The White Falcon - 23.01.1943, Qupperneq 7

7
Jimmy Mills
Rides Again
By Gene Graff
If the local Army Air Corps unit ever receives
a shipment of prancing polo ponies instead of
P-47’s or Flying Fortresses, the party at fault
probably will be Capt. Jimmy Mills, supply of-
ficer. He was one of the nation’s outstanding
polo players before Pearl Harbor, riding in the
“major league” circuit, and occasionally bis
nostalgic flashbacks set him to pondering over
the absence of polo ponies in these parts.
With tongue in cheek, Mills'claims he launch- '
ed his polo playing career at his home in West-
bury, Long Island, N.Y., while swinging his
mallet from astride a bicycle ’way back in 1922
at the age of 14. But actually he didn’t crash
organized polo until 1925. And it wasn’t until
’32 that Mills stepped into prominence when he
toured Argentina with an all-star squad that
included Winston Guest, W. Post II., Seymour
Knox, Elmer Boseke, and other top ranking
polo artists.
That successful visit to Soulth America fol-
lowed in the wake of his graduation from Yale.
His appointment to the squad was a reward
for having led the Yale colors to the Inter-
collegiate and National Indoor championships
during his senior year, which also earned him
a handicap of seven.
In 1935, Mills boosted his handicap to eight
—less (than a dozen players are held in such
high esteem by the Association—and celebrat-
ed the honor by enjoying his most successful
season. He played No. 2 position on the quar-
tet which captured the U.S. Open crown and
the Monty Waterbury Cup, then joined Hal
Roach of Hollywood fame, Eric Pedley and
Arthur Perkins to win the Pacific Open title,
and followed with a two-straight sweep over
the WesL all-sitars in the annual matches at
International Field, MeadOwbrook, N.Y., 10 to
8 and 12 to 11.
The second East-West affair produced a scor-
ing spree by Mills and his mates that still oc-
cupies an important niche among polo records.
Trailing, 8-4, in the closing minutes, the East
riders punched six goals through the uprights
in less than seven minutes to win the match
and series. But Mills doesn’t point to that rally
as the highlight of the match. His choice was
Boseke’s carom shot that clinched the verdict
for the East—although Boseke wa^ riding No. 4
for the West. A huge hulk of a man, Boseke
raced his mount down the field, smashed the
ball fiercely with his mallet, then watched help-
lessly as the ball ricochetted into his own goal!
Mills married Alice Du Pont, daughter of the
gunpowder division head, in 1936. She, too, is an
ardent horse fan, although her tastes run more
to the racetracks and steeplechases. Her “stable”
consists of Pico Blanco, a four-year-old jumper
who has won his share of purses at Saratoga
and other New York courses. Mills hasn’t heard
what his wife is doing with the thoroughbred
during the current winter season, but lie’s in
constant fear that meat rationing in the States
has transferred Pico Blanco from the turf to
the dinner table.
Today's Card Opens
Local Cage Tourney
Four games this afternoon crack open the local Army basketball tourney on the Navy’s court, to be
followed by another brace of contests tomorrow. The opener of .each session will get underway at 1700
hqurs, but due to limited facilities, spectators will not be permitted to see the games — at least not
until the semi-finals.
For security reasons, fic-
titious nicknames will be
used to identify competing
quintets. The Saturday league,
termed the “Collegians,” consists
of Wildcats, Gophers, Bulldogs,
Badgers, Wolves, Cougars, Pan-
thers and Tigers. The Sunday
“Pro” circuit includes Eagles,
Bears, Giants, Redskins, Pack-
ers, Steelers, Lions and Rams.
In order to cram four games
into three alloted hours, pre-
game warm-ups have been abol-
ished, and aftter the first contest
has reached its half-time inter-
mission the next two teams will
play a half before the second
15-minute period of the opener
is staged. Each team will face
its bracket foes once during the
seven-week preliminary shoot-
ing, and finalists will be chosen
on a percentage basis.
