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 more
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
played the game know whereof they
speak.are wholly In sympathy with the
playing rules for the collegians' guidance.
One of these Is Arthur Cumnock, who
led the Harvard eleven to victory in 1890.
III you want to maxi the game less
rough says Mr.. Cumnock. the way to
do so Is not to tell the college man what
he must and must not do. College ''Nen
are going to play a game that viii be
productive of the most touchdowns, and
the only way to get them to play IA more
open, game Is to convince them that more
The trouble with the game nowadays Is
that two or three plays, for Instance in
reference and wedges. have been done
to death. Some of the old plays, which
were very effective, have been lost sight
of In developing just a few of these more
modern plays, Among the former may
o oe m rtsrIba &c long passes, running Of the
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
that,
make mass plays and wedges less de-
sirable, but to make other plays more
rreGuentiy; or as have said, snow that
open play. Do not do away with in
reference. wedges, &c. but modify
them by a greater amount of open play.
Il cry year some good and some ,unde-
all the good and all the bad, separate
them and then show the college man
! wherin by, practising all of the former
time and the matter is being rushed
along too rapidly at present. Most Of
me suggestions made are not good and
favorably. l myself do not think foot
ball any rougher than 1t has been for
several years.
Things ar. lively now at Madison
Square Garden, where the entries for the
sprint races and 142-hour bicycle race
are preparing themselves for the seige
next week. What experts declare to be
the best and safest board track ever
built will be occupied day and night
from now until the hour of midnight
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
Il Obstacles for Its annual boxing tour
nament next Thursday and Saturday.
BuF It is announced that despite sud
t deR Mh tbe show S1 the wi,, p fake ni and At losing snns
uled.
The Mayor OF Jacksonville has declared
himself as opposed to the Corbett-Mitch-
ell contest. He will veto the ordinance.
Council passes It oyer his veto. The
most interesting bit of news In connection
with the matter Is that Mitchell is going
to give so, 900 of his winnings to the
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 en-. 4Ss. His opponent lost the
match for cutting the heads off pimples.
will become popular in this country
Harvey Ubert will give a dinner in
honor Of Jake schaefer at the Bruins
afternoon.
The Imperial whcelmen 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 Choynskl 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-
scented with their prize money at Del
monico's this evening.