the aft ernoon.
 Leonard Tracy, star football play CT, and one of the best running guards in the university, reported for practice. He was also member of the national championship team from the Lexington High school. This ,-1- ffaaa hot Ia hoO reported from practice. the first time however, an injury he received during the football season, inca pacitated him to such an extent that he was forced to give his injuries time to heal completely. He Is in excellent condition and will give some of the candidates hard battle for a place on the squad once he hits his stride.
 Bill King, former member of the Wildcat five that captured the southern championship three years ago, has announced that he will re- turn to school with the coming of the second semester and will go out for the team provided the authorities pronounce him eligible. He left school early in the first term and has decided to return. He Is a forward and one of the best in the south, or was, three years ago. His work In the gymnasium has kept him in con- dition, however, and when he reports for practice will be in condition to give the forwards a battle for his old position.
 Last season the freshmen barely defeated the Vanderbilt first termers and as a number of them have made the first string five and have been ably reinforced by members of last seasons varsity, Vandy is sure to put up a battle from start to finish. Coach Josh Cody's men have been on tour through the north during the holidays and will have had several games advantage on the Wildcat five Whan the two schools rneet
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28

some hot discussion is expected to Aoe aroused over in Atlanta this week as the representatives to the Na- tiohaI Collegiate Athletic assoc1a- 1ioh take up the question as to the etlslplllty or Charles Paddock, great CallIornla sprinter. Paddock has been thrown out of the American Amateur Athletic Union on account or hls trip to France and competition there in the face of protests from thls governing body. As a result ol ms troubles he is at present disQIal- lfled as a member or the American Olympic team With all the furry that IS pelhg created at present by com mlttee feverisnly carrolling pros poets for teams of all descriptions to represent America at Paris when the great athletic meeting is held next year there Is bound to be quite a bit of heated discussion when Paddock's case comes up. f
 Paddock, however, like many an other good athlete, William Iilden, TOT instance, thinks he is an indis- penslbIe article in the athletic world, it seems. That his atlituae delylng the athletic union and cross Ing over to the continent TOT track competition was wrong is little doubted by critics who survey the muddle in an unbiased manner There
 
 ietics or athletics would be in d chaotic condition. And If there Is a ruling body then that body should be needed when it lays down a law.
 But there is quite a bit of criti- clsm of the present body from some angles on the grounds that 1t is too despotlc and exacting. When the matter was fresh howIs were heard from several stations in the realm oE sport against tke amaterr union. Whether the criticism was unjust or whether Paddock was right in mak- ing his trip in the face of author. itive opposition Is matter stlll being contested by both factions.
 o o O
 Nevertheless men who know Pad dock personally vouch for the fact that he is a headstrong fellow ana thinks much of Charles Paddock sprinter. It seems quite like the case of William Tilden. II, whom It IS said is very much enamoured with Ttlden. In such cases there Is nolh- Ing to do but cast out the offender, for when an athlete looks at him. self through convex lens and out grows the governing body then the body itself Is a handicap to the ath- lete and should consequently have the courtesy to rid the individual o1 it's shackles.
 Non- conformity is one of the greatest curses of American athletics in all branches. It seems that once an individual becomes fairly well known In national sports he Is ready to kick loose from all restraining bonds and declare himself supreme over all. The recent Davis Cup com
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
.Gourley Goes To New Y York To Study Plans

CLEVELAND, Dec. 27.-John 1T. .Gourley, assistant secretary of the National Baseball Federation, will : leave here tomorrow night for New York, where he will study the Na- tionai Playground associations plans ! for utilization witt the federation at the iatters annual meeting in Balti- more in January,
 Gourtay. who also is secretary of the Cleveland Amateur and Athletic association. also will so to Washing ton to attend the convention of the , National American Athletic Feder- htion. an offspring of the Amateur Athletic Union, He declared that it is rot unlikely that ths Ohio division will withdraw from the A, A, U, and affiliate wit hthe N, A. 4, E., as 1t 'sfs disgustsd with the treatment 1t received at the last annual meeting . of tho A. A, U. in Detroit, when all the national swimming championship races were awarded to the Illinois Athletic slub of Chicago,
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
PREDS AND ACIPCO TO PLAY FRIDAY
Mystery Team Will Play 2 Picked Quintet As Added
 Feature

