The evening world., 1893-12-20
SPORTING NEWS AND GOSSIP.
Proposed Changes in Football
Rules Agitating Athletes.
The Long Bicycle Race at the Garden
Next Week.

Since the close Of the football season
there has been no end Of agitation as
to a revision of the football rules. Every
body has had a hand in making sugges-
tions, some OF which are good. but moro
are quite the reverse. Some want to do
away with the present game altogether,
and have football as 1t is played in merry
England, while others want the rules
modified so the game will resemble
blow the feather ''puss In the corner
tag" and other wildly exciting games
in its gentleness.
1t cannot truthfully be said that all
practical football men-men who have
speak-are wholly in sympathy with the
move to make the radical changes in the
playing rules for the collegians' guidance.
One of these Is Arthur Cumnock, who
led the Harvard eleven to victory in 1890.
IF you want to make the game less
rough, says Mr.. Cumnock, the way to
he must and must not do. College men
are going to play "A game that viii be
productive of the most touchdowns. and
the only way to get them to play a more
open game is to convince them that more
touchdowns can pc made by open play.
The trouble with the game nowadays Is
reference and wedges, have been lone
to death. Some of the old plays, which
were very. effective, have been lost sight
or in developing just a few of these more
modern plays. Among the former may
be mentioned long passes, running of the
quarterback and tackles and side-linc
tricks. The team that has the greatest
number of plays will beat the team that
is proficient in one or two plays only
every time. At the same time, YOU get
a more open game. 1t will not help mat
ters by saying you must not do this and
THE point is to legislate, not so as to
MAKE mass plays and wedges less de-
siraDle, but to make other plays more
more touchdowns can be made by more
open play. Do not do away with in
reference, wedges. NC, but modify
r cry year some good and some unde-
sirable points are developed. Pick out
all the good and all the bad, separate
th Sa and ID her show the college man
his game Is improved. All of this takes
time and the matter is being rushed
along too rapidly at present. Most OF
do not strike the practical football man
favorably. l myself do not think foot
ball any rougher than 1t has been for
Things ar lively now at Madison
Square Garden. where the entries for the
sprint races and li2-hour bicycle race
are preparing themselves for the seise
next week. What experts declare to be
the best and safest board track ever
quilt VIII be occupied day and night
Sunday. when the race will begin.
President Byrne, of the National Cycling
Association. has come out In a letter in
which he says his Association sanctions
the racing at the Garden, which does
away with much complication and in
sures a big field of starters.
The Metropolitan Association seems
" Obstacles for its annual boxing tour
nanient next Thursday and Saturday.
Bu' IT. Is announce that despite sud-
tickets the show will take place at Cen
trail opera-House as originally sched-
The Mayor of Jacksonville has declared
himself as opposed to the Corbett-Mltch-
ell contest. He will veto the ordinance.
Council passes It over his veto. The
most interesting bit of news in connection
with the m T16 tie is that Mitchell is going
poor. Now what will Corbett do If he
wins?
A shaving match is going on in Eng
land. One of the competitors shaved ten
men in ON. ASS. His opponent lost the
match for cutting the heads off pimplcs.
1t is not thought likely that the sport
will become popular in this country
Harvey Ubert will give a dinner in
honor Of Jake Schaefer at the Bruins
wick Billiard Rooms. A Broadway. this
afternoon.
The Imperial 'wheelmen will give an
entertainment at Central Opera-House
tonight.
A bowling club is being organized
among the members of the Xavier Club.
A match may be arranged soon be-
tween Choynski and O'Donnell.
Capt. Hinkey has announced his inten-
ton of offering prizes for drop kicking
and punting, the contests to take place
next Spring.
Schaefer. Ives and Slosson will be pre-
sented with their prize money at Del
mnninn,a this eNpninu