Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-05
Some Facts About the Increasing,
Popularity of Winter Sports in
the United States.
PROSPECTS OF LOCAL FOOTBALL.
John L. SulIiyan's Refusal to Fight Frank
Slayin for the Championship and
$4,000 a Side. "
THE PRESENT BASEBALL SITUATION.
Reasons Why the Msgnstes Should Meet at Once and
Make Compromise.

Make Compromise.
There is no doubling the fact that what
we call winter sports are becoming more
popular in this country. Not very long
ago almost everything of an outdoor sport
kind ceased with baseball. Football was
comparatively little heard of outside the
colleges and universities; indeed, the inter-
est of almost everybody was absorbed In
baseball. The national game was the "be-
alp of outdoor recreations and pastimes.
A very welcome and pleasing change is TAX
ing place, however, and it is not unreasona-
bic to say ii iootboll gains in popularity in
the next few years as it has done during the
past few years, it will be one of the most
popular games in the country. don't re-
member OF seeing as much information
in print about football just before its
season thoroughly opened as 1 have during
the past week, and this is a sure sign that
public interest in the game is increasing at
a very rapid rate The unfortunate condi-
tion OF things in baseball has done much to
turn public attention TO football. Thou
sands OF people have of late become so thor
among baseball people that they have been
glad to center their minds on other things.
Generally speaking they have turned toward
football. l am very pleased to see this.
Not because desire to see decreasing in
terest in baseball. The latter will be all
right again, just soon as it is put on a
rational basis. But 1 am glad of the in
creasing interest in football, because 1 deem
it one of the very best outdoor sports that
know OF. ALL the elements of a good and
wholesome exercise to the players are in it,
and it is as exciting to the spectators as any
thing we can look at Everything consid-
cred, don't think it wide O. the mark to
say that there is very great future for loot
ball in America.
Interesting Probabilities.
If the sport in question makes the prog
ress in public estimation that 1 anticipate,
we may expect some important international
contests before long, and whenever that
stage is reached football will be thoroughly
established in this country. 1 fail to see
why next year at this time there should not
be at least two football leagues in this couu-
try. l mean leagues with their schedules of
games just as we have our baseball leagues
These schedules could be arranged TO 60
4ulO Op6TdllOu Just as sOOH as the baseball
season ended. In EnglaD where football
has somewhat suddenly jumped into remark
able popularity, the schedule system has
been adopted with great success, and each
club has its signed players. OF course
where a championship title is at stake
don't see how club can well get along
without having its good players secure, and
l expect some day to see players under con-
tract TO football clubs in this country.
There is no great difficulty against the
bringing about OF state OF affairs like this
All that is needed is tine public interest in
the game to increase sufficiently, and that
will settle everything else. The indications
are very fattering indeed and one OF the
best signs is the tact that our leading foot
ball players have commenced practice this
year much earlier than usual.
About the Local PLAYERS.
Tomorrow the football players of our new
athletic club will begin practice at Exposi-
tion Park. 1 am Informed that it is the
clubs intention to boom the game as much
as possible this year, and to that end
series OF very important and interesting
matches will be arranged. Circumstances
were never as favorable ior a football team
in PiUlsburg as at present. The great draw
back has ever been the absence of suitable
and convenient grounds; but this has been
remedied, as Exposition Park is right in
the center OF our big population, and all
that is now needed is for the mempers of the
club to DO their best toward sustaining the
enthusiasm regarding their games. Ger
tainly there will be more or less
difficulty in selecting a team from
the many players. Many members will
think themselves fully competent to take a
,,la he hncf fba luh b,1n
who have the power OF selection may think
different. This has ever been a source OF
trouble, and it may be that some unpleasant
ness may result from the selection of the
team here. / trust there will not Merit
uuobserYed az first will soon force itself TO
the rent But l venture to make a sug-
gestion on THIS point, and that is that not
less than three men have the authority to
select the team or teams at this stage the
proceedings. do not think that any captain
would object to this, because with three
meu making the selections there would Ger.
tainIy be less direct personal i'll feeling than
If cue man had chosen the teams. 1 am also
told that there are to be two teams connect
ed with the club for the purpose O. playing
under both the Rugby aud Association
rul,s. This is wise arrangement, but i
hone that the Association Will soon be the
rules that all will play under. These rules
are becoming more general every year, but
it will take a ew seasons at least before
they are well understood In this country
The Rugby or College rules are considera-
bly, IN the ascendant at present. but antic-
ipate that our leading players will gradu-
ally adopt the other code.
4
HomewoOd Rnces.
1t is quite sa to say that had the weather
during the week been anything like fine the
the races out at Homewood would have
been a verv great success. The large crowds
that vea:Cred out there with threatening
clouds hsnging overhead prove what 1 say,
and I'm sure we'll all regret that circum-
stances have been so unfdvorable to the
efforts of the very eEtefprising directors OF
the track. The bad weather has not only !
spoiled the attendance, but it his inter cred |
consider bly, with The speed of the horses, |
ard this is a great dra wbaek 10 any meet /
ing. L do not propose to say anything re- |
L..