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About Oregon daily emerald. (Eugene, Or.) 1920-2012 | View Entire Issue (April 27, 1951)
‘Dccc£07*ac6& ____PiU jtoA«&o#\ \ (Old war is not restrict* d tomilitary moves and diplomatic Ilevelopincnts. It extend' into 'verv fiber of a nation's social .structure. I lie Soviet l ninn lias developed tin* art of tlie Cold W ar to a fine point. I',very Russian composer, everv poet, every novelist. ati liiteet, train eouduetor, doctor, jjarbaffe collector, and athlete has one major purpose in the Kremlin’s dcsimi for con quest. H1IHJ91U has applied for admission to the 1 «f>2 Olympic Games scheduled for Helsinki, Finland. I udoiihtediy, the Kussians hope to win it Jtrmt victory in those Olympic contests. Then their al ready-overworked propagandists could assert that the peoples of t'oiiuiiunist "workers’ paradises" are superior to the "decadent cap italists” of America and Western Europe. Of course, the United States, on the basis of past performances, should take another easy victory in the 1952 Olympics. However, there is a good chance that the c Russians will take title honors if they are admitted. The SovletB now wish to open a new offensive on the athletic front. There are several reasons for this unfortunate possibility. First, the limited budget of the United States Olympic Association will be strain ed by the burden of travel costs all of the way to Helsinki. IL is unlikely, therefore, that American athletes will compete in all of the minor events. Such events as the basketball throw or the wo men's shot put are not very popu lar in the United States and are not regularly practiced in this country. There are dozens and dozens of Insignificant events, but all of them count in the final team scor ing tabulations. Russia might run wild in this department. It is well known that the Soviet Union has large numbers of unglamorotis but heavy females who can jump over hurdles or toss a discus. American women, with the ex ception of those who participate in the water events, have never per formed with any notable success in the Olympic Games. \nother handicap facing the United States Is the rule that Olympic athlete* must la* ama teurs. This rule mainly affects tour nation because many of our outstanding athletes are profes slnonals. In foreign countries, athletes are almost always sub sidized. This means, in effect, that they "play for pay.” However, they are listed as ama teurs. Consequently, international contests frequently feature the best athletes of Kuropean nations ngainst America's second-best or Third-best, the first line being list ed as professionals. Tills is ridiculous. In several Asiatic nations, the stundurd of living is so low tliat an athlete receiving free food and lodging is richer than an American “profes sional” who draws $5000 per year. The two handicaps listed above would be enough to defeat any na tion other than the United States before the Olympic Games begin. Nevertheless, America's Olym pic Association has added addi tional obstructions to the path of United States athletic success. It was decided that no track and field performer could represent the United States in the Olympics un less he placed in the American try outs held before the ship sailed with our representatives. If an athlete had a "bad day," caused by sickness or temporary psychological difficulties, he failed to qualify. His record for the entire year was ignored. A brilliant hurd ler could set a new world’s record and then break his own mark ten times, but if he tripped and fell in the Olympic tryouts, the United States would be represented by a second-rate hurdler in the big jjjames. Fortunately, our second-raters are superior to Europe’s champi ons in many track and field events. In the 1048 Olympics at Loudon, the United States took first place In the total team scor Old Joe Task Faroe ’52, Comrades, Corn-Hats, too. log divlHion with 602 points. Kun ner-up Sweden scored 353. Hungary concentrated upon the minor events and picked up 201* 2 points for fourth place, which dem onstrates how far a totalitarian na tion can go when it organizes effec tively. The Soviet I'nion should be able to wage a hitter fight for first place in the 1952 Olympics. If they ijnter enough minor events, and if enough American track stars have “off days” In the Olym pic tryouts, Kussia will win the 1952 games. That would mean quite a propa ganda victory for the Commies. Of course, under the circumstances, the triumph would be meaningless, but sports fans have a habit of looking at the final scores and ig noring the circumstances. America never’ really wins in these international contests. If our athletes take several triumphs, Europeans complain (as they did in 1948i that the