The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1946-02-08
BY WIN MALONEY

This Weeks Sports Rortrait-Our
pat on the back department" this
week brings into prominence, two
young athletes from school that is
fast becoming an equal to Water
bury's Big Three" Crosby, wildly
and Leavenworth, that is Sacred
Heart, and the two boys in queS-
ton are DOC" Murphy and the
Freshman Wonder" Boo Markovic.
These two lads proved conclusively.
their versatility on the basketball
court, when Sacred Heart held
Wildly TO q two point decision in a
very fast game, earlier this week.
Both boys know how to shoot,
handle and most important Of all,
pass the ball to their fellow play
ers, when It means better basket
ball Both Markovic. a freshman,
and Murphy, a senior can be proud
of the part they are playing in
helping their school attain the
recognition in the sports field. that
they justly deserve. And equally
so. Sacred Heart should be proud
Of these two boys, along with the
other members Of the hoop squad,
who have showed up well during
the current season. Three Cheers
for Sacred Heart, Murphy, Mar
kovic and the whole Gang!
The Weekend Basketball menu
for local hoop enthusiasts includes
a game at wildly gym tonight
between Jim Lees Crosby bas-
keteers and Connie Donahue's
Torrington Red Raiders. And
tomorrow evening an intra-city
tilt, for five points towards the
Al Kellie Memorial trophy. be-
tween Bill Tracy's Tech Tigers
and Tom Purcell's Wildly wildcats.
Both contests promise TO provide
much local color and to draw a
better than average crowd. Al
though wildly and Crosby have yet
10 show decisively this season.
there are so many "fluke" rou-
tines in basketball this season that
you can't depend on convention
any more. Our predictions: Tor
rington over Crosby by ~ points
at least. and Tech Tigers over
Wildly by from 8 and one-half to
10 points. I hope this comedies
with Waterbury's Second Guess
er's Club"
The revelation that Babe Ruth
is 50 years old this year, makes
us sit W and take notice, that
baseball is Just around the corner
and that basketball. is in tine home
stretch. That means that We viii
have to get our gloves, balls and
bats out of the moth-balls and
happen upon a little of oil for the
rusty old joints. To the kids it
means another season of hit and
run, and to the adult It means
Just another season Of en-
Toying Americas iayorite pastime,
whether it's as a spectator or as
participant. In Waterbury, thanks
to the Park Department, which Is
right on its toes. there is q well
rounded out baseball program for
the kids, and to the local promoters
there Is also an Al program for
the adult spectators. But on a
statewide basis the program IN ath-
lettcs for the yOungster is entirely
inadequate to meet the rising needs.
The kind Of program which would
be beneficial TO these future play
eFs, would be q clinic In four or
five Of the leading cities through
out the state to teach the lads the
fundamentals OF the game. 30
often down through the years. We
have run In TO too many young
players, who are getting off on the
wrong foot, In the game. because
they have no one TO correct them.
This has always been an evil OF
society, whcSa has been talked about
but never corrected. Money to
combat juvenile delinquency has
been spent on punish 'ng 1t. rather
than on preventing II. through some
practical diversion. such as sports.
before II starts. Why can't some
program be worked out with the
Baseball Commissioners Office TO
aelp the youth that are really In
Eerested IN baseball. as q career?
Al, Welt the "Bambino'' Is q year
oldef and he has been champion.
ing this cause Tor the past ten !