The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1936-11-21
Owens Leads Crop


Jessie owens is the outstanding
athlete OF the current season. Whe-
Their or not he will be awarded the
coveted Sullivan trophy, the SYM
Dol of the years outstanding ath-
lete, remains to be seen. This
year, of SO sports heroes and he
roines nominated by 600 national
sports experts and leaders, for
the award, Jesse topped the list;
however we shall have to wait a
month before the final choice is
made.
Jesse has proved himself far SUI
perior to all who he has encount-
cred on the cinder paths or in the
jumping pits. The only black
mark on his record for the year
Is the inexplicit suspension cast
upon him by the American athletic
body. but all know that this action
by those officials was done purely
from a selfish point of view.
Came across an article in the
Saturday Evening Post" a couple
Of weeks ago written by Larry Sny-
der, Owens devoted coach. In this
article Snyder revealed the un-
known side of the Olympics. He
wrote of the trouble Owens had in
securing track shoes to perform in
at Berlin. How the Olympic Com
mittee refused to appropriate mon
ey for a pair of spikes for its ace
performer Owens had brought
three pairs of shoes, two new and
one old, East to the tryouts at Ran
dall's Island. The two new pair
were lost to souvenir collectors
when he would put them down to
pose for pictures. I'm one pair Of
old secondhand shoes he was ex-
pected to train for ten days in
wet weather, run ten races and take
ten broadjump trials against the
greatest competition he had ever
faced" The committee held ano-
Their meeting and decided to order
one pair of shoes from England.
The coach who didn't trust the of
ficials was not for taking any
chances for he saw a possibility
of Owens runing down the track
on the opening day with one shoe
off, so he combed the Berlin sport
ing goods stores and found a pair
that he thought were suitable, and
raid for them out Of his own pock-
ct. IL was a good thing that he
had done this, for the spikes or
Tered from Great Britain never
I'D arrive. There were other pro-
blems that the coach and his pro-
tege faced: irregular mehls,
cramped-up bus rides to and from
the stadium, and several others
nat we will not take the time to
Elaborate upon.
The coach didn't think the true
story of the Europe transforming
tour had been told. I'VE never
knew where we would be from day
20 day. After we got to town,
we would be met by a man who
I'D us, You're going to run at
our town tomorrow, and hand us
train or plane tickets" The first
sex of touring Owens had to
run four days and the following
geek found him exerting his ut
-lost energy five days
About the Suspension
Snyder revealed the eventualities
that lead up to the Swedish meet
h brought ID out the
suspension Of Jesse Owens. At
first when the trip TO Sweden had
been proposed he had been will
ing for the trip; however as he
came more and more in contiguity
with the Olympic Committee his
as we'll as Owens enthusiasm di-
minished. Snyder concluded that
they were just using his boy for
bait and was running his legs off.
All Of the runners friends who
had his interest at heart admonish-
ed him to return to the U. S. A.
and cash in on HIS popularity.
Offers for Owens services had been
pouring in so Owens and Snyder
decided to return home to inves-
tigate the offers.