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Show RECENT outpourings of the populace popu-lace at large have shown one thing beyond all argument. The public pub-lic would rather have a contest-than contest-than class. For example, big league baseball has lost over 400 of Its best men to war service - such pUyeri as Dickey. Gordon, Chandler, Walker, Cooper, Joe DiMaggio. Tex Hugh-son, Hugh-son, Bob Feller-on and on and on. Thousands thought that the ab-nf ab-nf these stars would turn away the crowds. But the closer and more interesting pennant races have more than filled out the long lines at the turnstiles. You may recall the old days when the Yankees were 18 games in front around July or early August. In .. those days the GrantlandRice AmercaB leafUe pennant race was over Just about when It started. There was no con- j test. Last season the Cardinals had the National league race practical- J ly won back in April. Once again no contest. The recent derbies have had no Johnstown, Whirlaway or Count j Fleet. But they offered contests and brought out the greatest crowds in racing history as far as the United States is concerned. The public wants to see a good rough ; and tumble scrap for the top an Interesting turmoil where more than one ean win. Even with the cold, wet weather of May and early June, the crowds have proved this point in baseball. A Different Boom The new sporting boom, now getting get-ting under way, is entirely different from the boom that followed the First World war. That was the boom and the era of stars known as the Golden Age of sport. This new boom will be all different. differ-ent. In the first place, it will have far more contestants through the army and navy sporting program. In the second place, it will all outclass out-class those days in the matter of public interest and public attendance. attend-ance. For us this has been a far rougher and more devastating war than the first world upheaval knew. Then we went to war in April, 1917, and we were through in November, 1918. That was only a sprint by comparison. com-parison. But this war began in December, 1941, and it is still going full blast. The casualty list of this war will triple the casualty list of the number one affair. The tremendous sports program which army and navy are working on is dead sure to bring in a star crop of baseball players, football players and boxers from the younger young-er set. "These army and navy ball players will have the advantage of good training and fit condition," Carl Hubbell says. "That can make j a big difference. Also there ought J to be enough to go around so that all of us can improve." Dave Ferriss and Al Benton have proved Hubbell's slant. Coaches Greasy Neale and Steve Owen feel the same way about it in regard to football. So do the college coaches who expect to get their share of : these veterans. Commissioner Chandler has promised prom-ised to give thousands of extra kids j a chance to play baseball who have been shut out before through lack of playing space. It has already al-ready been proven clearly that this country needs more playrrs than It needs extra spectators. This idea may not strike every promoter as a happy thought, but it will be that way in the future. In the meanwhile the first rush of the boom is already here. The i ball parks are proving it. So are the race tracks, golf courses, tennis ; courts and so on. Major Test Case Hank Greenberg will be 35 years old on January 1, 1946. He has been out of baseball action four seasons and before he moved into war service serv-ice he had known 10 years of big kague service. From now on Tiger Hanks play will be followed with greater interest than the performance perform-ance of any other player now in baseball. Thts not only includes ev-ery ev-ery baseball fan, but also every veteran service athlete who hopes to return to some form of sport Joe Louis and Billy Conn are notable examples. So are many oth-er oth-er boxers-many other ball 'play-ers 'play-ers - and many other football stars oarToS 81 'eaSt WiU ve us Part of the answer as to what four years of athletic inaction will do bcrorfhe w'h ta" Captain Jst before he was given his army re- looked fit for anything "I only wish I knew the answer " he . said, "but I believe I have at least two more seasons left in m system. It will ,ake a tttSftSJ Kff' ,0 eye on baH 1 hPe not too long. But I ta good shape physicflly al though my legs will need some' sea- nTme' oT |