The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-04-24
PORESEE NO AL|BIS
LIKE TH0SEOF 1888
AS CONTESTS NEAR
y. S. Will Have Slight Advant.
age in That Wimbledon
Courts Are Grass
ALL DIssENsIoN WIPED OUT
r. Norris Williams Named Can.
tain in Place Of 1ernon
S. Prentice

There won't be any PROSTATE forms
Of American Davis Cup players found
on the courts Of Wimbledon when the
Yankees finish their grind for the
classic in July. Neither will there be
loud yammering alibis limiting at over
training, dissension in the ranks, and
inability on clay courts.
The reason, gentle reader, will be
that the Yanks will win the Davis Cup
and there won't be anything to holler
about.
You'll probably recall ''Elly" Vines
collapse in his singles match with
Fred Perry, English star, at Stade Ro-
land Garros. That climaxed the de-
feat Of the American stars, the only
bright spot Of which was George Lott
and Johnny Van Ryn coming through
in the doubles.
Alibis were Immediately forthcom-
ing from Bernon s. Prentice, and the
boys themselves. A storm Of protest
arose over the method Of pre-cup
training, and Walter Merrill Hall,
new president Of the U. 8. Lawn Ten
mis- association, had to come out with
statement that the tennis fathers
were entirely satisfied with the con-
duct Of the players and that there
would be no change in policy.
\ \ \
It can be pointed out here that there
was q change In policy-one which
will have = great influence on our cup
team.
This was the selection Of r. Norris
Williams as captain Of the 1894 squad,
and the release Of Prentice from that
post.
Under Williams there will be no
dissension or over training. He Is a
former Davis Cup player himself. and
once ranked as ruler Of the METERS.
He has inaugurated q series Of
spring workouts. scheduled to start
early next month. and these are in
tended to get the players in shape and
to judge their merits. His methods
are altogether different from those
Of Prentice, who had none Of Will
lams' experience.
Five players have been selected for
this session-and their selection re-
fleets the good judgment Of Williams.
These stars are Frank Shields, Les
Stoefen. George Lott, Sidney Wood,
and Wilmer Allison. Johnny Van
Ryn was invited to take part, but he
announced that business interfcred.
It is possible that Cliff Suffer,
ranking No. I player in the United
States, also may be included in this
list, for short time ago, the New Or
leans comet revealed that the south
ern association Of the tennis body
would threaten to secede II Wood
were selected for cup play instead Of
himself.
To avoid squabbles, Williams will
nosdoubt take this matter into con-
sideration.
\ X \
The question Of clay courts will
provoke no alibis this year-because
the cup matches won't be played on
clay. Wimbledon's fields are grass,
and 1t Is on this type Of court that the
Americans, especially Shields and
Stoefen, excel.
Fred Perry and Bunny Austin, Eng
lands mainStayS, on the other hand
are more ct home on the clay, and no
less an authority than Jean Borotra
has remarked that this fact will
handicap the Britishers and leave an
opening for the Yankees to gallon
through to victory.
At present, Shields and Stoefen ap-
pear to be Uncle Sans best bets II
the singles matches. Both play ter
rifle service games, aud are strong
forehand attackers.
Both, on the other hand, are veal
on their Northumberland it Is thi,
fault that Williams will try to rene
dy In the practice sessions ct VII.
mington.
Les, the only green player on tn,
team. has oil the nslkings Of one O
the mightiest racquet wielders eve
turned out In this country, and hl
and Shields may succeed In sockin(
Perry and Austin where Vines ane
Allison failed last year.
Tho doubles combination will b
taken care Of by Lott. than whom
there Is mono whomer in doubleI
circles. and either Allison, Wood, o.
Suffer. OF course, II the series Is ,
tight affair, there Is . possibility tina
Stoefen, who won the national dou
bles with Lott last year, viii serv'
double duty and, In addition to hectt
singles sessions against Perry ant
Austin, serve on the duo with tn
cleft-chiuned guy from Chicago.
i, through some Unforeseen circum
stances, al this 3 voided by the slim
possibility that the q. q. squad doesu'
reach the finals-then skip t.!