The Wildcats and Tigers will
inaugurate the whirl this after-
noon. Neither quintet has been
impressive in its practice en-
gagements—in fact, the Tigers
have been trounced in all three
of their starts—but both squads
are certain to improve in rapid
fashion. The Tigers boast plenty
of capable talent, and finally loc-
ated a satisfactory starting five
last week wljen they bowed to
the Gophers, 33 to 21.
In other tussles today, the
Gophers^ tackle the Panthers; the
Bulldogs match baskets with the
Cougars, and the Badgers square
off against the Wolves.
Tomorrow’s activity in the Pro
division will open with the
Eagles testing the Rams. Then
with nary a pause the Bears
battle the Lions; the Giants greet
the Steelers, and (he Redskins
encounter the Packers.
Ted Williams, star Boston Red Sox outfielder, receives his wings at Am-
herst, Mass., after completing civilian p ilot training course which he hopes will
lead to a commission in the Navy. Frank G. Andrews, civilian pilot training
regional director, pins on the emblem, while Lieut. Comm. Edward S. Brewer
of a Navy flight board looks on.
Familiar Tune
Pvt. Charles “Red” Ruffing,
cx-N.Y. Yankee pitcher, de-
scribes his baptism into Army
life:
Sgt.: “I understand that you
are a pretty good pitcher.”
Ruffing: “I pitched.”
Sgt.: “Fine. See how fast
you can pitch this tent!”
56 Teams Begin Shooting
In ‘Equator’ Cage Meet
With I. Stumbo, sharpshooting forward, hitting from
all angles, Team No. 29 turned in an impressive 82 to
22 triumph over No. 42 in the opening flight of the
mammoth 56-team “Equator” basketball tourney. Stum-
bo personally contributed 46 points to the rout.
The decisive victory establish-
es No. 29 as favorite to annex the
crown in “C” league, although
several other potent squads still
must be encountered, In the only
other “C” test thus far, No, 41
tripped No. 30, 17 to 9, as Grza-
nich hit the hoop for eight points.
Culp’s 12 markers sparked No.
1 to an easy 44 to 23 verdict
over No. 14 in the “A” confer-
ence, while No. 3 trounced No.
12, 37 tq §Q, And in the “B” cir-
cuit, No. 27 romped to a 36 to
14 win over No. 16.
The bulky field has been
grouped into four separate brack-
ets, each playing an independent
round-robin schedule, Playoffs
will terminate the shooting in
May, after almost 800 preliminary
games have been discharged from
the schedule.
Supervision of the jamboree is
handled by Lt. G. R. Wiser, As-
sistant Special Service Officer,
and T/4G. James C. Kuipers,
SHORT SHOTS
Athletes in the Armed Services will get a
chance to compete in the Texas Relays at Austin,
Tex., Track Coach Clyde Littlefield announced
today......The Relays will be held April 3,
and Littlefield said a special division will be
added for athletes now serving their country.
.... The Western Defense Command has given
its assent to a request for racing dates by Bay
Meadows officials at San Mateo, Calif.......But
Bay Meadows’ petition to open its doors Feb.
20 still must be approved by the California rac-
ing board......Football Player Ernie Pinckert
is now Pvt. Pinckert of Uncle Sam’s Army........
He starred on the gridiron at Southern Cali-
fornia, then played pro football for a few years.
.... Meanwhile, friends wished Lieut. Duane
Purvis a speedy convalescence today after learn-
ing that the former Purdue football ace had
suffered a broken neck on Army maneuvers.
.... He is in the hospital at Kelly Field, Tex.
.... Purvis coached football at the Michigan
City (Ind.) High School, after he had won let-
ters in football and track at Purdue.......Cor-
nelius Warmerdam will attempt to surpass the
16-foot mark in the pole vault event when the
Millrose Games are held in New York Feb. 6.
.... Warmerdam is the only vaulter in the
world having jumped higher than 15 feet in
his speciality.
Whirlaway, leading money-winner of all time,
will be retired after one more season of rac-
ing...... Writers still consider Ohio State’s
Big 10 champs as the No. 1 eleven of ’42. ....
But-Georgia replaced Wisconsin in second place
after clubbing UCIA 9-0, in tbe Bose Bowl.