SPORT

Radio Record, 9 December 1938, Page 38

SPORT

by

S. V.

MEwen

BELIEVE it or not, the Ameriean game of baseball-or at least an adaptation of it known as softball-is getting a firm hold in New Zealand. If you haven’t seen this game played you are neglecting your education. . Twelve months ago a band of enthusiasts in Wellington created what amounted to little more than an inter-business house competition. Today the game is firmly established in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin, and is getting a footing in the King Country, South Taraneki, Wanganui, Marlborcugh and other provincial districts of the South Island. National headquarters’ in Wellington Is receiving almost daily requests from towns all over the Dominion for information about the formation of local leagues. The directing force in this Do-minion-wide movement is Mr. Alf Jenkins, who is probably better known to thousands of radiowrestling fans as the referee to the Wellington Wrestling Association. He is the man who keeps the mastadons of the mat in order when they perform before Wellington audiences, Mr. Jenkins has with him a band of enthusiastic workers and their efforts to establish the new game on a sound footing are meeting with unqualified success. Wisely they have spread their efforts into the schools, and, to give practical evidence of their progress, they are organising an interprovincial. tournament which will be held in Wellington in the autumn, And the reason for this remarkable development? The game provides players and spectators with novelty, and it is packed with action, There is not a dull moment in softhall. You, as a spectator, are expected to heckle. That helps to get the striking side out and the

fielding side in. There is more action and colour in five minutes of softball than there is in a week of any other game I have ever watched. And that is why softball is going to thrive in New Zealand. Its action is the answer to the demand of the timesgive us thrills and pep it up. Don’t be fooled with the name. The ball is not soft. The only real differevce between baseball and

softball is that in the former the pitcher bowls overarm, as in cricket; in softball, he delivers the ball with an underarm action, but it travels just as fast and it is just as hard to hit. Can’t Be Done ~ AN interesting point has been ‘raised by a Hamilton

reader who writes asking for a comparison of present-day thoroughbred champions with those which raced in the earlier periods of New Zealand’s Turf history. "T am interested in your remarks in the ‘Record’ concerning Defaulter," he writes, "and would like to get your opinion on how he would compare with some of the great colts which won the Derby 50; years ago for the late Mr. G. G. Stead, and other good horses of that period." I have no personal knowledge of the horses which graced the New Zealand Turf 50 years ago, but I do know that it is impossible ‘to compare the merit and qualities of horses racing in different generations. Many arguments have been waged over the merits of Carbine and Phar Lap, but supporters of either side have, in the end, to resort purely to the time test. Such a means of determining thoroughbred qualities is hopeless. For example, . take this year’s New Zealand Cup. It was won by Arctic King, carrying 8.1, in 3.24 3-5. Fifty-four years ago, when Vanguard, with 8.9, won the Cup for "Ready Money" Robinson, he covered the two miles in 3.49. On the basis that a horse running a two-mile race will average between 12 and 13 seconds to the furlong, Arctic King would defeat Vanguard, if they could meet in a

race today, by two furlongs, wiicn is ridiculous as Vanguard was one of the best Cup winners of his time. ‘ Similarly, on the time test, Defaulter, winner of this year’s Derby in 2.34, would be expected to beat Stepniak, Mr. Stead’s 1892 winner in 2.403, by more than half a furlong. Try that one out on any oldtimer who knew the mighty Stepniak and he’s sure to try and bite vou.

Methods Changed There is no common ground for the comparison of racehorses which race in different periods. Training methods have changed; stable management is conducted under. more hygienic methods; and those responsible for the preparation of the running tracks have better facilities at their disposal. In short, we have progressed in the breeding and the training of the racehorse just as we have progressed in all other walks of life. My personal cpinion of Defaulter is that he is the best horse this Dominion has produced _ since Nightmarch, who never received adequate acknowledgment .because in his Australian campaigns he was almost continually overshadowed by Phar Lap. Defaulter has yet to play his best card, and it is probably only a horse like Ajax, Austrafia’s reigning champion, that will extract .it from him. Defaulter is true in type to the best components of his sire line, that of unbeaten Hurry On. Taking a critical view of his make-up, he is a little deficient in bone below the knee, which is a weak ness when his immense body is taken in consideration,- but his weight is evenly distributed, and so far he has shown no signs what- ever of being incapable of supporting his frame. So if he stands sound I am confident that there are few horses in New Zealand or Australia who will prove equal to beating him under classic or weight-for-age conditions. Ajax may be the sole exception, and time will show whether Defaulter

| »" Vacmt is not even equal to bringing about the defeat of Australia’s great son of Heroic. Budge’s Future THE decision of the world tennis ace, Don Budge, to turn professional means fresh hope for other nations in next year’s Davis Cup contest.

Budge strode the tennis world like a Colossus since I'red Perry decided to cash in on his talents. Now that he has been removed from the seene of things, Australia becomes the logical favourite for the Davis Cup. No player has made greater progress as a_ singles player than Bromwich, and with Adrian Quist they form a

i a a | ware a 4 strong pair for doubles. With;. average luck the Davis Cup. should return to the Common. wealth next year. r Budge expects to make more than £60,000 from tennis alone in his first year as a professional, In addition, he thinks he will get about £5000 in royalties from a series of instructional films. similar to those which golfer Bobby Jones made; and he can also look forward to a tidy income from endorsements of health foods and sports requisites. Budge’s principal opponents in the professional field will be Ellsworth Vines and Fred Perry, and experts who have seen the lattgz pair playing lately aré of tlie opinion that Budge will master them. The success of professional: tennis depends upon its entertainment value, and it is said that Perry and Vines have got right away from orthodox tennis to play a spectacular style of game that is full of errors’ although its bright character pleases the crowd. Budge’s decision means a great loss to American and world tennis, but no one can cavil at the step ‘he has taken. The inducements "in these days of highly developed commercialism to capitalise on one’s skill at games are too high to resist. The spirit of amateurism is all very fine, but any player would be foolish to neglect such an opportunity of easily earning an income, almost amounting to a fortune, which he could never hope to earn in his usual line of. business.