Slants on Sports

Judge Emil Fuchs, owner of the Boston Braves, that much-bedogged outfit, is going to tell all.

One of the few Jewish magnates in the great national ame, he has been smarting under the unfavorable publicity received by the Redskins since the subject of dog-racing, whippets and greyhounds caused a panic in the National League. He has decided to discard his policy of silence and give his club’s dire financial problems a public airing.

Taking the suggestion that it might be a good idea to take the sports writers into his confidence before trying to solve the club’s problems, the Judge agreed. “In that spirit,” Fuchs said, “I will call a meeting with the newspapermen within a few days and go over the entire situation frankly.”

THE MIAMI FIGHTS LAST NIGHT

The cauliflower market took a slight rise last night when Barney Ross and Frankie Klick fought for what the boys, with a twinkle in their eyes, call the junior welterweight title. Max Baer picked on the fat gendarme, Jimmy Maloney, and Buddy Baer knocked over another stumblebum in the second great American sucker tour.

Analyzing this rich program, Ring Lardner’s favorite son Johnny discovered it to consist of the following:

1—A bout between two good boys for a phoney title.

2—A bout between the world’s heavyweight champion and a retired pushover intended to be funny.

3—A bout between the champ’s brother and an active pushover intended to be serious.

ONE ROUTE TO BAER’S THRONE

“There is no side door to a bout with Baer,” said Commissioner Brown yesterday. “Any contender refusing to fight another contender is out.”

Brown was answering a question put by Maurice Lasky. What Manager Lasky really wanted to know was where brother Art stood among the contenders for the championship. Art, according to Bill, is even with the field, in the same class with Hamas, Carnera and Schmeling.

If Lasky gets by Jimmy Braddock next week at the Garden, he will be eligible to fight the winner of the Hamas-Schmeling scrap. Carnera will figure in the thing before the winner qualifies to meet the better of the performing Baers.

WHAT SLOWS UP BASKETBALL?

In the opinion of Ira Streusland, prominent realtor who is recognized as the greatest basketball player yet developed at City College, the rules makers must act quickly to take advantage of the tremendous popular interest in the court game. He said today that the pivot play and the liberal use of the officials’ whistles threatened to nullify the sport public’s desire for basketball. He said:

“As evidenced by the big crowds in the Garden, New York’s sporting public wants college basketball and wants it badly. I was surprised the Garden promoters did not tumble to this fact earlier. Basketball is the ideal winter indoor game and caters to the general public as well as to a college clientele.

“However, the tendency has been to emasculate basketball. The pivot play has slowed up action. The true cure for this abuse yet is to be found by the rules makers. They must curb official’s whistles, and they must prevent automatic slowing up of action on the floor.”

IN THE MAIL BOX

Walter Hirsch, of 1046 Hoe avenue, The Bronx, an ardent admirer of Mickey Kupperberg, varsity sophomore guard on the Minnesota quintet, has plenty to say about the Bronx athlete.

“The history of Mickey is not as spectacular as other stars. As a keen student of basketball, along with his fellow team-mates, Mickey’s value to any five he plays with is apparent. Mickey starred for the James Monroe High School team for three years. In this time he became one of the greatest defensive players in P.S.A.L. history. In these three years only twenty-five points were scored by men whom he guarded. The most any foe has scored in one game was four points.

VARSITY IN SOPH YEAR

“Irving, or Mickey, as we call him, was named on the all-scholastic five in 1932 and for three consecutive years was all-Bronx guard. After graduating from James Monroe, he went to Minnesota University. In his frosh year he scrimmaged against the varsity and immediately was spotted as a future star. Coach Dave McMillan said that with continued improvement Mickey is destined to become the greatest star in Mid-Western basketball.

“The ever – smiling lad, whose great personality won him many friends, is the first Jewish player on a Minnesota basketball team. Due to an eligibility ruling, he was inactive until the Notre Dame game on January 5. N. D. was the team that held the unbeaten N. Y. U. outfit to a five-point lead. Well, Mickey in his first game outscored everybody on the court with twelve points.

“As he left the floor, after his team had trimmed the highly-touted Notre Dame quintet, 30—28, he was given one of the greatest ovations accorded a Jewish athlete on any Minnesota athletic field.

“Mickey, known as a hard worker and a modest kid, simply blushed. He is now regular first string guard. He stands five feet eleven and weighs 176 pounds.

“Incidentally, Mickey’s older brother was a varsity tackle for three years on the City College eleven. He was captain in his last year. His brother Mike won five letters in different sports among which were wrestling, baseball, football and water polo.

“Hope for your continued success in sports writing. I have read your column from the first day it was published. I know that you are very much interested in rising young Jewish athletes who are winning their way to fame. It is for this reason that I have sent you the letter on Mickey Kupperberg.”