The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-02-28
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Sporting
World
Mondoy Sports Wash
BY JOHN A. CLUNEY

Mondoy Sports Wash
Tonight is the night when Water
bury will or viii not have a metro
politan area boxing champion, as
Benny Singleton and Leon johnson
get their leather mittens up in the
1876 puond sub-ilovice class in the
finals of the AAU Golden Gloves
tournament. II the local kid wins
he viii get national publicity, which
should reflect favorably upon the
Pearl Street Community House,
where he trains for his bouts,
though someone there is making
things a bit tough for the boy, for
no good reason that the writer can
see. OF course he is not q Water
bury boy, but he is a colored boy,
high school student and war work.
er and that should be sufncient rea-
son why he should be helped rather
than hindered. With Mrs. Leila
Alexander back from a vacation, or
DIR. James Lee informed Of what the
score is, young Singleton will prob
ably get fair "break" from his
own people.
VVVVVVV
With Sammy Byrd, former New
York Yankee outfielder, leading the
current New Orleans Open, and
Ellsworth Vines, California tennis
ace, the new golf professional at
the Denver Country club, there
ought to be chance for good old
Gene Sarazen to become a SOFT
BALL star, with Lowell Thomas
famous NINE OLD MEN, of which
Dan Parker and Granny Rice are
but two.
vvvvv
Two basketball oddities have hap
pened this season in the town of
Watertown where Dan Sullivan Is
postmaster and everybody is as
friendly as an old shoe. Dinny
McCleary gets his mail UP there,
too, with letters from his two boys
in the service most important to
him: and Jack Calo's golf range Is
very quite at this time of the year.
However, what I wished to report
as hoop happenings off the beaten
path was the most usual records of
Taft Prep and Watertown High. Led
by 16 year old Johnny Guepel who
scored 226 points in 81 games for
about IA per game; Taft has had
two teams this season; the first one,
5 won 6 lost, breaking UP in Feb
ruary by graduation; with no less
than seven members of the basket
ball squad getting their sheepskins,
diplomas or certificates. The team
had to be reorganized by Coach
Beebee, who then put together q
better combine that won 2 and lost
but 3 games; winding up with a 80
to II victory over Cheshire last Sat-
urday in its traditional "key" game.
Not often does a team break up and
then improve with a new combina-
ton recruited In the middle of a
season. But Taft did it because
Johnny Geupel is there and as ma
tllral" hoopster as has come along
in many a year at Taft. If he ever
picks up speed, he will be world
beaten AS for Watertown High,
Bob Cookies lads; state hamps last
year won its first SIX GAMES this
season; met Crosby, which it fig
ured to defeat; was defeated and
then dropped ELEVEN MORE
GAMES IN CCESSION without
victory until its final game of the
season against inferior opposition.
Won six straight, then lost IL
straight.
vvvvvVVVVVvvvvv
A nifty postcard from Julius
Burning Sands Biener is at hand
to inquire about the weather up
here, as genial Julie Is In Florida
with the Waterbury Gang (about 10
of them) Hope they didn't take
their autos down, for those Florida
ration boards wouldn't gle GAS
COUPONS to General Robert E. Lee
right now, which is why thousands
of pleasure seekers are stranded in
the orange state with nice cars, but
empty gas tanks E. Signs Of Spring
Department-Frank Menkes FIRST
communication on the 1874 Ken
lucky (Street Carr Derby to be run
Saturday, May 9Th at Churchill
Downs, which PUKKA GIN or
LUCKY DRAW will win in the
sparkling time Of 2:03:6 which is
not bad for the Downs.
vvvvvVVVVVvvvvv
FLASHED MGrath. president Of
the SERA (Scovill Employe Recrea-
ton Association and chairman Of
the basketball committee Of the
IRA Industrial Recreation Asso-
ciatoin) has left the employ of the
Scovill Company since last Satur-
day, according to report from his
former office today. 1t is believed
that the former Crosby and Dart
mouth footballer IS interested in
recreational work, which he has al
ready undertaken and vii lcontinue
in that field; possibly with the