Evening star., 1939-12-10
Fine Playing Weather
Promised for Fray
Luring $4,000
New York Will Rely on
Leemons, in First Loop
Game in Home State
By HILL DISMER, Jr.,
star Staf Correspondent.

MILWAUKEE,, Wis, Dec. 9.-With
a record playoff gate of $85, 1000 as
sured and perfect weather promised
the National Football Leagues big
gest season will come to a close
here tomorrow when the New York
Giants and Green Bay Packers meet
for the 1899 championship.
It will be the rubber playoft
game as far as Eastern-WeStern
rivalry is concerned as in six games
since 1888 both sectional titlehold-
ers have triumphed three times. The
West, however, has not had a league
champion since 1896, when the Pack
ers whipped the Redskins, then rep
resenting Boston, in the playoff at
New York.
In case of an unprecedented tie,
the combatants will be declared CO.
champions. with flip of a coin de-
termining which will play in the pro
bowl game at Los Angeles next
month. The other will represent
pro football in the big All-Star game
at Chicago next August.
Judging from local sentiment, a
tie is out of the question as the
native Packers have been estab-
lished 8-5 favorites despite the
Giants proven ability to rise to
any occasion.
Packers Look to Hutson.
The betting is far from discourage
ing to the New Workers, who were
underdogs in their last two games
with the Packers ,in 1881 and also
against both the Chicago Bears and
Redskins this year, yet won all
four games.
Packer supporters, however, are
quick to point out that in neither
of their last two games with the
Giants lras Don Hutson, their bril-
liant all-league end, been in shape,
and it's no secret that they're bank
ing on him to turn the tide in
favor of the Western standard bear
ers. Coach Curly Lambeau says
no recent team of his ever has been
In quite as perfect physical condi-
ton for any Giant game as the
Packers will be tomorrow.
Psychologically too, the Packers
are conceded big advantage. Prec-
edent will be against the defending
champion Giants, as never in the
leagues history has any team won
the national title two years in a
row. Again, the Giants have beat
en- the Packers in their last two en-
gagements and it's almost unheard
Of for Packer team to lose three
straight to any one opponent.
Teams Even Mechanically.
Then. too, the Giants will be
without the guiding hand of their
head coach, Steve Owen, who left
the team to attend his mothers
funeral. Owen has entrusted his
duties to his assistant, Bo Molenda,
who, incidentally, was on the Green
Bay team which beat New York
for the championship exactly 10
years ago.
Mechanically, the game looms a
tossup, with the classic pitting two
teams quick to take advantage Of
the breaks. In recovering opponents
fumbles, the Giants had no equals
this year, but the Packers possess
the singular distinction of having
three centers, each touchdown
maker this year.
Bud Svendsen, the Green Bay
starting center, scored one after in
tercepting a pass against the Red
skins here last month, while Ed
Brock and Paul Greenfield each has
picked up an opposing tumble and
raced to a score.
Once again, though, the Giants
will be able to throw brilliant run
ming attack squad composed OF Tuf1y
Leemans performing in his home
State for the first time as a pro-
Kink Richards, who proved an un-
pleasant surprise to the Redskins
last Sunday; Dale Burnett, Leland
Shaffer and John (BulD Karcis.
La Guardia at Game.
And Molenda will continue Owens
plan of alternating two complete
teams at the start of each period.
Whether the Packers match the
Giants sub for sub remains to be
seen, but this Foster home town Of
the Bay team is confident that ir
Cecil Isbell, Clarke Hinkle, Arnie
Herber and Andy Uram it has the
power to wear down. any opposition
thrown against it. Hinkle's kicking
is expected to play an important
role in the Packer game, as sever
times last week against the Detroit
Lions he kicked to or outside on the
Lions 5-yard line.
Heading delegation of some 50(
New York fans is Mayor Fiorello LIE
Guardia, who will help swell tht
crowd to an estimated 32,400.
The game will start at 2:3O Wash
inpton time and will be broadcas1