Imperial Valley press., 1932-03-31
'SPORTSPARADE'
OFFERS VARIETY
in TODAY'S NEWS
By HENRY McLEMORE
United Press Staff Correspondent

United Press Staff Correspondent
NEW YORK, March 31.-This is
success story, one that stands to
inspire young and old. 1t is bet
ter story than the one about the
young man who, greeted with jeers
when he sat down to play the pi-
ano, went on to speak to the waiter
in French. And much more inspir-
ational than the story of the chap
who, dissatisfied with his salary of
$25,000 year, sold congressional
records in his spare time and soon
rose to the head of a great exter-
minating firm at $50 per week.
This is story about guy who
wouldn't give up. He was very
ordinary guy. this guy. His biceps
did not bulge, and beneath his SAL
low skin no muscles rippled like
running water. On the contrary, he
was so weak he couldn't use a re-
volving door unless a Kate Smith
was coming through the other side.
He had fallen arches, pink tooth
brush, spots before his eyes and a
buzzing in his ears.
But underneath this frail frame
work beat heart that knew no
defeat. This guy was determined
to be a sports champion. He swore
to himself that nothing would
thwart his ambition, not even death
! For three years his was a story of
/ heroic failure. He tried football
first, spending three months on a
deserted field studying the intri-
cacies of the dropkick.
Threatened by the authorities, he
shifted to billiards. He gave this
up only after tearing up 27 tables
trying to make masse shot.
He broke both his legs in his at
tempt to become hurdler, and a
pony sat in his lap on his first
whirl at polo. Then came fencing
and he soon was as full of holes
as an adult Swiss cheese. Boxing
rowing, running, archery, badmin-
ton and bowling followed in that
order, and he was failure in each
His list of sports well nigh ex-
hausted, the man took up ping
pong. He started slowly, using a
coffee table at first, then he started
swatting them on a kitchen table
and gradually worked up to dress
ing table. Months went by as he
advanced from dressing tables
through dining room tables, living
room tables and round tables.
When he was in the dressing
table stage he could only ping. Un-
discouraged, he worked on. 1t was
while working on the living room
table that he found he could pong
too.
Was Hard Worker
Spurred by this turning of the
tide, he worked feverishly, some
times spending 70 hours at a table
During these sessions he scornec
food and drink, depending entire
ly on steak and hot coffee to keer
him alive. Then came the day
when he knew he could improve
no more. His forehand was de-
vastating, his back hand a beauty
his strategy joy forever, and hi
cunning as battling as a ferryboa
schedule printed in Chinese.
Ready for the supreme test, ht
sat down and waited on invitations
to tournaments. He waited a week
Two weeks, three weeks. A month
Six months, would he never bt
asked to play?
And then came today's mail. HI
opened the first letter, an invitation
to attend a house warming at Mat
tewan. He opened the second,
little note telling him his Uncle
Charlie had died. leaving him &
million dollars. He tossed it aside
and picked up the third and last
envelope.
He gave it quick once over anc
then shouted with Joy. He danceo
a jig. He cut a caper. He sang
songs. He wept with exultation
When he Gained down he read the
contents of the letter again, just
to make sure. Yes, 1t was true
There, in black and white, was ar
invitation to compete in the first
annual national amateur ping ponG
tournament on April Is and 16
And at the Waldorf Astoria, too
And in the grand ballroom three
And before thousands of forks
four, and for the national cham
pionship, five.
Why the man is so excited right
now it's a wonder he ever got this
column finished