The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-04-29
DETROIT HOPES
 TO THROW OFF
 SPORTS J|NxES
"City of Champions Hit TObOggan After a
 Year at Top
BY ROBERT LA BLONDE

BY ROBERT LA BLONDE United Press Staff Correspondel;t)
 Detroit-(UP)-A year ago De- troit was hailed as "a city of cham pions." In almost every sport from baseball to badminton, champions flew Detroit colors. A checklist to- day revealed downfall of nearly every major champion except the Red Wings, who won the worlds hockey title last Thursday for the second straight year.
 The Wings, overcoming an injury jinx which chased the others of the pedestal, amazed their most ardent followers by becoming the first American hockey team to capture the crown in successive seasons, de- spite crippled personnel.
 Death-blows were dealt during the past year to the Detroit Tigers, who won the American league pen nant in 1884 and 1885 and captured the worlds series in 1885, and the Detroit Lions, who lost their 1885 world professional football cham pionship after disastrous injuries during 1886. Joe Louis battling next to top position in heavyweight ranks was t1attened by Max Schmeling.
 These were the major misfortunes and they may be charged in the cases of the Tigers and Lions to an epidemic of injuries. After several seasons in which Detroit sports contestants defied hospitals, doctors and trainers, the law of average caught up with them.
 COchrane's Loss Significant
 The Tigers lost Hank Greenberg, slugging first baseman, early last spring, and toward midseason Man ager Mickey Cochrane suffered a nervours breakdown and was forced to retire temporarily. The Tigers finished the league race a poor Sec- ond, 19 games behind the Yankees.
 Back at full strength this spring, the Tigers opened their season on April 20 against the Cleveland h. dians, and Cochrane feels that if his pitching staff delivers the team will be near the top next fall, II not the champions.
 Leg injuries took the pins from under the team that aimed last fall to retain the world pro-football crown. Ace Gutowsky and Ernie Caddel were hurt early in the sea- son, taking two of the games great est individual stars out of action.
 Injuries were small affair, how ever, to the Stanley cup winners during the season just closed. Capt. Doug Young, defenseman, was first to be knocked out of action. Then Oryille Roulston, who replaced Young, broke an ankle. Larry Aurle, leagues high scorer, met similar fate, ana during the crucial league and cup playoffs, Defenseman Eb- bic Goodfellow and Goalie Norm Smith, rated two of the best in the National Hockey league, were in- capacitatde.
 Cripples Come Through
 There were less serious injuries to the Wings throughout the season, but Manager Jack Adams patched together team of cripples and re- cruits to win the league title for the second year in row by going the limit of five games to beat the Montreal Canadiens.
 In the Stanley cup race, with Earl Robertson, a rookie goalie, guarding the net, the Wings downed the New York Rangers in three out of five games to retain the world hockey title.
 Although most of Detroit's major sports titles were taken away, a few of less significance still remain. Dick Degener, national diving cham pion, brought home the Olympic title from Berlin last summer. Mrs. Joanna De Tuscan, national fencing titilist, went farther in the Olym- pic than any other American fenc- ing con. .stant. Walter Kramer holds the western open badminton title, and l7-year-old Betty Small is na- tional Women's skeet champion.