The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-07-21

admitted he played summer b he said day, to be out there
 Thorpe. who came out of Okla homas to win honors in football. field and track events. in baseball, in every college sport as a member of Pop Warmers Carlisle Indians, and later was called ''the greatest athlete in the world" believed he would smash records right and left-giyen his youthful ability and the advantage of modern training methods,
 "I'd give my scalp--and that's no joke" he said. Ito have another chance. I'd like to, be In these coming games. They'll be the best ever. The crowds will be larger. More records will fall" the big Iri- dian commented, with the old Thorpe grin that reached from ear to ear and wrinkled his. tiny sparkling eyes.
 Thorpe has stood on the heights in the world of sport-and he has looked on the world of sport from the depths. For luck has not come his way in recent years. Not many months ago he was glad to pick up a day laborers' job at $3 or $4 a day. Now he's hoping profits from a book he wrote will keep. him going. He's 45, an. old man of sports, man. who was ac- tive in professional baseball until five years ago.
 His Big Day
 All the applause the great In- dian won as the best of all foot ball players and in other lines of sport he would trade, he said. for such another day as the one cli- making the 1912 Olympic games in Stockholm. NJ z
 "That's my fondest memory" he said, speaking of the time when the king Of Sweden presented him awards for winning both the de- cathlon and pentathlon titles. 2 feat never duplicated.
 .'The king told me I was the greatest athlete in the world. !" Thorpe recounted. s'It was Q. beau- tiful day. There was a lot of sum shine and there were thousands and thousands of people in the sta dium. You know, think I be- lieved what the king said about me-
 Thorpe lost his awards and his records afterth games were over, when he was declared profession al because he accepted money for playing baseball.
 II was just a kid,' he explained his professionalism, "and didn't know any better"
 '.I'd like to have my 1912 abil- ity now and the benefit of mod ern training and coaching and I'll bet I'd hang up some records for the boys to shoot at."
 Thorpe, 45, still healthy and hus- ky, devotes himself now to work in motion pictures and writing !. His latest book Is "Jim Thorpe Histroy of: tlie Olympic Games"
 Great Background
 Thorpe could tell we'll the his- tory of sport in the last 20 years His feats with the hidden ball trick on the football field with Mount Pleasant and the others, his base ball experiences with the Giants the Reds and minor league outfits his professional football contests with the All-Americans of college gridirons would thrill any sport follower.
 He has starred on the field with Olipharit of Purdue and the Army Youngstrom of Dartmouth, Littl, of Pennsylvania, Casey {. of liar ward. Brickiey, Horween and others of the Crimson; with Bailey and Rip King of the West Virginia team Carlisle first trounced. He had a long feud with wiry Friti Pollard, the black back from Browr who made gridiron history in the east.
 Thorpe has crashed into tn, rangy frame of tall, lanky, hart playing Paul Robeson, Rutgers ne gro who won fame later in drams and on the concert stage. He, wal d team mate of Guy Chamberlain who led the first great Nebrask; Cornhusker eleven into the east l He has hit the line behind Dutcf | Henry of w. and J. With. the In dians, Calac and Guyon. He hal completed for applause with tn, sorrel topped Red Grange of Hi nfpis. r -,,.,.., ,.,,.,, p..n
 Thorpe would have been a grea
 baseball player except for hi | friends. They were too numerous | too insistent upon feting him fol honors won years before. The, paved the way for him from tn, major leagues, to the minors, t base ball oblivion.
 To-day as Thorpe walked ava! from the Olympic village. h watched with moistened eyes th'
 long line Of trim athletes. th'
 greatest in the world" arrivin: | for the games starting July 30. Every train disgorged a groul that went at once to Olympic vii lage and there joined the 1000 al ready embarked on; the last fev days of hard training
 1 The arrivals to-day included 10' members of the German team, 2. Argentines, five Creeks IS Can adian swimmers. the, Czechosiova
 kian team, the Latvian team an, | tha. Tinted States track and fieit