Show Babe a Eo Born Loru Athlete tl Insurance Clerk Becomes Olympic Star V i iT T A. A V 1 T x A A t tf X f t. t n nf i f Ai A- A fX X I Wants to W. W WrIte t ts Editors Editor's note This note This is another of a series erles of personality sketches ol of younger athletic stars in the 1932 spotlight I By Bf Bill Parker Associated Press Correspondent DALLAS Jan 19 Two 19 Two ago go Dallas played host to the women's wo woo mens men's national track and field cham cham- There was not a single woman athlete ath ath- lete etc in the city or state considered capable of giving the nations nation's stars any ny sort of championship tion ion in any event So Mildred Babe Didrikson clerk clerkin in n an insurance company compan office took the ic afternoon off marched out to the meet and before the sun had set established es es- es- es two national records records records-in in the javelin and baseball throws throws and and finished fin- fin shed a close second in the broad jump ump I Today this same Babe Didrikson iso is is' isto isto to o the American women's Olympic I track rack and field team what Helene Madison is to the swimming squad She he holds eight southern and three national Amateur Athletic union rec- rec recI She quarrels over the fact that she's anI only allowed to compete in three events vents in each national meet Given her own wa way shed she'd run right down the he list from sprints to weights and arid probably win a majority o of them BEFORE T THAT A T SHE LOAFED Up to that afternoon when Babe discovered she was a track star the athletic endeavors of this slim year 18 old Id girl had been confined mere merely to o basketball boxing bowling football foot foot- ball balI all golf tennis baseball gymnastics rifle fie marksmanship cycling speed skating kating handball life saving tests and md nd squash She is an America all-America basketball for for- ard ward and once held her own in an exhibition boxing match with Babe Stribling lightweight brother of the heavyweight hea She likes to fight Her voice Olce is deep her remarks virulent and nd pointed She has a few close girl irl friends and isn't much interested in n boys A short time ago the A. A A. A U. U de dc- against nicknames for girl irl ath ath- letes So she sent the authorities a birth certificate to prove she had been christened Babe She never went to o college but one big university offered offered of of- her a year four scholarship if shed she'd matriculate there In time to represent rep resent the school in the Olympics LIKES THEM l ALL My favorite sport Sa Say Im I'm sorry but I dont don't have one she said The best way ay to take athletics is to like them all My favorite hobby There is no such thing Athletics are arc all I care for J I sleep them cat ent them talk them and try my level le best to do them as they should be done Youve You've got cot to feel that way She doesn't think athletics are injurious in jurious for girls and believes injuries result from overdoing Her big biggest cst thrill was the second last goal that gave her Dallas team the 1931 national A. A A. A U. U girls girls' basketball championship champion champion- ship after aller four years of trying tring She l likes ikes to win because her parents like her to Theres There's nothing in Babes Babe's physique to Indicate her tremendous ability and vitality She's medium tall tail not 1101 an ounce overweight and the sun keeps her bronzed the year around Her blond hair is cut short and s slicked back She moves with lh effortless grace throws a baseball with the easy casy motion of a big league pitcher pilcher and plays basketball better than many manya a boy who has won a college letter Probably the strangest thing about aboul her is that she she- has always wonted to tc tobe tobe be a sports writer You guys have it easy she says She once had a doll but never played with it She likes to eat any thing even spinach She hit a golf goll ball baIl yards with a putter under the misguided impression she was va swinging s o n No 1 I iron But she's all lemIn feminine ine just th the sameI sameI sameI same I know Im I'm not pretty she says 4 but I do try to be graceful 4 |