The Daily Alaska empire., 1936-04-27
SPORT SLANTS

gathered at the Polo Grounds to witness the opening clash of the season between the New York Giants and the Brooklyn Dodgers it would be just my luck to run smack into Bill Johnson.
 Now Bill Johnson happens to be one of the most rabid of the rabid Brooklyn rooterS. And has been as lcng as I can remember. He is the one person I might well have ex- pected to see at the first meeting of these inter borough rivals Bill hasn't missed a Giant-Dodger ser- ies since the war A few years ago he borrowed a pass to the Brook lyn ball yard when the Dodgers were starting a long home stand and quit his job in the paint fac tory so that he could take in every game It just about broke up his happy home. His wife, most tol- erant lady, heaped all the blame on my shoulders for having tempted him with the pass.
 Practice Fan, Too!
 At that, she might have over looked the fact that he gave up his jcb to take in a daily ball game but when he rented room near Ebbets Field SO that he could take in the morning workouts well there is a limit to everyone's pa- tience!
 So, as l said before, Bill Johnson was the one acquaintance l really could bank on seeing at the battle between the Giants and the Dodg- CTS.
 Come on, sit down here on the Brooklyn side" he urged. You used to live in Brooklyn. And be- sides I want to tell you about this swell new team Casey Stengel is putting on the field this year. Bill Terry is going to find out that we are in the league this year"
 But you seem to be saving that seat for someone" I parried. That package belongs to you, doesn't it?' I sat down. And learned that it was a mistake to have brought up the subject of the package.
 See that package?" he asked Its a little surprise I brought along for Bill Terry" he added with a sly wink.
 Tearing the paper off, he proudly exhibited big, highly polished coW-bell.
 I'm going to tie it around his neck after Earnshaw sets them down with a string of goose -eggs, he chuckled.
 True to Flatbush
 My remark to the effect that perhaps it would be a good idea to tie the bell on Terry so that the Dodgers would be warned in advance of his coming and could run and hide was completely ignor- ed as he broke out in loud boo for Sam Leslie as the Giants sub stitute first sacker, who was with Brooklyn last season, fouled one into the stands in batting practice.
 Buddy Hassett can play rings around him at first-I'm doggone glad the Giants bought him back, , he went on. Wait until you get a closeup of Frenchy Bordagaray's crop of whiskers. And don't forget we have two minor league batting champions in the lineup-Ox Eek hardt, from the Pacific Coast League, and Johnny Cooney, the American Association leader.
 George Earnshaw is in the best shape of his career, he'll win as many games this season as Mungo. Brooklyn will have the pitching this year, the staff looks like one of those groups old Uncle Robbie used to gather together = they'll stand the National League batters on their heads. Casey Stengel told me that the Dodgers would !"
 At this point, observing that Bill Johnson was completely absorbed in the Dodgers practice, we slipped away-leaving him to suffer alone as the Dodgers went down to defeat in an exciting game by score of