PERKY TALKS TO THE CROWD

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21085, 9 February 1934, Page 10

PERKY TALKS TO THE CROWD

SYDNEY SENSATION AN AI'OLOGV NEXT I).\V (ritoM oik own cOJtarsi'oxDMT.) SYDNEY, February 1. Talking sometimes to himself and sometimes to the crowd during his championship match with J. B. Crawford on Saturday, F. J. Perry, the Englishman, offended many of the spectators who heard his remarks. Even the ball-boys received a share of abuse. On one occasion Crawford won a point with a net-cord shot, and as Perry walked back he snapped loudly, "That fellow must have been born on a Saturday." A little later Crawford went to the net to kill an easy ball. "I don't want it," shouted Perry, aud Crawford seemed to be greatly upset. He netted the ball. After that there was a stream of comment from Perry which lasted throughout the match, and in the circumstances il was hardly surprising that Crawford failed to Jive up to the wonderful reputation he earned abroad. When Crawford scored an easy point no one appuiuded. "Say good shot, somebody," called Perry to the crowd, which, all along had been strictly impartial. The monologue went on game after game, and near the end of the third set Crawford passed Perry wide on his forehand. "Go on, applaud," called Perry turning to the spectators. They did, but there was also some hooting—for Perry. Perry stood still and shouted to the umpire, "Is this a ter.nis or a cricket match?" The umpire appealed to the crowd to show more restraint, and the match ended in an atmosphere of peace. "Bundle of Nerves." There was a remarkable sequel to all this, and Australians are ready to give Perry all the credit due to him for his sportsmanlike apology. lie said the next day that his brush with the crowd had greatly worried him. He realised that he would get into hot water, especially after his remarks about cricket and tennis. It was a bad mistake which he would willingly have withdrawn as soon as he uttered it. He could not help talking to himself when he was on the court, and he was afraid the habit would land him in much more trouble tefore his tennis career was ended. He did not mean a thing by it. Upsetting his opponent was not his idea of winning a match. Before he met Crawford he was a bundle of nerves, and he knew that if the match went to four or five sets he would not win. For that reason he staked everything on an unceasing attack from the very start. "I simply played with my nerves," said Perry. "What I said during the match I cannot remembc" clearly, as I was so intent in getting the ball over the net. Everything else faded into insignificance. I spoke to myself, but perhaps my tone of voice was a little bit loud, and if thai were so I am deeply sorry. I never haa any intention of upsetting Crawford. He is too fine a gentleman for that. When you are playing on your nerves, and against a player of Crawford's calibre, you are naturally liable to make a few remarks to yourself. I do not think there is any player in the world who does not say something or other during a match, but I know I talk more than anybody else. Perhaps on Saturday I said more than was necessary, but I do not want the Australian public to think for a moment that I had any objective other than to play the match in the true British sporting spirit. I am out here as a representative of Great Britain, and in that capacity I have always done my best.

"I would hate to think for a moment that X had won a title by foul means, and I would hate to believe that anyone held that opinion. Obviously the crowds out here are partial to their own players—what country would not have similar spectators?— and when they seized a chance to say a few words to me I did not blame them. I have enjoyed myself during my stay here, and I do not want to depart with mar.y believing that I am a bad sportsman. I definitely did not mean anything I said, and I am sure that the people will forgive me for what happened."