Tennis Turnquote

For lanky Henry Ellsworth Vines Jr., last year's No. 1 U. S. tennist, this year has been anything but happy. Beaten at Wimbledon, beaten in Davis Cup play, beaten out of his U. S. championship at Forest Hills, beaten in the Pacific Southwest tournament at Los Angeles last fortnight, he talked so carelessly about turning professional that the U. S. Lawn Tennis Association felt called upon to investigate. He was cleared, but last week he had fresh troubles when the Associated Press held him up to view as a turnquote.

Fortnight ago the AP carried a story by Sports Editor George Carens of the Boston Transcript. It quoted Vines on the Davis Cup team and its non-playing leaders, Bernon S. Prentice and famed Coach Mercer Beasley, as follows:

". . . We were treated like babies. One night we went to the Follies and the first act ended at 10:30. We were bundled out of the theatre to our hotel on a sizzling night. We tried to sleep but couldn't do it. ... The air of super-seriousness that marked all our actions was depressing. ... I have come to the conclusion that the best plan for the United States to follow next year is to select a man with a youthful viewpoint, a man possessing international background, to direct the team. ... A man like Frank Hunter or Vinny Richards, for I see no logical objection to a professional ... ; or Dick Williams, if the U. S. L. T. A. insists on an amateur. . . ."

Few days after the interview appeared, the Press received copies of a telegram from Vines to Prentice. Excerpts: "Terribly upset over such a falsehood. . . . How such statements start is beyond me. ... I have only the highest regard for yourself and your judgment. Please believe me."

Resenting the charge of falsehood, the AP last week flung it back in Vines's face with a statement that: 1) Vines had amplified his original remarks, to his teammates and to sports writers in Los Angeles. 2) He sent his telegram of denial immediately following a conference with tennis officials. The AP quoted Sports Editor Carens: "I had a 40-minute talk with Vines and agreed to hold the story until after he was beaten at Los Angeles. As you know, I have 23 years of sports writing experience and I do not misquote athletic celebrities."

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.