PANCHO GONZALES

In pro tennis' traveling version of a tribal election—the old chief brought on to do combat with each new candidate—Pancho Gonzales again earned the right to wear the feathers. In 1958 he did it the hard way. Five weeks after the start of his pro tour with the young Australian Lew Hoad the old champion had lost 18 of 26 matches. As one of his colleagues said, "Gorgo's through. He's eating doughnuts"—a trade-lingo description of a man playing aimlessly, with no hope of success. But during an intermission in the tour, Gorgo Gonzales stopped "eating doughnuts." He lost a few pounds, sharpened his game and altered his attitude. When the tour resumed, the veteran was once again in control of the situation. Soon he had pulled even with his young challenger, and when the tour had ended he was out in front 51-36 and wearing the feathers.

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