The White Falcon - 13.03.1943, Blaðsíða 10

No Parole
For Leo
By Gene Graff
Draft boards have their secret system of de-
termining whether men are physically prepar-
ed to enter the Army, it’s thfcir own business,
and far be it from this corner to take a stand
either for or against the noble gents who are
invested with the duty of filling GI ranks with
sturdy fighters. But when they abuse a color-
ful athlete like Leo (Not-So-Lippy-Since-Rickey-
Arrived) Durocher by sending him back to
Brooklyn for another term as manager of the
Daffy Dodgers, it’s time to call a halt.
Durocher was rejected because of a tempera-
mental ear. That’s unusual, to say the least,
since baseball legend claims the fiery pilot ne-
vdr stopped talking long enough to risk hear-
ing anything. The examining physicians decreed
the bursting of shells might jeopardize his safety
and perhaps even result in total deafness, so
his efforts to slip away from the dangerous
fanatics of Daffy Town have failed.
If the Dodgers wilt again in the home stretch
this year, Durocher probably will wish he were
resting comfortably in a foxhole at Guadal-
canal. Bullets whizzing overhead and Japs in-
filtrating are sham in comparison to the ma-
neuvers of Brooklyn fans when aroused. They
like their baseball rough, and visiting players
always renew their insurance policies before
venturing into Ebbets Field. Humor has it that
rival outfielders have taken off on the double
after well-aimed bottles instead of baseballs,
although old-time Dodgers rooters still contend
Babe Herman had a corner on the market.
Even if Brooklyn wins the pennant, Duroch-
er is in a precarious dilemma. The war has
lured Pee Wee Reese, brilliant shortstop, so the
33-ycar-old manager must return to the active
ranks, bad car notwithstanding. And if draft
board doctors think Durocher’s ear will rest
more easily away from booming mortars, ho-
witzers and big guns, they’ve never enjoyed
a Sunday baseball outing in Flatbush. The only
noise that surpasses a Brooklyn fan’s howl of
delight is his shriek of derision. Either sound
is enough to shatter a normal person’s car-
drums, and Durocher’s are below par.
Whitey Kurowski, youthful hero of the St.
Louis Cardinals in their World Series victory
over the N.Y. Yankees, is another ball player
to be pitied. Kurowski’s brilliant play at third
base and his potent slugging were instrumen-
tal in driving the Cards ahead of Brooklyn in
the September stretch duel. However, draft
board doctors ruled this week he is unfit for
military service. There have been cases of
mysterious ailments shelving athletes, but when
a third baseman is deferred because of a crip-
pled RIGHT arm, something is wrong.
A freshman during the past National League
campaign, Kurowski astounded veteran play-
ers, fans and writers with his amazing ability
to nip runners to first base with perfect strikes
from any position. Of course, a rifle is con-
siderably heavier than a baseball. But a sol-
dier doesn’t have to dash forward at full speed,
scoop up the rifle, and fling it 120 feet with-
out breaking cadence.
Bears Battle Gophers
In Cage Tourney Final
The question of whether an alert gang of persistent ball-hawks can erase their height deficiency resul-
‘ing from elongated Marty Van Oorschot’s appearance in the enemy lineup will be answered conclusively
tomorrow evening when the Air Force Bears trade shots with the Signal Corps Gophers in the champio11"
ship game of the “Command” basketball tourney on the Navy court. _
Van Oorschot, former star in
West Coast independent circles,
has sparked the Gopher quintet
to seven consecutive victories
with apparent ease. While sail-
ing through bracket assignments
without mishap, Van Oorschot I
scored 112 points, placing him!
far ahead of other candidates for
the individual scoring title.
He’s not the only member of
the squad to be feared by the
Bears, however, because diminu-
tive Jimmy Alderetti and his sup-
porting troupe present a torrid
scoring array and a well-knit
defense. But the chief problem
confronting the equally ef-
fective Air Force cagers is a de-
fense against Van Oorschot’s
height advantage.
In rebuttal to Van Oorschot &
Co., the Bears will offer the Same
versatile quintet which comple-
tely bewildered its foes with a
flashy fast-break and sizzling
passing attack in previous ap-
pearances. The Bears have been
extended twice—by the Steelers
and Rams—but each time pro-
tected their unblemished slate
with calm, methodic recovery in
closing minutes of play.
