A roundup of the sports information of the week
HOCKEY—In annual match against Cambridge (playing in it merits a half-Blue), Pete Dawkins. West Point '59, set fast and furious pace for Oxford, scored a goal, earned two assists before suffering a broken jaw during a body-check collision in closing minutes. Despite fact Oxford team consisted of 13 Canadians and Dawkins, Cambridge team (four Canadians, four Americans, four Englishmen, one Scot) won 6-5.
In one of the most confusing shuffles in NHL history Red Kelly, Detroit Red Wing star who 1) was traded to the New York Rangers and 2) retired, rather than leave his homestead and interests in Detroit, wound up with the Toronto Maple Leafs. On reflection, Kelly decided he could bear to leave Detroit more easily than he could bear to leave hockey, fell in with Detroit solution, approved by League Commissioner Clarence Campbell, to join the Leafs. In exchange, Detroit got Maple Leaf Defense-man Marc Reaume.
INTERNATIONAL MOTOR SPORTS—One of racing's most spectacular mishaps occurred when 37 cars crashed during 250-mile race at Daytona International Speedway. On asphalt surface just dried after heavy rains but not yet abrasive from use, one racer spun out of control and car after car, traveling at speeds up to 120 mph, collided in chain reaction that left the track a mass of bouncing, rolling, colliding machines. Five went to the hospital, and that no one was critically injured suggested either sporting good fortune, a further vindication of NASCAR safety regulations (inner bracing for cars, safety belts, shoulder harnesses and crash helmets for drivers) or a combination of both. After the track was cleared, the race was restarted for a field that included 16 of the cars involved in the crash. Marion Farr of Atlanta, driving a 1956 Ford, won with an average speed of 116.6 mph.
FOOTBALL—In four-hour chat at St. Louis airport, where they had agreed to meet for their mutual convenience as traveling men, NFL Commissioner Pete Rozelle and AFL Commissioner Joe Foss swore not to stage talent raids on each other's leagues. "We also agreed it was not possible to have a common draft," said Rozelle, "and we talked about the double contract signings." Not mentioned was the question of NFL expansion. "It just never came up," said Rozelle. Both men found the chat so pleasant they decided to hold a second meeting some time soon.
BASEBALL—New York City Park Commissioner Robert Moses gave his indispensable approval to preliminary architectural plans for 55,000-seat stadium to house Continental League team near site of 1939-40 New York World's Fair. Same day, lawyer for the New York Yankees proposed plan that would cost the city less: enlargement of Yankee Stadium to seat 100,000, house both the Yankees and the Continentals. Yankee plan also called for the city to transfer nearby park land to much-needed parking space. Neither Moses nor Branch Rickey of the Continentals was impressed. Rickey called Yankee Stadium "antiquated," said of his own architect's plans: "This is progress, and the only way to make progress is to make more progress." Blurted Yankee General Manager George Weiss in a rare public lament: "When I see what's being done for them and consider how we're being left out of the picture, I feel it's time to scream."