Slants on Sports

The United States representative soccer eleven, which will engage in the world’s championship in Italy on May 24, makes its only appearance in the metropolitan area prior to the departure from this country. The team will play against an all-American League aggregation at Clark’s field, East Newark, tonight.

This national team recruited from various cities between the Atlantic seaboard and the Mississippi river, cannot boast of any Jewish soccer talent on the squad. Stan Chesney, one of the best football players in the New York area, was slated to have gone along with this outfit, but he decided that he could make more money staying home and playing semipro baseball. His mind was made up when the U. S. F. A. couldn’t meet his demands for the do-re-mi, which he figures he can make this summer in the immediate vicinity of his wife, cat, and kiddies.

CRACK ELEVEN

Despite the fact that there are no Jewish athletes on this team, many ardent soccer enthusiasts have written to us asking for information on the final contests.

Nineteen “goyim” make up the group of footballers who will sail on the S. S. Roma for Naples under the supervision of Elmer A. Schroeder, president of the United States Football Association.

It is generally conceded by soccer critics that the team which will represent the U. S. in the forthcoming games is much more formidable than the eleven which won their way into the semi-finals of the world championship at Montevido, Uruguay, in 1930. This last team had several Jewish athletes on the roster.

Four players on the Stix eleven, present national titleholders, and the same number from the Pawtucket Rangers, eastern champions, form the bulwark of strength in the national outfit.

JEWISH PLAYERS ON ALL-AMERICAN TEAM

This national team will play the All-American league soccerites who, in our estimation, represent the cream of all the teams in the metropolitan area. Such stars as Archie Stark, “Red” Ballantyne, Carroll, Slaven, Schwarz, O’Brien, Teddy Glover and Stan Chesney have assured the league officials of their appearance tonight.

Chesney and Glover make up the Jewish element on this otherwise heathen crew. The game will start at six-thirty and the boys on the American league team are out to show the fans that the best talent in the country may not be sailing for Naples.

SAME ARRANGEMENT AS IN DAVIS CUP TOURNAMENTS

The International Football Federation has divided the map into sixteen zones and there are play-offs in each of these divisions. The winners in each section will play in the eight principal cities of Italy to decide the world’s championship soccer eleven.

The American contingent was originally scheduled to play-off in the North American zone with teams from Haiti, Mexico and Cuba. However, the Italian government decided that the boys from these shores are in a class by themselves. This decision was reached after the reception and tremendous ovation that Balbo received on his aerial visit to the United States. As a result the outfit from this country will appear in Italy against the fifteen other finalists.

STEINER IN LONG DISTANCE GRIND

Fred Steiner, Jewish marathon ace who recently won the metropolitan A. A. U. marathon road special in record breaking time, heads the entry list of long distance running specialists for the next A. A. U. 10,000 meter track race championship. The race will be held on Sunday, May 6, and is sponsored by the Hudson Democratic Club.

Steiner has as his chief rival in this gruelling event another champ performer, Paul De Bruyn, the latter has beaten Fred on several occasions. However, in the last few starts, Steiner has set the pace for De Bruyn and romped in ahead of the Dutchman.

So amazing was the mark set by Fred in the marathon held last month that many spectators and kibitzers claimed that this ace distance specialist had not covered the regular distance of twenty-six miles and 390 yards. A careful rechecking of the course and a recalibration of the time pieces used in the race by the judges revealed that the new mark created by Steiner had smashed the old record beyond recognition. He is determined to set a grueling pace from the start for this Sunday’s race and hopes to shatter the present 10,000 meter mark.

VIOLET VARIETIES

Things have been humming along the New York University athletic front this past week and according to all indications there will be plenty of action until school closes in June.

Last week the male athletes of all divisions of the University were rewarded with their Varsity insignia. This week’s honors go to the women.

At a dinner held the other night the weaker sex proved that their accomplishments in the athletic world are a thing to be reckoned with.

Miss Natalie Seiden, captain of the fencing team and a senior at Washington Square College, was singled out for the honor of the leading place in that sport. She received a medal for excellence with the foil. Other Jewish girls who were outstanding in athletics during the past year also received their merited rewards.

Miss Ruth Diamond was one of three women who earned three varsity letters each. Miss Diamond was a member of the swimming, tennis and hockey teams. She is a resident of New York City and only a sophomore in the school of Commerce.

Miss Edith Edelson, a senior in the School of Education, and Miss Maxine Bracker, also a senior, received medals for proficiency in basketball and swimming, respectively.

Awards in fencing, basketball, swimming and tennis were given to. Misses Harriet Graber, Ruth Horowitz, Ruth Diamond, Dorothy Weisman, Ruth Klein, Florence Niedleman and Judith Edelson.

RAH FOR OLD NEW YORK

The Varsity track team of New York University, following its top-notch performances at the Penn Relays in Philly last week, is once again traveling to that little hamlet on the Delaware. They will meet Temple and City College in a triangular track meet.

The tennis team is due for another hectic weekend when it meets the Fordham Ramsters at the Fleet Hollow Courts. Last week the team scored a brilliant victory over the U. of P. racquet wielders.

The baseball team at the Heights seems to be entirely dependent on the pitching services of Bill Gottlieb, veteran southpaw. When Bill is on the mound you can be sure that the Violet baseballers will come through with a corking brand of baseball. However, the most consistent man on the team this year is the chap who is handling the hot corner for the Hall of Famers. He is Emil Friedman and has been at this difficult post for the past two seasons. A timely hitter, he has been causing opposing pitchers no end of trouble. Gottlieb says he wouldn’t like to try his stuff against Emil.

MACCABI SPORT MEET

This Sunday afternoon at McCombs Dam Park the Maccabi organization will meet the Newport A. C. in a track and field contest. This event will mark the first of a new series of athletic tournaments to be held under the auspices of the U. S. Maccabi Association.

The athletes who show the best form in these metropolitan contests will in all probability be picked for the group that will represent the East when the Maccabi track and field team invades Chicago for the Jewish Day carnival. Maccabi contingents from the Midwest and the Windy City will meet the Easterners. According to latest reports the winners of these events will have a splendid chance of performing for the United States in the second Maccabiad to be held in 1935 in Palestine.

THE SPORT CALENDAR CONEY ISLAND TONIGHT

Abe Yager, who runs the works at Stauch’s arena, Coney Island, is putting on a good show tonight. Jumping Joe Savoldi meets Marshall Blackstock in the feature attraction. Abie Coleman, the bounding Litvack, is scheduled to be on deck for a thirty minute special bout with Bull Komar, of the Lithuanian Bullies.

RIDGEWOOD GROVE TOMORROW NIGHT

Steve Dudas, latest heavyweight sensation, will meet Al White in the main event. This is a fight that comes as the answer to a boxing promoter’s prayer.

Sammy Shaffman meets Gus Lesnevich and Izzy Jannazzo will pair off against Jack Lowery.