The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-01-06
To-Day's Sport
 P a r a d e
By HENRY McLEMORE I'nitnd Press COrrDseOn(lcnt)

NcW OTk, JdH Os \OI It~Al- though I never have ridden, any thing faster than ferris wheel and am as far removed from in- ternational polo circles as l am from the Arctic variety, I cannot help hearing the disquieting rumors that surprising things are going to take place when the United States Polo association gathers to-day.
 These rumors come direct to me from friend of mine who refuses to speak to anybody unless they ride in Hispano-Royce, and sub scribe to that ultra-ultra periodi- cal, town, country, fireside, home, sunken garden and riding-to- hounds"
 This friend is Hyman. Herman Vanderbilt-Jones. He happens to be chief bellow-blower at the ex- elusive Meadowbrook Internation- al Field Blacksmith shop. What information he dosen't gather from the players, he picks up from the polo ponies themselves while their paws are on the anvil. Hyman is riding high right now but he's not the sort to shoot friend. Hyman remembers when he and I used to fly kites (box) and fence (raiD together and always greets me with a cheery "hello." Hyman tells me that the most disquieting rumor going the rounds Is that when the polo asso- citation gets through meeting to- day, and the ratings are announce ed, the United States will be with out a ten-goal player.
 This, as you well know, can mean but one thing-Tommy Hitchcock, because of his rather lackadaisacal play last year may be dropped from a ten-goaler to a nine-goaler. If such a thing hap pens one of sports finest traditions the Hitchcock tradition-will die a sudden death.
 You know the Hitchcock tradi- ton as we'll as do. Men and wom- en, boys and girls, who never play ed or watched polo know the Hitchcock tradition. For the past decade Tommy Hitchcock has stood for polo at it's best. Tommy the hard-riding, hard-swinging, hell-for-leather, smart, resource full beau sabreur of big-time polo.
 If Tommy's handicap is cut 1t will mean that the rulers of the game no longer consider him the greatest of the great, the finest of the fine. Personally, think the rumors are all wet, so to speak, and that when the new ratings are announced Tommy's name like Abou Ben omebody-or- -the-othe will lead all the rest.
 It is true, howveer, that in 1930 and 1881 Hitchcock was not the finest player in the world. Against the British in the Anglo-American series in 1890 he was not the best man on the field. Nor was he the standout performer in the national open last year. his play being eclipsed by that of Manuel Andrat- ta and Andres Gazotti of the Ar- genuine.
 It must be remembered, how ever, that Hitchcock was sorely handicapped both years. In 1880 he was bothered with thousand details, for Tommy was not only a player, but captain and chairman of team selection committee. Last year business kept him out of the saddle quite bit of the time, and polo. like all other games, requires steady practice.
 Hitchcock is not the only ten goaler in danger of dropping from his lofty perch. The only other ten goalers in this or any other uni- verse-Lewis Lacey of the Argen- tine and Captain Pat Roark of Great Britain-Both were off form last year and may find themselves