ARE INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS WORTH WHILE?

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21136, 8 September 1938, Page 6

ARE INTERNATIONAL CONTESTS WORTH WHILE?

It will generally be conceded that if an international symbol of supremacy in one of the fields of games or sports is won at the price of good sportsmanship, there is no glory in winning. The strained relations between the Davis Cup tennis teams contesting the challenge round; the amazing inconsistency in the form displayed by the leading players of the teams representing two leading nations and the outbursts of popular feeling and press criticism, would seem to suggest that interests other than pure sportsmanship are becoming factors in such contests. The allegations that the Australians indulged in what the American critics have been pleased to describe as “possum playing” leaves an uneasy feeling in the mind of all who play the game for the game’s sake. It is regrettable that the challenge round was staged in an atmosphere of hostility to the challenging teams, because of the heated argument indulged in between the officials and players, and it is manifestly clear as one of the leading tennis critics suggests, that the United States may have lost more than they gained by winning the Davis Cup challenge round. It is obvious, however, in spite of the popular demonstrations against the judges—which is always likely to boil up in the excitement of an international contest —that rules are made to be observed, and it is certainly not the fault of the officials if their determination to enforce the rules—against both sides, it should be remembered —upsets the tactics of the players. As a matter of fact, all too many strategic moves in games are built upon the chances of hoodwinking officials charged with enforcing the rules. The preliminary clash between the two teams and the rival officials, culminating in the outbursts of popular protests and the chorus of hostile press comment that followed the conclusion of the challenge series of matches would seem to raise the question of the worth-while of international contests for possession of shields, cups and other symbols of supremacy in games in •which the representatives of two otherwise friendly countries participate.