New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1928-11-15

denies NURMI IS
To become PRO
Manager Of Famous Runner
Flady Scouts Widespread Rumor

4Nc" 1OIA, NOV. - ~"lde Bkep.
teal gentlemen who see the dollar
sign in most athletic moves and
counter-moves these days may be in
for q shock when the celebrated
phantom of Finland. Paavo Nurmi.
returns to the United States in q few
weeks for an indefinite visit.
The superstition that Paavo 10
coming over with the definite inten-
ton of running professional. there
by capitalizing one of the greatest
running careers OF all time. is fatty
secuted by Hugo Quist. And Hugo
ought to know. He IL perhaps closer
to Nurmi than anyone in this coun-
try. He managed the peerless ones
famous tour here in 1928. spent
some time with him in Finland and
Amsterdam last summer and has
been in communication with him &C.
casionally since.
'Nurmi. SO far As know. and !
feel pretty sure Of my ground. has
not the slightest intention Of turn
ing pro. He probably will run In
this country. few races indoors,
but his main idea is to make a con-
certed attack on outdoor distance
records up to IS kilometers next
spring before ending his career rs
an amateur and as a runner"
This is Quist's statement Of the
case to the Associated Press. 1t puts
quite different light on the situa-
ton, where hasty conclusions had
been drawn that Paavo at last had
yielded to get rich quick" offers.
Perhaps he will yield. but only the
stoical Paavo can give definite an
swer to that.
To anyone who has followed MUIR
mis- career from the time he first
ran to Olympic fame in 1920 at Ant
werp 1t is all quite logical. The ia
nous Finn always has been intense
ly proud of his record as an ANA
teur. When he was in this country
three years ago there was much talk
of profit-taking in the transforming
tour of Nurmi, but the actual facts
are that Paavo turned down every
commercial proposition offered him
offers that. if accepted. would
have netted the Finn around $780,
900 all told.
"Nurmi, so far as I know. has
rejected every proposal TO turn pro-
fessional," said Quist. He has had
no dealings with Tex Richard or
any other promoter. nor has he
given me the least idea that he In
tends to quite amateur ranks.
He wants to do some more run
ming. but that is not bis chief pur-
pose in coming here. He has taken
an interest in combined automo-
bile and garage business In Finland
and wants to build up some connec-
tions here. He also is much inter-
ested in continuing the development
of track athletics in Finland and
considers he has reached a point
Where he can do more good by
coaching than competing.
You will recall that Nurmi was.
in effect, the captain and coach of
Finland's Olympic runners last sum-
mer. Even during the races he kept
coaching along the young runners
like Loukola and Anderson. He
planned the strategy by which Larva
won the 1900 meter race in a fine
exhibition OF team work with Porte.
"Nurmi think. will spend a good
deal of time here visiting colleges
and schools to add to his knowledge
OF athletic training and development.
las for his own career 1 would
not be surprised to see him quit next
year and not attempt to continue In
competition until the 1882 Olympics.
He has no ambitions to become a
marathon runner He told me he
considered that Just grind, without
any thrill.
"Nurmi wants to make one more
big splash in the record book, how
ever, before he quits. He is conf
dent that with adequate preparations
he can break all outdoor records
from two miles to Is kilometers, also
hang up a new one hour record. !
think he would make a mistake to
try too much indoor racing again.
II proved a severe strain for him
three years ago. strong as he always
has been"