Gopher guards, too, will be
faced with a severe task, that of
checking the expert sharpshoot-
ing by Johnny Altobelli from bey-
ond the free throw circle and by
Ben Podolsky and John Borucki
from under the basket. Unless
this trio can be stopped, the
Gophers are in for an uncom-
fortable evening.
The championship affair will
be preceded by the battle for
third place between the Steelers
and Cougars. Both teams clinch-
He Can Still
Lick The Cubs!
George Moriarty, scrappy Am-
erican League umpire who once
challenged the whole Chicago
Cubs team to fisticuffs during a
World Series, is unable to keep
his 90-pound wife under control.
Moriarty testified at his divorce
trial in Detroit that she made
him get his own meals, wash
his own laundry, and make his
own bed.
Irish Bride Wins
Jackson Handicap
Valdina Farm’s Irish Bride
won the Andrew Jackson Handi-
cap at New Orleans’ Fair
Grounds in a walk, reaching the
wire eight lengths in front of
her nearest rival. The Valdina
colorbearer established a new
ed their bracket runner-up posi- track record in scoring her easy
tions during last week’s final ac-j victory, navigating the mile and
(Continued on Page 11) |a furlong in 1:50.6.
Pigeons Spank Wrens
To Grab First Place
A sustained second-half rally featured by the shooting
of Johnny White, high scoring center, gave the Pigeons
a 48-38 victory over the Wrens this week and placed
the victors in undisputed possession of the League A lead
in the local Ace of Diamonds cage grind. ______
The teams entered the contest
deadlocked in first place with
six victories each, but White’s
one-man show in the last two
periods sent the Wrens home
smarting under their initial set-
back. White’s 24 points moved
him into second place in the in-
dividual race with 173 points.
The Wrens opened the game
with a cluster of baskets and
carried a 12-5 advantage into the
second period. But the Pigeons
geared up their production in
the second frame and knotted
the count at 21-21 at the inter-
mission. Accuracy from the free
throw line proved vital to the
Pigeon cause in the second half
as they converted 14 tries while
the Wrens salvaged only four. •
In other League A conflicts, the
Robins trounced the Herons, 28-
18; the Penguins routed the Ori-
(Continued on Page 11)
Corp. Billy Conn would like another shot at
Sgt. Joe Louis’ heavyweight crown......Conn
suggests that all proceeds go to the war effort,
and agrees with plan to have spectators buy
bonds as tickets. .... Former heavyweight king
Jack Johnson, 64, will return to the ring if the
California Athletic Assn, grants him permis-
sion to stage a series of exhibitions limited
to three two-minute rounds....... Dickie Cor-
better, former British bantamweight boxing
champion, died of wounds received in recent
German air activity over London.
•
Pro grid ace Leonard Barnum of the Pitts-
burgh Steelers, has been commissioned an en-
sign.....Arturo Godoy recently regained the
South American heavyweight title and plans to
seek fights in the U.S...Lt. Wilbur C. Riley>
USNR, was named head football coach at the
Navy Pre-Flight School, Athens, Ga....Johnny
Reazley, who won two of St. Louis’ four World
Series victories last fall, is now a second Lieut,
in the Army Air Corps.
•
Jimmy Collins, remembered as one of the
greatest third basemen of all time, died in a
Buffalo, N.Y., hospital this week....He *5e“
gan his pro career in 1893 and played with
the Boston Braves for five years, leading the
N.L. in home runs in 1898....He was 73.......
The 41st annual North-South open golf tourney
is set for March 23, 24 and 25, with $2,000 in
War Bonds offered to the winner .... Jockey
Alf Robertson received a 90-day draft defer-
ment at Miami, Fla., having broken his leg i11
a racing spill.
•
Cleveland purchased Shortstop Edin Turkhn1
from Wilkes Barre, but finds itself without ■
first baseman....Les Fleming, who held down
the post last season, notified the front office
he will remain at his war job in Texas. •••
At the same time, Hal Trosky, who indicated
he might return to the game, sent word be
will stay on his farm........ Dom DiMagfP0’
former Red Sox oiitfieldBr now in the’ Navy>
is recovering from an eye injury, while Gene
Desautels of Cleveland suffered an injured el-
bow in an auto accident.
Players from
both teams jump
into scramble for
possession of ball
during basketball
game between
Wrens and Pige-
ons here Monday
as unbeaten lead-
ers of League A in
the Ace of Dia-
monds tourney
met for undis-
puted possession
of top position.
The Pigeons un-
corked a last-half
spurt to conquer
the Wrens, 48-38-