The Washington times., 1936-01-20

Sports of the world find
their fields in Cuba, where
nation of natural athletes
quickly adopt any form of
competitive athletics that ap-
peals to the imagination of an
alert, enthusiastic people, Any
sport to endure in Cuba must
combine speed, finesse,. and in
herent worth.
During the unrest of the last
several years competitive sports in
Cuba we're set aside as the nation
addressed itself to work of re-
Mobilization.
With DR.. Miguel M. Gomez
elected president, boom in sports
Is anticipated in Cuba. DR.. Gomez,
son of former President Jose
Miguel Gomez. is a patron OF all
forms of athletics. Under his ad-
ministration it is expected that
the University of Havana will
again place teams in the field.
With the students leading the
way back, an eager nation will fol.
low.
Baseball is the leading sport of
the island. 1t is open, easy to fol
low, and the spectacular elements
which draw millions of Americans
to the major and minor league
Stadia here carry their appeal to
the Cubans.
Select From Worlds Sports
CubanS can select their activi-
ties from the sports of the uni
verse. Lawn tennis prospers I'M
der the kindly climate of the
land. The golf links of Havana
are among the finest of the West
ern hemisphere. If you like row.
ing, the sheltered waters of the
coast afford excellent courses.
The Havana boat club formerly
boated eight-oared crews which,
coached by capable Americans,
rowed well.
Jai lai, the fastest game played
by humans, is one of Cuba'S con-
tributionS to the sports field.
Such activities as fencing have
f1ouriShed since the days Of
Spanish occupation.
Senior DR.. Guillermo Patterson,
Cuban Ambassador, spent an hour
yesterday discussing sports in his
country with your reporter. Dr.
Patterson, shortstop on the Al
mendares in the days when the
business men and members Of the
legal and m edical professions
played without benefit of gloves
or other armor, spoke in ringing
tones Of the diamond battles of
those days.
A Skilled FOilsman
DR.. Patterson is a skilled foils-
man. and today revels in the
thrill of crossing blades with a
clever rival. He loves baseball.
A well-played baseball game"
said this cOurtly gentleman
who so ably represents his gov
eminent here. "is like the
opera. The swift movements
of the players have the rhythm
of masters. There is action,
finesse, physical / erfection that
4huSG appear W VIC SpUAGS
peoples Of the world.
II love to attend the base
ball at Griffith Stadium. 1
saw one game there last year,
a 14-inning game that was a
classic in sports. There was
good pitching, fine fielding.
Then the winning run.
Cuba has sent many fine
players to the professional
leagues in America. AdolfO
LOque, Miguel Gonzales, the
Acosta boys, Jose and JacintO:
Rafael Almada. Marsans. and
Roberto EstaIella was popular
with Washington baseball pa
irons.
1--WE have had many good
teams in Cuba which are well
known to Americans. The Al
mendares and the Havana Reds
play fast baseball.
TRAVEL IN SAFETY
"But these facts are well es-
tablished. Shall we talk of
other sports?
Assured that this would be
welcome, DR.. Patterson contin-
ued:
american citizens may travel
in perfect safety in Cuba. Re-
Gently it was said falsely that
Havana was not safe. My gov
eminent assured me in a cable
gram that all visitors were as
sured of the protection of the
forces of law. There are crimi-
mails the world over. We treat
them vigorously and terminate
their careers swiftly.
"The names of our golfers are
not known in America, but we
have the usual number Of men
participating in this sport. Our
links are as fine as master build
ers can make them. The same
can be said Of our lawn tennis
courts and our clubs.
ALL SPORTS PROSPER
Scuba is interested in boxing,
and we have sent several pugil-
lists to America-Kid Chocolate
among them. Our coaches stress
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