-7s One of the best games of the local g t amateur basketball season Is ex-
 pected Friday night when the fastest
 teams of two speedy loops get to- = sether in the Central Y. M. c. A. ,a5 gymnasium at o'clock. The Fifth ,9ii Avenue Preds, the flash outfit of the
 city Sunday school league, will run - afoul of the Acipco Y. M. C. A. five
 one of the best combinations of the q City Basketball league, in the game s- and fans who have watched these .f-sttwo leagues play their weekly games
 this season will get chance to draw
 conclusions as to their comparative ai' strength. The games that have been .played by the loop quintets so far ''this season have been far better than
 those of last. showing a big improve E f ent in speed and accuracy in shoot
 ing With the choice of the two
 leagues the game should be real s.s battle.
 ..sF An added feature of the evenings H program will be the appearance of
 masked team playing under the cog
 nomen of "The Boilermakers." whether their monicker was selected : sls from their line of work is still an un- decided question, but fans who have
 snsaked into the "" gym to see the
 mystery five practice say that their
 brawn and weight would do credit Us to their profession but that their &C., ltiu euracy would suggest a more suit
 able name of The Scoremakers" 'eeg This team of masked marvels' @eT will go into action against a picked . oi.. team of stars and will probably play
 with their masks on Although the ,,y Pred officials demurred little at
 playing a team of masked men, they
 left the matter up to Coach ". ". t3Abell of the Y. M. c. A., who Is han sfdling the game, and 1t is likely that he sawfll consent to letting the masked siteam mask as there Is no harm to
 be done by hiding their identity. This
 game will probably start at about sss s:30 o'clock.
 'sss 4hs game is being played under 'ssa ne auspices of the Brotherhood class A~ of the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian n,church and the proceeds of the game ~will so into the basketball fund of
 the Sunday school team. An admis- sion price of 25 cents has been placed On the game for this reason
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
MANY HORSES IN NEW YEARS RACE

NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 27.-Twenty- nine nominations for the New Years Day handicap, the feature of the opening day program at the fair grounds Tuesday. were announced today. An added value of s5,000 Is attached to the event, which Is for three-year- olds and upward al mile and sixteenth. The nominations follow:
 Belzoni, Setting Sun, The Roll Call, Hermis Kemble, Olynthus, Rama. John Paul Jones, Dustabout, Dr. Clarke. Triumph. Sollsa, Rinkey. Moonracker. Flying Devil, Best Pal, Barracuda Tender Seth, Brunell, Bradley's Toney. F1intstone, Rallies, O Henry, ,Delante. Gust of Honor, Lord Granite, Kennesaw, Amole, Blotter, Revenge.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
FLORIDA CHOSE } BY MANY TEAM FOR 1924 CAMP

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-Florida V be the training mecca for maj league ball players next spring. Completion of the list of camps 1924 reveals that nine clubs-six N tional league and three Americ league outfitters will hold their cd in the Everglades sta the greatest number ever attract to any southern locality.
 Of the remaining seven clubs, each have chosen Alabama, Cali { mia. while Georgia, Louisiana Texas have attracted one each. Only four clubs have chayN training sites for next season, T 4 losing the Giants and the Chi White Sox, both having migrate 0 Florida.
 The list of training camps fol American League.
 New York-New Orleans.
 Cleveland-Lakeland, Fla.
 Chicago-Winter Haven, Fla. Detroit-Augusta, Ga.
 St. Louis-Mobile, Ala.
 delphia-Montgom Ala. Washington Tampa. Boston-San Antonio,
 O O O National League. New York-Sarasota, Fla.
 Cincinnati-Orlanda, Fla.
 Pittsburg--Paso Robles, Cal. Chicago-Catalina Island, Cal. St. Louis-Bradentown, Fla.
 Brooklyn-Clearwater, Fla.
 Philadelphia-Leesburg, Fla, Boston-St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
Queens After Wills


 NEW ORLEANS. Dec. 27.-Battling Owens. dubbed in local fistic circles the best negro heavyweight developed in New Orleans since Harry Wills, and believed by many to be even better than Harry, wants to fight Wills In his home town and Is beg ging local promoters to stage the mill. Owens. who weighs around 240 pounds, is said to have cleaned out all the negro heavy talent In Ohio. where he has been fighting recently, and wants to come home for some action. His recent accom- plishments include victories over George Godfrey, Pinkie Lewis and Tut Jackson.
 Experts declare Owens one of the toughest persons to appear on the fistic horizon in several years and many believe if Wills were to get going with him he would come out on
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
Great FiniSh-American Dis tance Runner Will Seek To Gain LaureIs For Finland Rather Than America At Paris
YORK. Dec. 27.-

