The Waterbury Democrat., 1932-05-24

WASAA 4 eNe~s
 In two months the crew will be named to defend Olympic row- ing titles that Navy, Yale and Cali fornia won in 20. PA and '2s, but already expert opiAion Is tabbing the blue boat as the best in the country. And even before Cornell. 1880 collegiate champion and 1880 collegiate champion and 1881 runnerup. ever takes the water in competition, and in the face of Caiifornia's overwhelming conquest of Washington a month ago.
 The Yale rating is easily under stood. Edward O. Leader has sent the Blue she'll out twice--and the Bulldogs have brought in a pair of easy wins. Both races were short, rowed in fine time and with Q display of unusually smooth form. The Olympic course is sprint distance of 2,000 meters, ap- promixately one and q quarter miles. Yale has won both her sprint victories without resorting to sprint beat.
 Another Yale advantage Is schedule with just enough compe- titive rowing to keep the Ellis on edge. Their next race, against Cornell and Princeton May 21, pre- cedes the annual duel with Har- yard by full month. With Har- yard out of the way, only the Olympic trials July 2, 8 and 9 at Worcester are left.
 Right Combination
 A third point, and the most im- portant, Is the crew. Tho Yale varsity Is neither veteran nor in- experienced. but a happy medium of young and old oaismen. At stroke oar is Johnny Jackson. sophomore pacesetetr. He doesn't have the power of m Al Lindley who stroked Yale to the 1924 Olympic title, but he has sense of rhythm and, best of all, aNrac cing head and heart. At his back in No slide is Jimmy Knott, cap- tian and nveteran.
 And there's Leader, a man who almost revolutionized eastern row. ing. Alrendy they're calling him "the Old Man." which in college circles is a rank most revered. Still, Leader isn't old, at least In com parison with Ten Eyck. Fitzpatrick, stagg and Warner. He has been at Yale only 10 years.
 No Sailor
 Unlike many crew coa ches, Leader Is a landlubbcr. Almost by chance he took up the sport nt the University of Washington. Ed and Elmer, q twin brother. played football for Gil Dobic. Illus ky coach. Ed was a fine tackle and Elmer an equally fine end. But the crew needed big fellows, and when 1t was announced that the varsity woudld be rewarded with trip to the intercollegiate regatta, the twins gave 1t q trial. Both won places in tho she'll one in front and the other. inseparablo as usual. That was 1913.
 An accident made Ed Leader crew coach at Washington. Hiram Connibear, Washintgon's "Old Man" of the rowing game. fell from q tree and was killed. Leader was sought for the position. That was in 1917. @ag
 Five years later, Leader made his second trip cast to the inter- collegiates. Old Diak Glendon's NHVy sHcIl Wus tHc HeuVy LuVoEILs but the Middle won only after a gruellinH due with Leaders Hus- kics. Yale authorities wero im- pressed and dissatisfied with their own conditions. offered him D job.
 The duel with Harvard annually is the bont race on the Yale cnl- endar Lender plastercd the Grim. son boat In 1929. his first crew. ana to plaster 1t in the suc- ceeding years. Harvard finally broke through In 1927, but Leader came bnck with Yale triumphs In 1928. '20 and '30. The Crimson wrestcd victory last yenr cam paign in which Yale failed to win q race.
 But this ls 103? m Olympic year. It also bears some resemblance to q Leader year.