SUBJECTS OF CONTENTION

Walter O'Malley thinks he made a big league ball park out of the Los Angeles Coliseum by erecting a screen back of his outrageously short left field. Some college boys whacked enough pitches over it last week to make this a matter of doubt.

Tongues also wagged as Silky Sullivan lost a race at Golden Gate, but his clamorous faithful pointed out that Silky gave away 12 pounds and was woefully short of work.

By winning the NBA playoffs St. Louis settled one long contention—but started another. Would Boston have won if Bill Russell were sound?

Late-running matinee idol Silky Sullivan (No. 6) sweeps by Furyvan after the finish of the Greater Northern California Mile, but he failed to follow his old script which called for him to come on like the U.S. Marines and provide a happy ending; Gone Fishin' (right) won by five and a half lengths. Loitering as usual, 30 lengths behind at the half-mile pole, Silky tried but hung badly in the stretch. Trainer Reggie Cornell shipped him off to Louisville where he hoped Silky wouldn't fluff his lines come Derby Day.

Controversial 42-foot fence which Dodgers built in the Los Angeles Coliseum to discourage Chinese home runs—the left field foul line being but 250 feet long—is a trifling obstacle for USC Batter Johnny Werhas. In a half-hour drill the callow collegians popped 11 balls over Walter O'Malley's Great Wall of China, and purists shuddered at the prospect of what would happen to Babe Ruth's mark when the big leaguers took over.

Hot heads prevailed when such ancient centers of decorum as Boston and St. Louis noisily misbehaved at the NBA title games between the Celtics and the Hawks. Here Referee Mendy Rudolph ignores the outraged pleas of Celtic Coach Red Auerbach. Hawk Coach Alex Hannum also acted up as the series proved to be the unruliest in history. St. Louis made history, too, winning the championship for the first time.

THREE PHOTOS