By Jim Franz-Team World '94

The label "past world champion"didn't make Don Titcomb anything special Friday.There were at least a half dozen former or current champs pitching shoes Friday during the first day of the '94 World Team Horseshoes Tournament.

Just the same,Don Titcomb is unique.First of all,there's his longevity.Ask him when he won his world title and the gray-haired gentleman grins and replies,"In this century."

Titcomb,70,actually won in 1960 with a 33-2 match record and 84.9 ringer percent in Muncie,Ind.Out of 100 attempts,he would throw nearly85 ringers.

Thirty-four additional years have taken a few percentage points away from his game-he now shoots a little better percent than his age-but he remains"in the top 15 or so"in the final rankings.

"I've done every sport,"Titcomb said during a break in the action at the Telfer Sports and Activity Center."I ran track in college,taught bowling for 15 years.I belonged to archery and ski clubs.You name a sport,I've done it.Thank God I took this up because I can still participate and compete at a top level."

As recently as 1988,Titcomb was ranked forth in the world.He was 14th last season.

"As long as I can compete with the big boys I'm going to stick with them,"said Titcomb,who began pitching shoes in 1947."I was at 75 percent my first match today,which is decent for me.But to win a world title yo're going to need to be 80 to 85 percent."

He says the sport has been good to him over the years."I've been on the "Tonight Show,"been to the White House,performed exhibitions in Las Vagas and Reno,"he said."I've been very fortunate."

Titcomb once dazzled Johnny Carson by throwing 19 ringers in 20 attemts.Today,his trick shot repertoire entertains thousands.

"I do a lot of demos,"he said."I just appeared at the Santa Anita racetrack before 30,000 people.I light matches,throw through hoops and over people lying down in front of the stake.I picked it up 30 or 40 years ago.I enjoy it.It gives people another aspect of the game."

This weekend is serious business.With a team boasting the men's(Ron Powell) and women's(Lois Webster) state champions,Titcombs Kentucky entry will be one of the leading contenders.

"Horseshoe pitching is still the second most scientific sport in the world,"Titcomb said."Billiards is the only one to exceed it.It's fun for me because it's one-on-one.If you're tied at 39-all and your opponet doubles you have to make it."As long as I can throw 40 feet I'm going to continue to do it."