Evening star., 1937-02-20
Davis Cites Talent Wasted.

~ Davis Cites Talent Wasted.
,NOTICEABLE is the natural ten
= dency Of Americans and Gu
bans to clash over base ball. The Ha-
vanese seem to be as critical and par
tial as a Brooklyn bleacherite. They
fail to see why the major leagues
have not picked up more Cuban
players.
American ball players who
saw action in the Cuba League
this Winter are equally as de-
termined to beIittle the Cubans.
Jimmy Adair, who used to short
stop for the Cubs and who now plays
for Louisville, did some infielding for
Havana and came away convinced
"that wouldn't have Cuban on a
ball club of mine. They've got some
talent" said Adair, but not enough
to play class A ball in the States.
There are, Of course, some exceptions,
like Luque and Gonzales and a couple
others. But most Of them aren't
really high-class players"
Harry Davis, who probably will play
frst base regularly for the Browns
this year, echoes Adair's sentiments.
1.-THE only Cuban I saw who was good,
said Davis, 'ts big, black fellow.
(He mentioned his name, but your
agent couldn't make it out) He plays
anywhere on the diamond and If he
were eligible for the majors, he'd
have dragged down good money and
been q star for IS years"
Even Have Their Betting Ring.
THERE seems to be no great diff
- ference between Cuba and the
United States as far as base ball is
concerned. Base ball, which Is played
the year round at the Stadium
Cerveza Tropical Tropical Beer Sta
dunn, has setting worthy Of any
big-league club, even down to bet
ting ring strangely like those at Shibe
Park and the Phillies' park.
The Cubans bet on every
pitch, only louder and with
sense Of security from the law
that Is not enjoyed by the
American betters.
Huge posters all over town, adver-
tising forthcoming exhibition games
between the New York Gigantes and
the San Luis Cardinales, cause major
excitement. Bill Terry has been quoted
more than once on his willingness to
play anywhere as long as the gate
receipts were opulent and, If early
interest is any indication, he'll like
1t in Cuba.
The Giants, incidentally, are booked
for seven games with Cuban teams,
OF which there will be two. In Havana
there Is no doubt among the natives
but that Cuban clubs will whip the
Giants at least four out seven. Incl
dentally, trained as they are, they
might do it at that.
They Take Curse Of It.
COCK fighting Is something you can
get not far from Washington, of
course, If you care to fall back into
pre-repeal day tactics and smuggle
yourself into the rolling hills Of Vir-
ginia
But it's perfectly legal in Cuba
and they have . written form
explaining why 1t is not the
cruel sport 1t Is painted to be.
"It really has nothing cruel about
II, goes the explanation. THE kind Of
cocks used for these conflicts will fight
as well in the barnyasds as in the
ring. If they were left alone they
would gradually eliminate each other,
because it is their nature to quarrel
among themselves"
Cock fighting was something your
agent took the trouble to look up a
bit. Jai-alai, as mentioned before, is
overrated as Cuban sport. The box
ing Is negligible. Foot ball is something
the Cubans just cannot see, and the
Villanova- Auburn game here on New
Year day proved it. But cock fighting
Is next to base ball and people who
never saw much Of 1t might well be
amazed.
They Fight Till Death.
PRESENT-DAY fighting cocks have
been crossed with the original
brood brought from Spain and roost-
ers imported from Calcutta, where
they grow a little heavier. While the
birds are young it Is necessary to take
good care of them, preventing fights,
not only because of the harm they
may do to each other, but because
once they engage in fight they stick
to it, even neglecting their food, which
naturally tends to weaken the young
ones.
When bird is about year old his
comb and gills are cut and when he
reaches IA months he is given what
amounts to road work for boxer.
He Is run around the ring for is
minutes a day in both directions,
chasing another rooster which Is held
In 0 trainers hands. During this
period he In ted On special diet, con-