St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-01-07
HANDICAP DISCUSSIONS.
BILLIARD LyERsGES EXPi AIRED
THOMAS FOLEY
GREAT GRlsT OF SPORTS.
In Billiard Handicap the Al
lowance to a Party Counts in
the Average Polo Revived
Throughout the State-Bowa-
ing Scores-Ph9nix Athletic
EVens-SE afInu ESaoaa

Throughout the State-Bowa-
ing Scores-Phenix Athletic
skating Races.
The Sampson-Wilmot game played a
week ago last Tuesday night brought
out published statement which de-
cldred that the including OF The handi-
cap OF seventy points in average eSti-
mates was all error. Hence the correct
ness Of the generally accepted average
OF So for Glow was denied. TO Illustrate
this standpoint it is said that a handicap
of 250 points might lie given in 800, with
ten innings, and that the winner could
claim an average of 50. This is cited as
an abSurdity, and as conclusive that it
is right to exclude the handicap in 4
computation Of averages. 1t would
certainly be absurd for any one to play
with so heavy all allowance, when so
large handicap should be necessary to
place him Oh even terms with his
competitor. Mr.. Foley has had
over thirty years practical eX-
perence in tournament management,
and. among them, the great tournament
at Chicago in 1885 between 5chaefer.
VignauX anu SlosSon, which was the
greatest billiard tournament ever seen
in America. He also conducted at Chi.
cagO in 1869 the first amateur billiard
tournament ever given on this CONT
nent. In his nall he bulletlned the re-
suits and averages Of all games played
exactly as they have been given in the
l.,
correctness OF his methods should not
thus lightly be put aside by the opinion
Of those wEo are perhaps less cumpe-
tent 10 judge than himself. Generally
speaking, then, it may be stated that Il
players grand average is record SINH
lar to time standard for running or
trotting horses, and also for athletes in
running foot races. The same rule
applies i'll aquatics. No champion
ship of any of these sports can
exist where it is necessary to call in a
Handicapped 10 even up the contestants,
and every record made outside OF the
top, or scratch man. i'll such classes OF
sport, Is always received and posted
with the handicap allowance. For eX-
ample: If two athletes agree 10 run
100 yards for stake or emblem, one Oy
the handicap is given ten yards start,
they take the "go" from pistol Shot,
and the timers watch Is started at the
same time. When the handkerchief
drops at the finish. the timer stops his
watch, and the man given the handicap
winning, is credited for the time made
for the Iull distance, with the qUaliiica-
ton that he got ten yards the start If
1t is desired to ascertain how fast this
runner IS, he must justly compute for
himself, us he can The actual playing
OF any one of the contestants
in the present billiard tourney.
The conclusion Is that, from betting
or sporting standpoint. surely the only
party that can make an absolute record
IN handicap affair of any kind is the
scratch" or top party TO the contest,
without qualification. The other
records are kept more for the future
guidance of the handicapped to similar
affairs than for any other reason, as
we'll as to see how we'll he has done ills
work. BY this method no Que can be
deceived who can read plain figures, as
the tOurnamet board is made up with
Il line drawn opposite each contestants
name. This states how many points he
receives TO start with. Now, if it re-
Quires those points to make his total
string OF buttons as good as the scratch
mans (SampSom at the close of the
affair, why should not the same
rule apply 10 his average? Certainly, if
he is entitled to them III the one case,
he is in the other. The number of in
ningS are also bulletined. If at the fin
iSh these show on their face that the
player Is as good as Sampson, they are
the true test i'll Billiards. 1t shows that
the Handicapped has done his work well,
and any one desiring to ascertain a
players actual average. will have little
trouble III computing it. Not hun
dredth party OF the labor OF getting at
the true merits Of the athlete that got a
start of 10 in 100 yards, or the victor
that got thirty pounds in weight in the
mile, over his competitor.
Handicap in billiard tournaments
Is modern innovation. The or
ganiZerS of the different ones pos
ed them according to their own ldeS
as to what was the proper way. One of
the first contests where handicap was
given was at New Orleans. where the
tourney was conducted precisely as the
present one at Foley'S. Another nota-
bic one was the cushion carOm tourna-
ment in Chicago. that Gene Carter re-
ceived the odds of 80 III 800 from
Schaefer and Slosson, and won. His
average III every game included the sc
odds that he received also; it was in
cluded in the makeup of his best and
grand average. Handicap tournaments
have been played where the average
was entirely ignored. tue number of
games won only being given. Still,
there have been a few where the board
showed how many points each player
would have to make, all commencing at
scratch. In those cases the handi-
capped man never got any points on
his string, to commence with, and the
record card could only show just how
many he made in so many innings. The
present case, like the first mentioned,
fixed for all at 800. Sampson plays at
scratch for the total number; Glow gets
70 points TO start with. given him on
his string before the game starts. He
also plays 300, ii the Handicapped has
properly performed his duty. His
average, then, at the finish should be
nearly the same. and still, as matter
of sporting record SIMPSONS is the
only one that should properly 20 upon
the record, Tor more reasons than one.
Any billiard player, tolerably versed
even, knows that an inferior player cam
not make all average against a very
much superior one, as he can against
one Oh a par with himself. Therefore,
to conclude, the actual average of ali
the players receiving handicap is not
a fair test Of their true strength as
players. and it would be grossly unjust
to them to put the matter in that way
Announcement is made of match
game of billiards between Frank
Billeter, state champion, and Henry S.
Sampson, who is now manager of Peter
sons billiard hall, Minneapolis. The
game will be for purse of 500, and
will occur at the West hotel billiard
hail, Minneapolis. Thursday, Jan. IL,
| commencing at s p. m.
ATHLETIC AMUSEMENT.