A worldwide roundup of the sports information of the week
RECORD BREAKERS—AUSSIE swimmers, churning up white water swell at both ends of globe, left trail of broken records in their wake. Dawn Fraser, in warmup for nationals, thrashed 220-yard (and 200-meter) freestyle in 2:17.7 at Adelaide, to better world marks (Feb. 10); John Monckton, 19-year-old carpenter, had hand in creating three world standards, whipsawing 110-yard (and 100-meter) backstroke in 1:01.5 and teaming up with New South Wales Teammates Terry Gathercote, Brian Wilkinson and John Devitt to clock 4:19.4 for 440-yard medley relay in Australian championships at Melbourne (Feb. 15); transplanted Murray Rose, now USC freshman, dipped into Yale's 25-yard pool at New Haven, hustled 400 meters in 4:20, 440 yards in 4:21.5, fastest ever for distances, but had to be satisfied with U.S. records because world marks must be set in 55-yard pool (Feb. 15). Yale's Joe Koletsky took cue from Rose, set U.S. record of 2:25.2 for 220-yard breaststroke (Feb. 15).
Bob Mitchell, swift-gaited Illinois halfback, scissored over 70-yard low hurdles in 7.7, sliced[1/10] of second off American indoor record at Champaign, Ill. (Feb. 15).
DOG SHOW—CH. PUTTENCOVE PROMISE, Mr. and Mrs. George Putnam's waggish 3-year-old standard poodle, turned serious when chips were down, looked for all world like bundle of white fluff as he showed off his low-set ears, docked tail, darkly animated eyes, muscular hind legs, deep-barreled chest and well-arched toes to win best-in-show at Westminster Kennel Club event in New York (see page 24). Said Scottish-born Handler Bob Gorman: "He's a big clown. He wants to play all the time. He didn't start showing until the end, when the others were letting down."
FIGURE SKATING—CAROL HEISS, pretty Ozone Park, N.Y. miss, pirouetting and gliding gracefully through spectacular freestyle routine, had even critical judges staring with open-eyed amazement as she won third world title at Paris. Crew-cut David Jenkins of Colorado Springs, trailing Californian Tim Brown after compulsory figures, put on dazzling display in free-skating to retain his men's crown.
TRACK & FIELD—RON DELANY, who Usually follows everywhere but at finish, found himself in abhorred, unaccustomed role of pacemaker for indoor season's weirdest mile when lead-shy opponents hung back in tight little group, then turned on famous fast foot in last 100 yards to beat Hungarian Istvan Rozsavolgyi by four yards in slow, "tactical" 4:10 Baxter Mile at NYAC Games in New York and run winning streak to 23. Confident Parry O'Brien, fresh from Germany where he smashed world indoor shot-put record, again bettered listed mark with heave of 61 feet 5 inches. Among other winners: Manhattan's Tom Murphy, who out-kicked Dave Scurlock in brisk 1:52.6 in 880; Duke's Dave Sime, who redeemed dismal Millrose showing with 6.2 victory over Ken Kave in 60-yard dash.
Herb Elliott, Australia's flying teenager, whippeted around freshly mowed and rolled grass track in West Australian championships before thrilled hometown crowd at Perth, was just fast enough to get under four-minute barrier for third straight time, edging chief rival and shadow Merv Lincoln by foot in 3:59.6, fastest ever on turf (see page 25). After race, Coach Percy Cerutty announced that Elliott had been invited to run in U.S. championships at Bakersfield, Calif. June 20, 21, added cautiously: "We are seriously considering accepting."
HORSE RACING—CALUMET'S bristling 3-year-olds were at it again at Hialeah, showing their frisky heels to pack in 1‚⅛-mile, $31,550 Everglades Stakes, first major test for Flamingo. Late-running Tim Tarn, choice of Jockey Willie Hartack, paired off with usually front-running Kentucky Pride, ran out on his stablemate in stretch to finish first by 1¼ length.
Nadir, top 2-year-old of 1957, also bustled into 3-year-old picture at Hialeah, making first start of year a winning one. Shorn of familiar blinkers and shadow roll, Nadir started late, finished early under urging of Hartack in seven-furlong sprint, held firm as top Derby choice.
Round Table, piling up riches faster than most horses can run, dawdled along while others took run at lead, turned it on in stretch to win $56,400 San Antonio Handicap in world-record-equaling 1:46[4/5] for 1‚⅛ mile, poured $33,300 into Oilman Travis Kerr's bulging pocket, lifted lifetime earnings to $803,264 to move into sixth place (ahead of Native Dancer) among racing's alltime money winners.
BOXING—JOEY GIARDELLO, former tough-guy middleweight who is fighting way back after extracurricular workout on gas station attendant earned him brief incarceration in Pennsylvania pen, outpunched Germany's Franz Szuzina in early rounds, loafed a little in middle sessions, but picked up pace in 10th to win decision at Philadelphia.
IBC (James D. Norris, president) stretched itself a bit ($40,000 worth—$20,000 to each fighter), gladdened New York (and World Boxing Committee) Commissioner Julius Helfand's heart by signing Isaac Logart and Virgil Akins for 12-round semifinal welterweight elimination bout March 21 at New York's Madison Square Garden, winner to meet Vince Martinez for vacant title.
Ricardo (Pajarito) Moreno, scheduled to try to lift Hogan (Kid) Bassey's featherweight title in Los Angeles April 1, but one little bird who did too much tweeting, was suspended by Mexican Boxing Commission for taking part in recent barroom brawl. Suspension brought Los Angeles Promoter George Parnassus scurrying to Mexico City to "try to straighten this thing up." Explained Parnassus: "Moreno is a good boy. He goes to bed every night at 9:30. How could he be fighting in a bar?"
FOOTBALL—BUCK SHAW, onetime San Francisco 49er coach who was turned out to pasture by Air Force Academy because he refused to devote all his time to football, found place for his part-time talents, was hired by Philadelphia Eagles to replace fired Hughie Devore for "extended term" at $20,000 per year.
George Halas, who announced retirement to front office two years ago, had some second thoughts, decided to return to coaching Chicago Bears because "coaching methods were changing and I developed some new ideas. Now I want to try out those ideas." Paddy Driscoll, who handled team in 1956 and 1957, becomes administrative vice-president in charge of team organization.
TENNIS—LEW HOAD, beaten in New York by Pancho Gonzales 7-9, 6-0, 6-4, 6-4 before pro tennis' largest crowd (15,237), regained his touch, won four straight in Washington and Evanston, Ill. to lead 13-7.
BASKETBALL—OKLAHOMA STATE and CONNECTICUT were first to get NCAA tournament bids as season headed into homestretch battle for postseason invites, with Kansas State still No. 1 in most polls.
New York, all but counted out of NBA playoffs, ran off three straight, moved within half-game of third-place Philadelphia in East, while Boston and St. Louis held firmly on to first-place positions.
HOCKEY—NEW YORK, DETROIT and BOSTON were involved in fight for second in NHL but Montreal, 24 points in front, paid little attention to backstage scuffling.
MILEPOST—DIED—DR. HAROLD ANSON BRUCE, 72, longtime track coach (Lafayette, Union, CCNY) until retirement in 1955; of heart attack, in New York.
