A roundup of the sports information of the week
BASEBALL—Branch Rickey, president of Continental League, steamed into Minneapolis to beef up interest in the league, outlined an imaginative plan for Continental teams. He proposed that scouts for the league sign players to a common league pool, from which individual clubs would make drafts on a draw basis three times a year. Also suggested by Rickey: a league pool for television, radio and exhibition receipts to provide for player pensions and league expenses.
BOXING—California seceded from the National Boxing Association because it has failed to regulate or clean up boxing. "There is a stronger need for an effective national organization than ever," said California Boxing Commissioner Harry Falk. "The NBA wasn't the answer. It lacks leadership, fortitude and purpose." The NBA bleated in turn that it has no policing authority. Retorted Commissioner Falk: "True. It has no authority to do anything, so nothing is ever done."
SKIING—From the slopes of Aspen to Alma-Ata, Russia, Olympic hopefuls were speeding downhill last week. One surprise prospect was the Aga Khan, 22-year-old Harvard graduate and religious leader of 10 million Moslems, who turned up at St. Moritz to try out during Britain's Ski Racing Week. (The birth in England of the Aga Khan's mother, Princess Joan Aly Khan, qualifies him to appear for Britain.) The Aga Khan showed his skill and determination to make team by placing third in both Roberts of Kandahar downhill and British slalom championship. "A really beautiful skier," commented Sir Charles Taylor, selection committee chairman. "Obviously one of those who will be considered for the British team."
HORSE RACING—Two leading contenders for the Kentucky Derby, Warfare and Tompion, were upset in $10,000 Ridgewood Farm Purse at Santa Anita by a horse to watch: T. V. Lark. Shaking loose in the back stretch from an eight-horse pack, T. V. Lark swooshed home a neck ahead of Warfare and 1½ lengths ahead of Tompion. While not a big money race it was one more proof that the best 3-year-old racing this winter is on the West Coast. All three horses are nominees for $100,000 Santa Anita Derby, March 5.
Jimmy Kilroe, official handicapper at Santa Anita and all New York race tracks, evaluated the top 3-year-olds this week when he assigned weights for his Experimental Handicap—a hypothetical race of 3-year-olds. Kilroe's assigned top weights: Bellehurst Stable's Warfare (winner of The Garden State and Champagne last year) 126 pounds, Sunny Blue Farm's Venetian Way (Washington Park Futurity) 124, C. V. Whitney's Tompion (The Hopeful) 123, Edgehill Farm's Bally Ache (The Great American) 122, Pebblebrook Farm's Irish Lancer (Saratoga Special) 122. Other top weights: Victoria Park 120, Vital Force 120, Weatherwise 120, Bourbon Prince 119.
FOOTBALL—North All-Stars defeated South All-Stars 26-7 in Senior Bowl at Mobile, Ala. for largest victory margin in game's 11-year history. In final period Cincinnati's Jack Lee passed for 73-yard touchdown, minutes later threw a 22-yard scoring pass, broke Senior Bowl record by passing for 283 yards.
