MEXICAN VOICE
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SPORT
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The past year has been a year of three important “Firsts” for American athletes of Mexican descent.
TRACK
For the first time in history of Mexican-American athletes participating in intercollegiate athletics a Mexican-American was crowned national champion! The winner of this highly coveted honor was Arthur Cazares, Fresno State College senior, who won the N.C.A. A. two-mile run. His winning time of nine minutes and 14 seconds was the third best time made in the 50-year history of the meet.
BOXING
In the boxing world, Farmer Manuel Ortiz of El Centro, who in 1938 was the first Southern Californian to win a National Golden Gloves title, continued his winning ways by twice trouncing Lou Salica for the world bantamweight belt. World Champion Ortiz is the first boxer of Mexican descent to hold an undisputed fighting title.
BIG LEAGUER
Jesse Flores is the first Mexican ball player to ^create such a furor in the major leagues. Jesse Flores, a native of La Habra, California, has won nine straight games for the Philadelphia Athletics and to date has lost only two games. Another big-leaguer of Mexican descent is Chicago Cub Manuel Perez, a fast ball pitcher formerly of the Hollywood Stars.
OTHER STARS
Other outstanding athletes, not first nationally but locally are: Joaquin Martinez, the handball playing sensation who wears the uniform of the Los Angeles Athletic Club. Re-botero” Martinez clicked in a popular Mexican game and won the Southern California championship. Sam Dimas, quarterback for Long Beach Jaycees, was named on the 1942 All-Southern\California Jay-cee team. Dimas was noted for his blocking prowess. Another blocker of local fame was John Leon, Roosevelt High All-Southern League and All-Los Angeles City blocking back for the second time. Rudy Davila, of Garfield, was named All-Eastern
NEWS
back. Willie Hernandez, of Manual Arts, and Fred Benavidez of Polytechnic High School, Oscar Cano of Verdugo Hills High School, and Eddie Alacon of El Centro Union High School, also shared first team honors in the respective leagues.
COLLEGE
College football stars of fame were Bob' Cavallero, quaterback; John Sanchez, tackle, and Joe Ramos, halfback of San Francisco University; Eddie Saenz and Bob Machado, halfbacks for the tough Loyola University team, and Gonzalo Morales, 185-lb. sophomore of St. Mary’s University. Bob Perez, formerly of Manual Arts High School, became the first Mexican-American to be seeded in local tennis circles. Bobby is now in the Army.
IN SPITE OF WAR
Soccer continues to contribute Mexican-American athletes, namely, Gabriel Arillaga, Magyar goalie; Al Garcia and “Red” Espinoza, forwards for the Los Angeles Scots. Track, in spite of the war, gave us Jim Moreno, Garfield runner, 1941-1942 all-city cross-country champion, and who for the first time in two years was defeated in the allcity mile by Arno Elias of Manual Arts by inches in the very good time of 4 min. 28.3 sec. A week later Moreno ran second to Roland Sink, schoolboy mile sensation, in Pasadena and according to indications ran under 4 min. 25 sec. His time is the best ever run by a Mexican-American high school miler.
Rudy Alba of Roosevelt High, ran second in the all-city 440-yard dash. Peanut-sized Alba also won the Eastern League championship in 5 1 seconds. College athletes of Mexican descent are sadly missed because of the draft. Those of this level who have participated lately are Jim Morales of San Diego, who won the Fresno Relays Javelin throw with a heave of 1 80 feet, and Corp. Bobby Madrid, who won the Pasadena relays two mile and ran against Gundar Haegg, the Swedish sensation.
BUY WAR BONDS
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What Do You Say ?
“Mexican people, by background, tradition and national characteristics fit into American living and they have made an outstanding^con-tribution to the Southwest, not only • in fields of labor and production, but in Western culture and neighborliness.”
—Dr. Vierling Kersey, Supt., Los Angeles City Schools.
“Induction files show' that no more Mexican boys were turned down for criminality than were those of another origin. More than an average of them, however, have been rejected for illiteracy and physical reasons, namely T. B. and malnutrition. The final answer to this accusation is in the casualty lists. Observe the large number of Latin names!”
—Matt Weinstock,
Columnist, “Daily News.”
‘‘All juvenile delinquency has increased in Los Angeles. This includes crimes committed by Mexican youth. But the fact is that the increase of delinquency in the case of Mexican families has been less than in the case of other national or racial groups and less than the average increase of the community.”
—Governor’s Committee on “Zoot War.”
“To my observation the zoot suit is the garb of the young sport from any underprivileged stratum of society, whether he is white, negro, Mexican or Filipino. ...”
—Ted Le Berthon, Daily News.
“For a long time I’ve worried about the attitude towards Mexicans in California and the states along the border.
—Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt.
“It is a second generation problem, a conflict of cultures. Add to that poor housing, economic and social discrimination, police inaction and police brutality, some newspaper headlines inciting to riots and riots just naturally follow.”
Carey McWilliams,
Author and Lawyer.
“The probation department, police authorities and social agencies have been faced with the problem of gang fights among Mexican youth for some years but the great majority of Mexican children are not involved in these delinquent activities.
—Karl Holton. Chief Piobation Officer, L. A. County,