The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-01-05
WAL. .S.HSA|Y5.
NURNN
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Only Antelope Could Out
distance Finn in Big Race
Tomorrow
By DAVIS ]. WALSH
International News Service Sporting
Editor.

International News Service Sporting
NEW YORK, Jan. 5.-Not since
the days of the Derando-J ohnny
Hayes match races of happy menu
DRY has New York become SO ex-
ercised as it has over the impend-
ing American debut of Paavo
Nurani, worlds greatest runner,
at Madison Square Garden tomor-
row night. Nurmi will start IN
q special mile and q 5,OO0-meter
run at the Finnish-American A. =.
games and his appearance VIII
mark q revival in track and field
athletics such as followed the
1903 Olympics at London, where
Derando was carried across the
line in the marathon and Hayes,
finishing second, subsequently de-
clared the winner.
That incident made for arch
rivalry and the present instance
has much in common with 1t. After
being beaten four times by Nurml
at Paris. the American runner, who
would give his windpipe for VIC
tory over the Finn, is an American
runner without the ambition OF
seoond foot man. Joie Ray, Lloyd
Hahn, Walter Higgins and Jimmy
Connolly are some of the entries
who viii essay to take issue with
Nurrni over the mile distance.
As far as the writer is concerned,
they might as well try to take issue
with an antelope. It is said Nurmi
VINE be handicapped by his lack
of familiarity with indoor running,
which is probably the case. Ny
idea of an adequate handicap Tor
NtfEmi is to call in Houdini and let
hirh do his worst. --.z
THE general interest, in fact, IS
ifSNurmi himself, and not in the
possibility Of his defeat. His rec
OrSls have created an aura around
him such as no American public
can resist, and he has added TO
his attracfiyeness with . per.
sanaIify that runs strongly 10
temperament and an 1mm0derate
sense Of the theatrical. HIS SER
timing during races is only ono OF
his idiOsynerasies.
Evidence of bad blood between
Nurmi and Willie Ritola, Ameri-
canfzed fellow-countryman, also has
had its popular appeal. Actually.
they are as friendly as pair OF
hermit crabs, but much has been
said about the case that does not
caEya basis OF truth.
Il has been declared that their
ensaitv started when Nurmi de-,
clfEed to shake hands with Ritola
AFR the 5 ,000-meter race at Paris.
It also has been intimated that they
haa agreed to set a moderate pace
in5fi4ss event and that Ritola at
tempted to double-cross Paavo by
stepping out on him, three laps from
home It is to laugh.
Ritela had all he could do to stay
on Nurmi's heels through the
greater portion of this race. There
was no Understanding" no brother
acE about it. Nurmi went out to
win; and he did. They say that
RiKaia was less than two yards back
ats41ae finish, which is true. But
they neglect to state that Nurmi
was eake-walking. while he looked
back over his shoulder, when the
incident in question occurred. He
co1lds have stepped five seconds
ld&4SF1 "AllO ASAbOLo WoO ga 49,
0ufs
AS a matter OF fact their un-
fr1endIia1ess antedated the Incl.
dent by several days. It began
when Nurni "prOpOsitioned"
R8tola on the 10000 metre race,
which he wished to conduct aS
a7.tw0-man, Misunderstanding affair.
Hitola refused to be a party to
the. proceedings and Nurmi with
drew from the race, which was
won by Ritola, some twelve seconds
under the worlds record. If 1t
was possible to have beaten Nurmi
at4Paris, Ritola would have done
1t I'D this race.
they will meet tomorrow night
at 900 metres and -Nurmi, un-
familiar with board floor running
and having finished a hard mile
cartier in the evening, will be al
something of a disadvantage. But
he is a better runner than Ritola
the1best day the latter ever knew
and the writer, for one, entertains
but slight doubt of Nurmi's ulti