New Britain herald., 1927-09-30
TOMMY HITCHCOCK
 THE STAR 0F POLO
Mary Browne Likens Him to Bobby Jones and Gene Hunney
BY MARY K. BROWNE

l. United Press Staff Correspondent. Copyright 1927, by United Press.)
 Cleveland. O., Sept. 30 UP)- , Every athletic event has its hero every season, it's outstanding stars, , every battle its dramatic moment. Tommy Hitchcock is to polo what Bobby Jones is to golf. Both the essence of skill, intelligence and gameness. The second between the count of nine and ten which was the difference between victory and defeat was to me the most dramatic moment in the seasons great sport ing event.
 The hero. Gene Tunney, took a. chance that only one of his poise. intelligence and skill would dare take, and hope to survive. Tommy Hitchcock. Bobby Jones and Gene 'Tunney stand out in my opinion as the dramatic figures in the battles which make thrilling sports history.
 In practically every respect Tom my Hitchcock rode as no other play CT upon tho polo field dared. But beyond that he hit accurately and with moro power than anyone on either team. His pace was notched beyond the best, pust as the pace set by Bobby Jones was so far in advance of all contenders that London sports writer said only when Bobby Jones retires will golf return to normalcy. Only If the "big four of the American polo had been obliged to play without Tommy Hitchcock could the crack British army-in- India team have given the Americans a real contest Tommy Hitchcock started polo at the age of IS, tutored by his mother, one of Americas best horsewomen. At sixteen he was playing big time polo then the war found Tommy flying. At the age of IT he was brought down behind the German lines and made a prisoner. Always alert, dar- ing and intelligent, he managed to jump from a moving train when his Euard dozed, and made his escape.
 After the war, while Tommy Hitchcock was student at Oxford, the American polo team came to England to lift the international cup. Tommy. then only 21, filled No. ! position, and ever since then has risen to the heights as the worlds greatest forward.
 The qualities which led Tommy Hitchcock into the war at such an early age are the ones which make him one of the greatest heroes Of the sports world. The spirit of ad- venture, daring to the extent of grave danger to his very life and understanding of horses and men, he takes chaaes that would De suicide for any one less skillful
 One of the greatest chances be- tween the loss of coveted title ana the winning of that title was the count taken by Gene Tunney in his dramatic encounter with Dempsey for the heavyweight championshlp of the world. If Gene Tunney could have risen at the count of five, yet stayed down to the count Of nine leaving only one second between de-
 
 feat and victory, it takes my breath away to think of the chance he took. It rivalled the moving picture execution fhe the execution ax IS suspended in mid-air ready to de- scend just as the rescue takes place.
 Only a champion of Tunney's ln- tellirence and poise could have sav- ed himself from the ferocity ot Jack Dempsey the rest Of that seventh round.
 Since [ returned to Cleveland where the noble Gene Tunney spent a. few days with friends l nave heard thrilling recitals of that dra- matic round which makes my blood race with excitement. Gene Tun- neys getaway for the rest Of that seventh round has been described as the finest piece of skillful tactics that ever has been seen In the ring.
 He was so light on his feet ana elusive 1t was said that Jack Demp- sey m,gh1 as well have tried to bring down a feather.