CHAMPIONS RILED

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11981, 23 February 1932, Page 2

CHAMPIONS RILED

GASH OFFERS TO CHARLTON •‘G R A TUITOU-3 INBU UTS. ” Two of Australia’s leading ailin' As in Aiiurew Charlton, and Jack Crawford came into toe limelight recently. Charlton called offers made bo lain to turn professional swimmer ‘"gratuitous insults,” while Crawford complained about the manner in which. Ins tennis play in the. recent games against toe Japanese teams a::.J in the Australian championships was criticised. Chariton, who- lias bieii selected as one. of Australia’s Olympic Games representatives, received two oilers from professional bodies. Oii e was from the Sydney League of Swimmers, pointing out to Charlton that they had completed negotiation::- for a, • isit by Johnnie Weismuller, t.ie former world amateur champion (who has turned professional; next year, and urging Chariton to also bum professional. The letter from the league enumerated the benefits, in cash, winch, would accrue tj-om such action, and asked Charlton for a reply. A group of sportsmen in. Adelaide,, after Charlton had won the 1650yds championship of the National Gaines, offered him a big sum of money to appear in a race at Adelaide 'baths. To have accepted the offer/ said Charlton, would have, been to forfeit his amateur status.

Replying to the rumours of professionalism, Charlton said: “1 take these offers as gratuitous insults. My reply to these offers is that I have always been an amateur and. intend to remain so. f will do my best for Australia at the Games,» and when tlie-v are over I have not. and never have- had, any intention of tunning professional. After the Games, L intend to marry and settle, down on a property of my own. in. the country. Jack Crawford has beer: the. subject! of much adverse criticism in the Press of Australia, recently because of his inconsistent form in tennis matches.

In his own words, he is “getting tired of the cho-akars,” and in a special interview said: “In some people’s eyes it is a or Brie for me to play a poor game, no- matter what the ei vcmiista.n.ceis may be. I am prevailed upon to go here and there to play in tournaments far mere than former Australian champions - hut I am expected to be. at my top the whole time. My record is net a poor one. I mention it only in my defence, for 1 have lost only two matches in i.nter-Stiate gamjess for New. South Wales in six years. Every tournament singles I played in. last yea-r I won, and, apart from these matohais, Siatioth.-, Nulioi, and Hop.ma,u were the only men tc- bear me. My physical condition .and stamina are n-1 right. But sometimes I get so tired of tennis that I become mentally tired. If I did not- have the will to win I should lose more often. ’ ’

Much of the criticism of Crawford’s play followed a statement by Mr J. Cleinenger, reeentlv appointed manager ••!' the Anslialian, Davis Cup team. Air Clemen,gei said that he would ensure that every member of the Davis Cup team, which is not yet selected, would he physically fit and ready for -pla.v before he would he allowed to go on t'-e courts, and, although he did not mention names, most followers of tennis took his words to mean that Crawford was inferred.

Crawford (also threw another bombshell into the camp of lawn tennis officialdom in Australia by announcing that unless his wife was allowed to accompany him on the Davis Cup trip he (Crawford! would not accept a place in the team. Unlike the Board of Control of Cricket, which prohibits relatives travelling with the cricket, teams on overseas tours, the Lawn Tennis Federation of Australia, has no set policy in this respect, and a special meeting of the Council lias been called to consider the question.