The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-08-15

gained an unpopular decision over
the Chicagoan and won the right
to represent the United States in
the Games at Berlin. That privi-
! lege has been denied him and
the Olympic Committee has not
been able to give satisfactory an
swer to the big WHY.
Owens Leads Way
With envy to the right of them,
amazement to the left of them, and
admiration all around them, those
sterling Negro trackmen burned up
the cinders at Berlin with the
mighty Jesse Owens leading the
way with three victories of the six
garnered by Negroes. John Brooks,
great all around star from Chicago
is the only man of sepia clan not
/ to finish among the select three.
There were also three seconds and
two thirds won by the latter group,
excluding the third place captured
by Phil Edwards, veteran Canadian
star, who ran third in the 500 me-
tiers which was won by the aston
ishing John Woodruff.
Interesting Letter
A letter from one of the Olym-
, pic team members fell into my
hands last week. The writer des-
cribed the Olympic village as a
place that has everything. He
reported that the colored athletes
are the center of attraction over
in Berlin and the foreigners think
that every colored man that they
meet in the village is Jesse Owens
or Metcalfe, two names that strike
fear into foreign sprinters hearts.
Willis Johnson with his Halle
Selassie" and Howell King with
his Joe Louis and Max Schmeling
Truck were the dancing stars of
the team, the letter stated.
Abroad the S. S. Manhattan, &C
cording to the writer, they had
Gala Party" and there was more
noise than is customary at the
Savoy Ballroom in Chicago"
Armstrong New Champ
Henry Armstrong, flashy young
st. Louis fighter, outpointed the
veteran Baby Arizmendi in ten flu
rious rounds of fighting to capture
the world featherweight title as
recognized in ten states last Tues
day, August 4, in a title bout at
Los Angeles.
Armstrong thus became the first
Negro claimant to the feather
crown since the days when little
Kid Chocolate was in his heyday.
Chuck Woods, Detroit Serbian
welterweight contender, has been
signed to meet Jack Portney at
Navin Field this Friday; and has
been promised a shot at the title
should he conquer the Baltimore
battler.
Portney, undefeated in his last
55 starts, was outpointed last Fri
day night at Bridgeport, Conn, by
the sensational Kid Cocoa, New
Haven fighter, who as result of
two decisions over Holman Will
liams gained the World Negro
Lightweight Championship several
months ago.
BY virtue of mis- victory last
week, it seems as If Cocoa should
be given first preference by the
boxing moguls since he was the
one registering the initial triumph
over Portney.
TOlan Plays Ball
While Jesse Owens is over in
Berlin gaining his former posi-
ton of Olympic sprint king, little
Eddie Tolan is captaining a soft
ball team from his position in the
infield these days n turns in
some very fine baseball when he's
right.
J Eddie must wish that he was
over there too digging his spikes
into the cinders against his old
rival, Ralph Metcalfe, and the new
champion, owens.
Memories Of 1882
While scanning the sport pages
of the International Press for COM
ments on the Olympic Games and
the colored stars, was attracted
by w. L. Clark, famous Canadian
sports writer, who states in quote:
Gall this week we have been
thrilled by one record-breaking
feat after another at the Olympic
games in Berlin. AS the athletes
run or leap to new worlds marks,
they are given the applause of the
multitude. Olympic laurels are be-
slowed on them and they are kings
for a day.
"B u we cannot help thinking