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Show " AR'" ns Uie late wniiam " Tecumseh Shcrmnn said, "is hell." At least, it is around 97 per cent hell. But here and there it also contributes something on the better side. In the course of a recent transcontinental trans-continental trip I've discovered one helpful factor from more than a dozen football coaches. Headed by Curly Lambeau of the Green Bay Packers, Pack-ers, they all tell me their squads have reported in far better bet-ter physical shape and all have a much keener spirit than football ever has known before. Grantland Rice "In the first place," Curly says, "most of them know they will be in war service soon. Most of these men are married, mar-ried, with kids to look after. But in the grim game ahead of us they are all looking forward to doing their full share. . "In the second place, they all have more than a few pals now in some active branch of war service. They know the sacrifices these men have had to make. They know the harder 'row they have had to face. And so their pride has made them stick closer to simpler living and the way of life that would leave them ready when needed. Then and Noiv "I've had linemen," Curly says, "who would report at 250 pounds. These men now come in at 230 or 225. They are ready to go. Others who were from 10 to 20 pounds overweight over-weight in other seasons, reported atx about the same weight they knew after a hard year last winter. "Practically all of these men have been keeping in shape for months. Maybe that isn't much to ask, but at least it is something. It may be more than many others are doing who haven't been called. "This is all a new sign of the times," Lambeau continued. "It means we are going to have from now on a far better conditioned set of men. It means that millions of us realize the old, soft days are over. It means a big jump in national fitness. And I think we've needed this lesson. "Life, as we knew it, had been pleasant. ButTias it been physically physical-ly helpful? Haven't we had too many of our people who led soft lives, physically, who took poor care of their bodies? Who drank too much? Who ate too much? Who took little exercise? And so died well before their due time? I think so. So do most of the coaches and trainers who have seen men report from 20 to 40 pounds above the weight they should carry. And this goes for almost every part of our people. A Neiv Age "With the expected exceptions," Curly carried on, "we are coming into, a new physical age for the young and the middle aged even ior those past 60. "They all read about and know about the rigorous training of the Commandos, the Naval Cadets, the Parachutists, the marines, the soldiers sol-diers and sailors. "Here we have a war that really means the survival of the fittest, rittest, of course, means brain and spirit, as well as body. But please don't forget the big part that physical phys-ical 6tness plays in stamina and endurance, en-durance, especially. "This is why I still insist this country needs all the competitive sport it can get. And that is why I know that football plays, and can play, a big part in this program. "Football means physical fitness, body contact, alertness, spirit, sacrifice, sac-rifice, team play, and the ability to carry on when you are either hurt or almost out." True Condition Every football coach I've met feels the same way about the situation. I've seen any number of young college col-lege stars report for training when they were in no condition for a pillow pil-low fight. But it takes no great amount of brains for them to see they are facing fac-ing a new age a different world. Before too long they will be flying above strange seas, using the bayonet, bayo-net, handling a tank, or swimming in oil-fired water. Their best chance against the odds is to be trained and fit for what they have to face. What will happen to sports in another an-other year is another guess. It may move into a blackout. Baseball Umpires But the main idea is to get from hard, competitive sport all we can it -the moment, so that other millions mil-lions called at least will be partially ready for the job ahead. I believe the majority of those in sport have this understanding. Those who haven't can be listed with "the beautifuland beau-tifuland the damned." There has been a tradition in baseball base-ball that aggressive teams are those which attack tb ""ires. This tradition tra-dition is all wrong. |