The Waterbury Democrat., 1931-12-31

AnC uOWAAdAA VI bilO 1VOtO
 The conquest of the Athl, The defeat of George Won Burke.
 The year was marked by other important incidents. Max Schmel- ing hitherto lightly regarded, estab- lished himself as a heavyweight champion worthy of the crown.
 Tony Canzoneri, lightweight champion of the world, demon- strated by his fighting heart and skill that he was worthy to be called successor to the title once l held by Joe Cans and by Benny Leonard.
 What A Surprise!
 Battling Battalino. believed to be a fiuke champion after he had hammered Andre Routis from un- der the featherweight title, sur prised the fight world by proving himself one of the most formidable of the current champions. Ellsworth Vines, coming on like comet, defeated George Lott for the national tennis championship and, by his style of play, proved one of the most colorful players Maurice Mclaughlin.
 Helen Wills Moody, coming out of retirement, clearly displayed mastery over the rest of her field by regaining the national cham pionship.
 Helen Hicks, husky eastern girl, fought her way to the top of the golf world by defeating fine field in the women's national.
 The navy crew, the last to be coached by Richard Pop" Glen don, swept to the fore at Pough- keepsie in the national intercol. legiate regatta-after which Pop" resigned.
 Twenty Grand won the three- year-old championship, establishing new record in the Kentucky Derby, but his title will always be debated by ndherents of the Bost- wick horse. Mate, which twice de- feated the Whitney galloper. These were great events, full of the kind of color that causes Gus Fan to leave his seat and leap shouting into the air. But of them all, there was perhaps none to equal the thrill at South Bend when Southern California came m apparently hopelessly beaten po- sition in the last quarter to over come the Notre Dame Ramblers. 16 to IA.
 Or, to compare with the eye-fill. ing drama of those dashes of Pep per Martin during the world series l.. t~t. 0a u1a NAnt,IAd thn As from their baseball throne---or the heroic pitching of Burlelgh Grimes in the seventh and deciding game of the diamond classic. Again, to measure up to the sus- pense of that gruelling grind at inverness when Billy Burke, son of n Connecticut iron molder. finally edged George Won Elm by q single stroke after IA holes or super- human golf.
 Of these three mighty struggles. which shall be called grentest- Notre Dame's defeat. the Cardinals conquest or the ascendancy or Burke as national open champion? Any reply must be debatable.
 Rocknc Is Gone
 Notre Dame again during 1881 had been deemed unbeatable after her early season victories and that scoreless tie game with Northwest ern. But, about the Irish some little of what they had possessed under Rockne was missing. q cer- tain perfection of rhythm, blocking and selection of plays. Added to this was the fact that Southern Call ifornin brought to the middle west l perhaps the greatest Trojan team in history. a team that worked to- gether perfectly. a team that seemed to be guided. too, by some master at sleight-of-hand. Above and beyond that. the Trojan team was one that refused to give up. It snatched victory away from the Ramblers when triumph had seemed assured. crowding Into the waning minutes of play n whole season full of unbelievable thrills.
 The sports world generally had regarded Earnshaw and Grove as the masters of any baseball club under the sun. Ninety per cent of the country's experts chose the Athletics to defeat the Cardinals by virtue of these splendid pitchers and the bats of Cochrane, simmons and FoXX, Yet 1t was not to be. An obscure ball player-Pepper Mar tin, from Oklahoma-stole the show. and few bases besides, and batted the amazing average Of .500.
 And 1t was the ancient Grimes who turned out to be the pitcher who couldn't, be beaten, after all. Individual Hero
 For sheer suspense. probably the golf battle at Inverness was most exciting. Von Elm, rated one of the most formidable golfers In the world in point of prize winnings, fought valiantly against the former foundry core-boy and caddie who used to steal practice on his home course. The two fought so evenly that up to the sinking of the final putt the issue was in doubt. It was titanic golf. more like the match inR of two unyielding robots than struggle between units of flesh blood and nerves.
 Tn the end Won Elm missed his putt for a birdie or the Hath hole -and Burke took the lofty seat that peerless Bobby Jones had left vacant.