Browning chief. [volume] (Browning, Mont.) 1941-1953, 1949-03-11

and neck or nose
and nose at the wire.
This meant terrific
CrantIand R;c. business for tn e
three top teams and
also for many of their opponents.
It isn't at all improbable that
some team, possibly Cleveland,
will pull out several lengths in
front and stay there. Or it may
be the Red Sox or Yankees. But
the odds are We'll have no such
hen-for-leather riding down the
stretch next September.
There is the chance, of course,
that the Athletics may improve
and the Tigers might move alb
ruptly into a challenging posi-
ton under Red Rolfe. This
might make the bonus angle
even better, but it isn't an
even chance and the player
would rather let the club own
er take the gamble. As a re-
suit, over 30 banplayers are
baking at terms, especially
those terms involving attend
ance and gate receipts.
What about the National league
race? This can be closer than
the American, what with the
Braves, Dodgers, Cardina Is,
Giants, Pirates and the improved
Cubs-a rather uncertain medley
of scrambled talent.
At this spot, the Dodgers and the
Braves have the edge, but it isn't
a killing edge. Any one of five
teams can win this race and most
of them can also finish in the Sec
ond division.
Reports Of winter injuries
and ailments to Carl FurillO
and Rex Barney haven't helped
the Dodger outlook, but the
month OF May is still a long
way off.
But once again the earnest ath-
lete doesn't seem to be too inter-
ested in National league attendance,
especially as it might concern
1949 contract. We think he IS right.
Racing is taking Is to 20 per cent
decline and the chances are base
ball will face drop of million or
So, perhaps more.
1t would be no surprise to see the
total attendance slip from 81 mil
lion to 10 million this next season.
Ben Hogan
Ben Hogan had just reached the
peak of brilliant career when his
accident cut him down for months
to come. No other game could have
suffered such loss from the alb
sence of one player.
Ranking Hogan as a golfer of
skill and competitor of high rank,
he undoubtedly belongs on level
terms with Bobby Jones, Walter
Hagen and Gene Sarazen. And you
can add Harry Vardon.
Outside of Vardon, he was more
accurate club-swinger than any of
those just mentioned. He had few
er bad holes. Both Jones and Hagen
had to depend on brilliant recover
les and marvellous putting to win
their "a championships. Gene Sara
zen was a golfer of moods, of sud-
den inspirations and sudden depres-
sions.
But none Of this lot kept I'D
as savage and as steady as
sault on par as Hogan. As great
as they were, neither Bobby
Jones nor Walter Hagen ever
were able to average So strokes
for all their tournaments in a
year.
Hogan is as fine a swinger as
golf has ever known. He has been
COLTS hardest worker, undoubtedly.
Bobby Jones, a hard worker him.
self and most determined COM
petitor, marvelled at Hogan's in
tense, unbroken concentration and
determination his willingness to
take a beating and keep coming
back.
have seen Ben work for an hour
on just one shot-over and over
and over-from 80 yards away,
from 120 yards away. His idea was
to get every approach shot dead.
Few know the beating he took to
reach the perfection he finally
gained before his accident.
Before the Los Angeles Open,
Hogan had taken a rest for
two months. He wanted to be at
home. He was getting sick of
hitting the road in long auto
mobile trips.
II knew had made mistake"
ne said, as the Los Angeles Open
Started. "You can't stay away two
months and be any good"