Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-08
THE SPORTLIGHT
-By GRANTLAND RICE

taneous in the knowledge that 1t Is do
ing a far greater good than any con-
tributor can know.
NEAR MR.. RICE: The following de-
- duction is a slant on the perform
ance of athletes and athletic teams
which have never seen brought out
in print and which is being forwarded
to you for whatever disposition you may
care to make Of it, including the waste
paper basket.
During the World War while was
serving as an off1cer in the Air Service,
noted that certain flyers would per-
form exceptionally brilliant deeds on q
certain day and be way of form on
other occasions. Tracing this through,
notice the same applied to foot ball
teams. and also to tennis players, prize
fighters, ETC., and this is what find:
Take an athlete who is closely CO.
0rdinated in mind and muscle, and
of q nervous, rather emotional type,
and you will find that he will per-
form at his best on . clear, dry day.
This same flyer or athlete will also
be way of form when the atmos-
phere is muggy or when there Is
good deal OF moisture in the air. On
the other hand, the stoical type Of
athlete does not seem to mind this
change in the weather.
have always advanced the premise
that the reason why Dempsey made
such poor showing in Philadelphia
was due to an excessive amount Of
moisture in the air.
have noticed the wet weather at
feet good foot ball players, and where
the funbling was more often the result
Of aartafYa 1Atho nf mind r0fhar
than Of moisture on the ball. also
have noticed that six-day bicycle riders
who are leading the van were prone
not to be as alert on wet afternoon
as when the weather was dry.
wish you would follow out this line
Of thought for your conclusions, so as
to see whether or not you concur with
me in this premise.
As far as I am concerned, it has hap
pened so many times in my experience
that I am quite Of the opinion that
there must be some substantial truth
in it. IRVING K. WOLFE.
Weather Conditions.
nOP WARNER used to say that his
L Indians were almost unbeatable on
clear, dry day, with dry field, where
they were far below form in the rain
or upon a muddy field. The Indian
is supposed to be phlegmatic type,
but he was keen enough about his sport.
Just what part weather conditions play
In regard to nervous systems is mat
ter have never heard discussed before.
It win be interesting to see just how
it works out.
A NY number have asked how it is
"A that a young golfer such as Horton
Smith could develop q swing that is
proof against Staleness.
Here again you have the triumph Of
form. which is so ofteA Clerided. Form
Is the short cut to the easiest and
simplest method. It calls for less effort,
for less exertion and for less strain,
physical or mental. Play golf badly
and you are often worn out at the ninth
hole. Play well and you feel no sense
Of WEAKNESS after SO holes. Any fault
leads to tension, which in turn leads
to nerve WEAKNESS, and beyond that
leads on to a staleness. Physical faults
In swing also lead to mental worries,
and these also lead quickly to staleness.
Young Smith has smooth, sound
swing that takes care of itself the great
er part Of the time. No golfer with
any part Of faulty swing could have
stood the i've months pressure which
he faced with such astonishing success.