The Waterbury Democrat., 1944-12-13
(Reg. U. s. Pat. off)
 BY JACK CUDDY United Press Staff Correspondent

New York, Desc. 13. (UPl-Gray- haired Welker Cochran, short-angle specialist frmo San Francisco, is world three-cushion billiard cham pion again today, mainly because he got sore at himself
 IAt least that's the way tuxedo clad Welker explained his current brilliance on the green-baize table. shortly after wrestling the title from white-haired Willie Hoppe, 50-44, last night in the climatic match at the Hotel Capitol.
 I'm wringing wet" said 4S-year- old Cochran as he settled into an easy chair in the lounge room, with leather cue case between his knees. That was the toughest match l ever played, and perhaps my best. I got bigger thrill out of winning it than any other; 1t meant so much to me. It proved I wa sright in kick ing myself around-in booting my self in the pants"
 This was the cue for the alert re- porter to ask the middle-sized cue caliph for an explanation of his opsterior bunting.
 It seems that Cochran got so mad at himself last year that, for several weeks, he went around calling him. self nasty names an dglaring at his reflection while shaving. On an ex- hibition tour of four cities he had taken a shameful trouncing from Hoppe, the ancient boy wonder : Willie the wizard had trimmed him 2,150 to 1,941, trampling the Cochran gonfalon into the chalk-dust and butts.
 Did I get sore at Hopper" asked the California ivory clicker.
 ''I'll bet you did"
 q did not! Willie's one of the grandest fellows that ever chalked cue. You just can't get sore at him. But I was plenty peeved at my self-because hap slipped so badly ard because there was no reason for my being on the tour, in the first place I had practically retired from competitive play: was so busy with my billiard room in San Fran cisco and with other interests. hadn't done any practicing. at all But was silly enough to let people talk me int othe tour"
 Returning to. California angrie1 than a cat-clawed bulldog, Corchrar snarled at himself. "Well-wise guy since you've let them put you back into circulation. you're going tc buckle down and play right - and you're gonna like it. I'll keep kick ing you right in the pants until you're on top again-or else"
 Cochran rode herd on Cochran and made him practice hours every day. Gradually he regained his old time for1n-the eye. the touch and the coordination that had made him three cushion champion three times before. He needed competi- tive sharpening; so earlier this year Welker challenged Hoppe to chal- lenge series at Kansas City. St. Louis. Detroit and Chicago. Hoppe won 1,500 to 1,411; but it was cost ly victory. since those matches read jed the Californian for the New York championship tourney that ended last night.
 Razor sharp Welker clicked of nine straight victories, although the tournament was conducted un- der a new-fangled rule which per- mits optional use of either cue ball on each players first shot in an inn ing. This rule opens up the three cushion sport for spectators. like the forward pass did for football: but il handicaps billiardists who have spe- cialized on defensive position-p play - Balkline experts like Cochran and Hoppe-king Of the short-angle shot.
 Cochran is mighty happy about his victory. He has made up with himself When last seen. he was escorting himself to the soda foun- tain to buy himself a drink.