The Waterbury Democrat., 1946-03-22
S ants on SPORTS
By YIN MALONEY, JR

Tom Wagner, that daShtng man around town and manager Of the Waterbury Guards professional bas- ketball team. will but the finishing touches on . very successful sea- son this Sunday night with 0 Red Cross benefit contest at the State Arnory. The West Haven Red Devils, who gave the Guards their best game of the season last week, are signed to play return engage ment with the Guards this Sunday night, with all profits over the actual expenses going to the Red Cross. The Waterbury sporting public should appreciate the time and effort which MT. Wagner put into making professional basketball big success in the Brass City. Magner was greatly pleased with the support accorded hls venture by the fans and plans bigger and better things in pro ball for the l946-47 season. Best of luck Tom!
 Coach Hugh Greer proved to be
 an overwhelming success as
 speaker in his first public appear
 ance as @ representative of the
 Athletic staff of the University of
 Connecticut. Coach Greer spoke
 to the members and guests at
 Lon's Club testimonial, ct the
 Hotel Elton yesterday noon, in
 honor of the city basketball
 champs from Leavenworth High
 School. He praised the Leaven-
 worth players and their coach
 Bill tracy for their splendid show
 ing ,n the past season and the
 sportsmanlike qualities that they
 displayed.
 Coach Bill Tracy plans to start baseball pract:ce in the next week If the weather permits and provid- ing he is able to secure park which Is, in suitable condition. Tracy was quite optimistic when he discussed the possibilities of Al Leach, a new addition to his hurl- ing corps.
 Mike Haller, the POS pound
 wrestler from Poland who WIS a
 beaten by Herbie Freeman of the
 Bronx, in a chat with the writer,
 revealed that he has a sister,
 Irene Kosakowsky residing with
 her husband and family at l9O
 Tudor Street in this city. Mike
 informed us, prior to his grapple
 with Freeman that he had just
 returned from Texas and was in
 pretty fair shape.
 The fans were on their feet roar- ing when Ali Baba, the former World Champion grappler, came into the ring attired in 8 turban and robe similar to the dress once worn by the Terrible Turks" But the laughter soon turned to amaze ment as the Kurdish wrestler per- formed hair raising feats with his hugh opponent, Benny RoSen Of New York. The Turk, who stands no more than five foot six inches in stature, downed his battling ri- val after he executed six consecu- tive body slams.
 Much interest was centered around the Milo Stetnborn-Chuck Ross bout in which the former won the count with a bear hug Steinborn, small in stature com- pared to Ross who stood six feet seven inches tall, pulled replica of the shoe lace gag getting hAs rival to look up at the lights. He did and the veteran came down with a rabbit punch on the neck which fioored the Texan.
 Three grapplers scheduled to ap; pear on the Armory card next Thursday night are the "Blimp," $40 pound grappler; Dave Levin, former, world champion who won | the title from Ali Baba at Madison Square Garden; and "Kayo" George Beverley, who is well known | for his telling body blows in the game.
 Eddie Walker and Bfowen Kar- ban. co-promoters of the wrestling venture in Waterbury were very well pleased with the turnout for their first offering. And they are equal ly sure that the fans really enjoyed the program presented.
 Prank Litsky. former Crosby athlete and member Of the Argue stan, has resigned his job as under graduate publicity man at the Uni- verSity og Connecticut, where he Is enrolled as Q student,
 Joe Cayanaugh. the smiling po- lleeman on the corner ol Leaven- worth Street and Yves. Main. to