NEW YORK, Dec. 27.-America lost one of her outstanding prospects for Olympic and cross-country dis {. Stance running laurels today when se gf Willie Ritola, national 1O-mile and cross-country champion, announced that he would wear colors of Fin land in the 1924 international meet lsS at Paris.
 Ritola's decision to return to his native land, probably for all time, came as a surprise to athletic fol- lowers because the Finish-American Athletic club star has been resi- ss dent of this country for 10 years, ' if making his competitive appearance here in 1918 and developing into recognition during the last two years as the nations most consistent dis tance performer.
 In addition Ritola had already $ taken out first citizenship papers, but it developed that some question ,N to eligibility to represent America, arose unless he had obtained final T7I papers prior to the meet next June This was met with his making public ts9 his desire to return to his native land. ,asa Ritola asserted he would probably condition himself to compete in three of the distance running features of , the Olympic program, the 5000 and : 10 000-metre runs and the 3000-metre KS team race.
 s fqs Ritola voiced regret at leaving :. America, but pointed out that all of his progress had been made under a the direction of Finish advisers and 'Ss that his closest ties and associations were with his native land.
 He expressed the hope that he would oppose Joie Ray, his rival for running honors last season, In the 4A Olympics Ray and Ritola figured in sensational series of races on indoor tracks here last winter, but the latter's departure next week has abruptly checked plans for renewal of this contest in the next few months.
 Ritola officially notified the A. A. U. of his intentions today and asked for formal certification to his amateur status. This will be acted upon by the committee on foreign relations.
 - Finland with Ritola added to a which already includes flames Kolehmalnen, winner of the 1920 Olympic marathon, and Paavo Nurmi, credited this year with a worlds record mile run, will be more strong ssly fortified than ever to dispute America's supremacy in the track and field games.
 Besides capturing the national Ntsenior cross-country and 1o-mile championships for the last two years, Ritola gained additional fame by three record breaking indoor races last winter. One of these was established February 14 when he defeated Joie Ray in a stirring 5.000-metre race, but the Chicago flier turned the tables two weeks later, defeating the Finn over the same distance and setting a new mark of IA minutes. 54 seconds. | Ritolas other records. which still | stand, were for the three and four mile runs which he negotiated in 1 ''l4;15 4-5 and 1927 4-5, respectively.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28

rather obvious. It is we'll to kee1 those pointers in mind, though tn be sure that they are not forgot. ten In the heat of the game. The amateur above all things, must learn to keep himself from rettins excited.
 A common fault among amateur outfielders Is the running down and catching of long fouls when there is a man on third and not two out Ia tnelr eagerness to make good showing the outfielders forget that if the pal Is caught the batter will score. It Is hard to let it go. hut they must keep their heads and do so. some of our best major league outfelders make that mistake some times. l have seen important games. lost by it.
 I know that some of the old timers will laugh at these simple sugges- tons. But they should remember that these boys are not playing ball Tor living and that they are liahia to be carried away in the excitement of their game. All of us had to learn our first reader at some time At any rate, we have to remember what we did learn
 All The Way To The Club House.
 To show you that a ball player otten forgets. there have been two
 
 an outfielder ran to the club hou after making catch with men q bases, thinking that there were U 1 out. In one game at the Polo GrouA m New York an outfielder-BallS Il think 1t was-caught a long when the bases were full and sE out.
 Something got crossed in his be and he started straight for the cl,N house. The players started chasin him, trying to tell him that ther were chasing him to get the bail waved his hand gaily and dashet through the exit gate leading to tn 4 club house. They finally chased him right up into the locker room and had to wrestle him down to get the ball. In the meantime all three rrn- ners had scored.
 Even as clever an outfielder es Red Murray once did a similar trick. He caught ball with one out and started away with 1t, allowing & man to score. They caught Murray, tho park.
 l was playing in 8 game areains. Cincinnati once and was on first base. The pitcher and catcher seemed to have a misunderstanding as to what to pitch. While the pitche was peering at the catchers gloveS and shaking his head I deliberately walk ed down to second base-didn't even run. In his worry over the sign. he had forgotten all about runne ing on first.
 l really feel that I wouldn' | doing any good for myself or for baseball if I didn't try to heip out the college and other amateur players. As I go along I will give them some more little points to think over.
 Tomorrow: Do You Know a Bons- head When You See One?
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
Strib In Newark

NEWARK. N. J.. Dec. s7-Young Stribling, 19-year- old boxer of Ma con. Ga., arrived here today to com plete training for his bout New Years afternoon with Dave Rosen- berg of Brooklyn. With him were Pa" Stribling, who acts as his man ager. and his mother. The party will go to Summit, where Stribling will train at Freddie Welch's farm.
The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-12-28
Hockey Team To Play

PITTsBuRd, Pa. Dec. 27.--Mem- bers of the American Olympic hockey, team have been ordered to report next Monday in Boston. 1t was an- neuaeed today by W. s. Haddook, president of the United States Anna tsuf Hockey association, te play five exhibition games before their depar- turs for France, The team will leave New York January 8,