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A worldwide roundup of the sports information of the week
HORSE RACING—CLEM, with light load for himself (113 pounds) and a lighter regard for Round Table, upset odds and predictions in $100,000 United Nations Handicap at Atlantic City (see page 14). Hogging lead for almost all of mile and three-sixteenths on turf, Mrs. Adele Rand's colt, under Willie Shoemaker, gobbled up $65,-000 first money, set track record of 1:54⅗ paid $11, and robbed Round Table of chance to become money-makingest Thoroughbred in history. Round Table, carrying 130 pounds under Ismael Valenzuela, was half length off Clem.
Eddie Arcaro, denied seat on Round Table in U.N. because of inflamed right leg, partially covered disappointment earlier in week driving Warhead to victory in $30,200 Discovery Handicap at Belmont. Warhead, the crowd's choice, covered mile and furlong in 1:51⅕ lugged 124-pound weight over finish by head over Grey Monarch.
Vertex, who year ago ran second to Promised Land in Roamer Handicap at Jamaica on three legs and broken hoof, demonstrated how time heals, handily won six-furlong American Motors Purse at Atlantic City with three-quarter-length edge on True Verdict.
BASEBALL—YANKEES, so everyone could relax, clinched American League title by winning five out of six games, including two straight from those ambitious Chicago White Sox. Not news exactly, New York was doing the ordinary thing in raising pennant for ninth time in 10 years. Any interest left in league centered around batting title race among Ted Williams, Pete Runnels, Harvey Kuenn and Bob Cerv.
Pittsburg Pirates, not so obliging, kept up spyglass-range pursuit in National League race, assured believers by winning seven, losing but one. Milwaukee, to add zest to the whole thing, won four of five, helped Warren Spahn win 20th game for ninth time, held 6-game lead. Richie Ashburn raised batting average to .342, snatched lead from ailing Stan Musial who remained at .338.
BOATING—COLUMBIA, living up to early predictions that she was Designer Olin Stephens' "better mousetrap" of 12-meter sloops, nailed down job as defender of America's Cup with 4-2 record over venerable Vim in final trials off Newport. Although summer's record with Stephens-designed Vim stands 5-5, Columbia showed better going to windward in brisk September weather, will go to line against Britain's Sceptre this Saturday (see page 16).
FOOTBALL—KENTUCKY, one of few teams active as seasonal fever broke out spottily across nation, won first opening game in seven years, bade hapless Hawaii a fond aloha after 51-0 rout. Hawaii, though unable to budge even Wildcats' fifth string, managed to cross goal line once but play was ruled illegal.
National Football League kept members busy as exhibition play continued. Philadelphia Eagles, leaning heavily on Pete Retzlaff, picked off Detroit 31-24, at Norman, Okla. Washington Redskins beat Green Bay Packers 23-14 at Winston-Salem. Los Angeles Rams weathered 28-point rally by San Francisco at L.A., got moving again in fourth period, won 40-38. Chicago Cardinals stalked over Pittsburgh 21-7 at St. Louis. Chicago Bears, meanwhile, beat Cleveland 42-31 at home.
FISHING—FIFTEENTH INTERNATIONAL TUNA CUP match at Wedgeport, Nova Scotia was rousing bust as 23 master salt-water anglers from U.S., Mexico, Cuba and British Commonwealth trolled and drifted for three days through once-prolific waters, saw a few bluefins, caught absolutely none. Tournament has come to sorry pass since days it attracted as many as 10 teams, rewarded contestants with as many as 72 tunas.
Cape Cod Tuna Tournament saw more luck if no more enterprise as 35 fish weighing 3,060 pounds total were taken in three-day assembly. Joe Mascari, Boston café owner, caught largest specimen, 116 pounds' worth.
BOXING—GENE FULLMER, awkward Utah fighting man short on reach, long on courage and devoid of technique, parlayed what assets he has into unanimous decision over ex-Idaho State Collegian Spider Webb in 10 rounds at Salt Lake City. In match billed as "The Fight the Intermountain West Demanded," former Middleweight Champion Fullmer waded in close to bottle up Webb's skill, offset loss of early rounds with brawling finish. Croaked one hilarious fan: "This probably set scientific boxing back a hundred years." Observed a bloodied Fullmer: "I won easily. I want Robinson or Basilio next."
Ralph (Tiger) Jones, another middleweight hopelessly stalking Champion Sugar Ray, deposited to his credit 10th round knockout of Michigan Welterweight Mickey Crawford at Chicago Stadium. Though 3-to-1 underdog going into fight, Jones, 30, handed 24-year-old Crawford pillar-to-post pummeling most of evening, seemed to show why Mickey's ambition to open an art studio might be a pretty good idea, unless he sticks to welterweight medium.
National Boxing Association, at annual convention in Las Vegas, elected Dr. Ward Wylie president, unanimously adopted resolution recommending ex-Heavyweight Champion Ezzard Charles and Tommy (Hurricane) Jackson never be allowed to fight again. Neither man, said NBA, is physically fit to enter ring. Kid Gavilan, 32, former welterweight champion in unrelated action, announced his retirement (to teach boxing) after 16 years as pro.
GOLF—CHARLIE COE, 34-year-old Oklahoma City oil broker, shook off "mental fatigue" in finals of United States Golf Association amateur championship at San Francisco, broke through lead of Georgia's 21-year-old Tom Aaron to win 5 and 4 on scheduled 36-hole round (see page 18). Said Coe manfully: "If I'm not mistaken, Tommy Aaron will be your champion next year.... I had the breaks."
Dow Finsterwald, 1958 PGA champion, won Utah's $17,000 open with two-foot birdie putt on 18th hole for 267 total. Fred Hawkins and Arnold Palmer wound up in second-place tie with 268s after Hawkins lost 2-stroke lead on Finsterwald at 15th and 16th of final day.
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SPORTS—STIRLING MOSS and Co-driver Tony Brooks (winner of recent Italian Grand Prix) led Aston Martin team to sweep of three top places in British Tourist Trophy race at Goodwood, covered 353.32 miles in four hours for 88.33 average. Roy Salvadori and Jack Brabham were second, Carroll Shelby of Dallas and Stuart Lewis-Evans third. Victory notwithstanding, Aston Martin wound up second to Ferrari in six-race sports car world championships.
Eddie Sachs of Center Valley, Pa., driving Peter Schmidt Special in $32,760 USAC Hoosier 100, maintained 92.142-mph average, ignored broken windshield and cut hands, won top money of $8,990 at Indianapolis. Ranked third in national big car standing, Johnny Thomson, Boyerstown, Pa. was second by three-quarters of a mile in D-A Lubricant Special.
OLYMPICS—INTERNATIONAL OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, matching Red China's recent protest resignation from body tit for tat, announced Chinese Communists would be barred from 1960 Games in Rome.
Red China's politically oriented representative to the IOC, Professor Tung Shouyi, huffed off Aug. 19 because of IOC's simultaneous recognition of Nationalist Chinese athletes. Chancellor Otto Mayer of the IOC said he regretted "the Olympic spirit is not better understood in such a large country as China."