Americans are bet ter fed. If we lose, they loudly crow that Americans are spoiled by lux urious living, and they expound the viitues of regimentation. The latest farce was the 1951 American Games in Argentina last March. The United States could af ford to send only 125 uthletes. They ran wild in the important events — discus, sprints, etc. Argentina entered over 500, took many firsts, seconds, and thirds in insignificent events, and “won" the team championship with 1071 >-2 points. The Americans placed second with 734 U. If Argentina can do that, what will the Russians do ? Anyone knows that Argentina Is not athletically superior to its North American neighbor. It might Ire noted that the State of California scored more {mints than any foreign nation in the 1948 Olympics—and all of the Golden State’s outstanding ath letes were not represented. There is no point in jumping up and down, waving a flag, and pro claiming that American athletes are better than any others. If every foreign dictator thinks that his boys (or "comrades") are better, let no one derail his train of “thought." However, we must remember that every American defeat in an international event adds to the flames of the Soviet propaganda bonfire respecting “capitalistic de cadence.” Every time that a few hockey players band together, call them selves the United State’s official team, enter world competition, and lose badly, our nation sur renders a few inches of ground in the Cold War. When we take two teams, Phil lips Oilers and the Kentucky Wild cats (as wo did in 1948), choose a “United States” team from their ranks, and send the quintet against the best that a foreign nation can offer, we are asking a ridiculous defeat. Such farces are welcomed by Stalin’s eager propagandists. ■ 1 DeadlineSNears For Ticket Sales Deadline for ticket reservations for the joint Matrix-Table-Orldiron Banquet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Student TJnion is Friday. Keser vations may be made in the journ alism school office. Invitations have been sent for the banquet. Only limited tickets are available. The banquet is jointly sponsored by Theta Sigma Phi and Sigma Delta Chi, women’s and men’s journalism fraternities. IVCF Selects Lidtke President Intervarsity Christian Fellow ship has selected V'ernon Lidtke, junior in history, ao president for the corning year. Other new officers include Anna Marie Blickenstaff, sophomore in music, vice-president; Shirley Shupe, freshman in English, secre tary; Kay Steed, sophomore in Liberal Arts, treasurer; Jim Kehoe, junior in business, program chair man; Barbara Freeman, junior in architecture and allied arts, de votional chairman; Roseda Adkins, junior in Liberal Aits, publicity chairman; Dorothy Govig, sopho more in music, publication chair man; and Pat Pickett, freshman in Liberal Arts, missions chair man. The Rev. Mr. Robert Nicholas from the Westminster Orthodox Presbyterian Church of Bend, dis cussed “The Right Basis" during the regular weekly session Tues day. Marjorie and Dorothy Carl son presented a chorus medley on the cello and piano. A report of the Silver Creek Retreat attended by 10 University students last weekend was given by Ruby Page. The Pkev. Mr. Arthur Van De Zande of Junction City will ad dress the group at 7 p.m. Tues day in the Student Union. Any in terested student may attend the weekly gatherings. ^18 KARAT GOLD or f-JCHROME FINISH INITIALS EIT • Pat oa ia a jiffy • Will aot harm fiaish • Gaaraateed ta hold PACIFIC AUTO SUPPLY 57 W cst 10th Kugene 1970 Main. Springfield “Where Your Dollar goes farther" S. F. Ad Man Will Speak Roy Bradt, Pacific Coast retail manager of the Bureau of Adver tising, from Han Francisco, will speak to the advertising copy-' writing class at 11 a.m. Tuesday! in 105 Journalism. FOK VOUK HOBBV SUPPLIES? SEE US at the { MAGAZINE EXCHANGE 125 E. 11th your local toy and hobby dealer -T- ~ ■ . DON'T WAIT! FOR INSTANT PRESSING IT'S STUDENTS at SEYMOURS! A natural combination. For 25 years Sey mour's Cafe has been the downtown meeting: place lor students. \\ e value student business and we want you to know that you are welcome at all times. We cash small checks for your convenience and offer other se’rvices as well. SPRING-TIME PICNICS N\ hen you are planning a picnic, remember Sey mour ‘Chicken-in-the-Rough.’ a boxed, tried chick en deal, is just the thing. \\ e also fix sandwich lunches. Also keep in mind that Sey mour's is the exclusive agent in Eugene for the famous Portland \ an Duyn Candv. Come down to Seymour's soon and make yourself at home! Ckkktn m Rovom £ I ^umoiirA _Sfl 3 =131 =flKi: [•] ta-rtoum jor cjoocl. joo-d STUDENTS May 1st is the Last Day for Purchasing Membership in the Co-op for the Current School Year U. OF O. CO-OP