AMERICAN SPORT

Hokitika Guardian, 27 January 1928, Page 3

AMERICAN SPORT

Perhaps the national temperaments of England and America account for the wide variance in their respective sporting philosophies. M bile the tempo of our life is well regulated, infused with common sense, and conservatism. I llie current American psychology em-

phasises •’ go-getting.” and puts if premium upon success in any field worthy of endeavour. M'hile the Rugby phvor is i uite content to play his game in a cairn and tranquil state of mind, the contemporary American footballer toils and grinds in a frenzy of semi-hvsterical loyalty. He is inspired by ”dutv,” “pride.” “ fight,” urged on the gladiatorial spirit of old; and he plays madly, gladly, often in a berserker furv. But he does not pay because he finds the game a pleasant pastime, a recreation in the true sense of that word. This intense will to "in is not a healthy feature of American athletics, and “Over-Emphasis is the usual diagnosis by critics who hate retained sporting interests and at the same time true prospective. Just "hat is the direct cause of Over-Emphasis has never been officially determined. It is certainly not the result of student opinion, for the undergraduates loyally rally round their teams and then proceed to forget victories and defeats within forty-eight hours. Nor is their hardv enthusiasm dependent upon mere winners. It is of sturdier stuff than that—A. R- V. Barker in “ The Mm Id To-day,”