A worldwide roundup of the sports information of the week
RECORD BREAKERS—PARRY O'BRIEN, self-assured Californian on tour of Europe, treated 5,000 German fans to sight of his record-breaking prowess, grimacing and grunting in best style as he heaved 16-pound shot 61 feet 8½ inches to better his own indoor world record mark in international meet at Frankfurt (Feb.8).
Peter Matiukha, thick-shouldered Russian weight lifter, did some fancy muscle-flexing at Lvov, hoisted 327.8 pounds to break world middle heavyweight record for two-hand press (Feb.3).
TRACK & FIELD—RON DELANY, turkey-trotting faster than usual, had his best chance for new world indoor mile record at Millrose Games in New York. Pulled out by Maryland's Burr Grim, the not-so-lazy Irishman gave it good try but could do no better than 4:04.6, full second off Gunnar Nielsen's mark. Best newcomers: North Carolina's Dave Scurlock, big and strong at 6-foot-5, 180 pounds, who bulled into lead at start, never gave it up to win half mile in 1:52.6; U.S. Army's Ken Kave, who burst out of starting blocks to outrun Penn State's Bob Brown, Villanova's Ed Collymore and Duke's Dave Sime in 60-yard dash in 6.2.
AUTO RACING—NASCAR PRESIDENT BILL FRANCE, intrigued by news that Russia has car that averaged 170 mph over 6-mile run (SI, Feb. 3), hastened to take pen in hand, invited streamlined Soviet-made Kharkov Six to show off its speed at Daytona Beach performance trials. Wrote France: "We know nothing of your country's plans for the car, but since we are the largest auto racing body in the U.S. we wish to extend an invitation."
HORSE RACING—THREE-YEAR-OLDS, with Kentucky Derby stars in their eyes, were off and running at Santa Anita and Hialeah. Old Pueblo, touted by Californians as newest Swaps, kept his record clean by winning Santa Anita's $67,360 California Breeders' Champion Stakes, but not until Silky Sullivan, a late-running heart-stopper (see page 21), sent Eddie Arcaro and his mount to winner's circle with severe case of jitters. Calumet's Kentucky Pride and Tim Tarn were all shook up by Fred Hooper's sleek Olymar, who moved up along rail in stretch to thrust past Kentucky Pride in Hialeah's $25,425 Bahamas Stakes. But, lest horse-players begin to grieve for Calumet, Iron Liege came to rescue in $65,700 McLennan Handicap, held off Oh Johnny to win it handsomely.
BOXING—WILLI BESMANOFF, poker-faced German heavyweight mauler beaten in his last five starts, engaged in some unexpected bubble-pricking at Seattle, punishing 6th-ranked but lethargic Pat McMurtry with severe head and body blows to win split-decision 10-rounder before 5,537 who contributed $23,817. Four days later, McMurtry was carted off to hospital with pneumonia.
Ralph Dupas, flashy-boxing New Orleans lightweight, moving gracefully and quickly, led frustrated Welterweight Gaspar Ortega merry chase for 10 rounds, meanwhile piling up points with flicking left jab, to take split decision at Norfolk.
Light heavyweight champion Archie Moore, debonair and ageless as ever and togged out in bop goatee and beret, flew into New York after highly profitable goodwill tour of South America, promptly delivered himself of some typical bons mots. On Heavyweight Champion Floyd Patterson: "Who's got a better right to fight Patterson? I have a master plan for victory. Essentially, a highly technical defense...I couldn't lose." On his own title: "I would like to defend against that Canadian fellow, Yvon Durelle...pounds never did bother me. I know how to train. Everybody ought to know that." On Tony Anthony: "A good boy. I was sorry I had to knock him out last fall."
Welterweight jigsaw puzzle began to fall into place when New York Commissioner Julius Helfand, wearing his World Boxing Committee hat, okayed blind draw which picked Isaac Logart to meet Virgil Akins, winner to face Vince Martinez for title.
SOCCER—WALES, eliminated in own group but given second chance when Arab nations refused to play Israel, barely edged plucky Israelis 2-0 at Cardiff, became fourth British team (others: England, Scotland, Northern Ireland) to qualify for World Cup finals at Stockholm June 8-29.
British soccer fans were plunged into deep mourning after plane crash at Munich took lives of seven players, coach, trainer and secretary of famed Manchester United team and eight sportswriters. Team was returning to England after playing 3-3 European Cup tie with Yugoslavia at Belgrade (see page 14).
BASKETBALL—TEMPLE, lightly regarded at season's start, boomed past Duquesne 72-48, Seton Hall 89-53 to stretch nation's longest major college winning streak to 15. West Virginia recovered from first loss to beat St. John's and Richmond as Kansas State, San Francisco, Cincinnati and Oklahoma State (which won 500th game for Coach Hank Iba) continued to win.
NBA teams, longtime sufferers at hands of Boston, let out quiet hurrah when Bill Sharman and Frank Ramsey joined Jim Loscutoff on injured list and Tom Heinsohn was sidelined by food poisoning. Nevertheless, undermanned Celtics won four out of five, were still comfortable 7½ games ahead of Syracuse in East. Slumping St. Louis, thanks to Celtics, who took three from Cincinnati, held on to lead in West.
TENNIS—USLTA, long controlled by Easterners, was given new western look by President Victor Denny of Seattle, who began general top-to-bottom housecleaning by appointing Perry T. Jones (see right), longtime West Coast tennis enthusiast, to replace Bill Talbert as captain of U.S. Davis Cup team. Jones also will head committee to study open tournament. Other Westerners named: Jim Moffett of San Francisco, chairman of Davis Cup Selection Committee; William S. Kellogg of La Jolla, Calif., head of International Play Committee. Explained Denny: "The change is in no way criticism or reflection upon Talbert. He did a marvelous job...we feel it is wise to make a change now and then." Talbert, who brought Davis Cup back to U.S. in 1954, reacted graciously: "I think Perry Jones will make a fine captain and wish him success."
Lew Hoad and Pancho Gonzales, featured stars of Jack Kramer's touring pro circus, brought their blockbusting games back to U.S., but this time Hoad was no patsy. Lew outlasted Pancho 6-4, 20-18 at San Francisco for his seventh straight but next day had his lead cut to 9-6 when he bowed to Gonzales' power game 3-6, 24-22, 6-1 at Los Angeles. Predicted ebullient Pancho: "When that cash register rings for the last time, I'll have my big hand in it."
SKIING—TONI SAILER, handsome Austrian triple Olympic champion, who spends his spare time acting in films, curved gracefully through gates to win giant slalom, added downhill title with fearless dash down slopes for combined honors in FIS championships at Bad Gastein (See page 40). Leading lady performers: Canada's Lucile Wheeler (see right); Norway's Inger Bjoernbakken, slalom winner; Switzerland's Frieda Daenzer, combined winner.
HOCKEY—DETROIT and BOSTON popped in and out of third place as Montreal sailed blithely along. 25 points ahead of New York in NHL. Chicago made bid to get out of cellar, was only two points away from Toronto at week's end.
