New-York tribune., 1902-02-10
IN THE WORLD OF SPORTS
FACTS OF INTEREST ABOUT AMATEURS
AND PROFESSIONALS.
BASEBALL MEN TO MEET TO-DAY AT BUF-
FALo TO REVISE PLAYING RULEs-BAs-
KETBALL GAINING IN POPULAR
ITY-NoTEs AND COMMENTS.

under one set Of rules. If this is done the anna
! teurs VIII naturally fall in line and much good
VIII be accomplished. Under better system
'hah mas been In vogue in recent years the rec
! ords VIII be worth something when they are
compiled at the end of the playing season. The
TACT that National and American League club
owners Will be brought together for the first
time argues well for a better understanding all
@ @arouno; These two organizations have been at
swords points for the last two years and If the
conference at the Iroquois Hotel brings about
peace between the warning factions, something
VIII be accomplished at least There are those
VINO think that the troubles Of the National
League will be thrashed out also at the confer
ence. 1t is doubtful II A. G. Spalding will be
there. but he will have trusted representatives
on on the spot to look after his interests Mr..
Spalding is expected TO return from California
IN about a week. Besides the two leading or
sanlzations, representatives will be there from
out the country
College basketball with the opening of the
championship season last week has awakened
considerable interest and with hockey is occupy
ing the main interest among university winter
sports Those who are interested in basketball
among the colleges glad to see that 1t Is
beginning to assume its proper place 1t has
been an unfortunate thing that basketball has
been dragged into disrepute somewhat by the
fact that IL has been played considerably among
the rougher class Of athletic clubs, and has also
been the varsity sport of girls colleges. This
last fact especially has made 1t the laughing
stock among athletes. who consider 1t rather a
womanlike form OF diversion Columbia how
aver. has realized the physical requirements
which this sport demands. and has made 1t
necessary that man, in order to play basket
ball, shall be fully as strong and healthy as one
VINO plays football. Indeed football, basketball
and rowing now rank as first class sports at the
Morningsde university. There few branches
OF athletics which require more stamina and
endurance than basketball 1t is. furthermore,
sport that takes years of constant training to
give the player knowledge of all the finer points
1t Is not the sort Of athletics that can be learned
in a few months For these reasons, therefore
those who have the welfare Of the sport at
heart are glad 10 see that 1t has been taken UP
by the colleges and an association formed OF
Yale, Harvard. Princeton Cornell and Column
bia. In considering the chances for the ultimate
winning OF the championship Yale seems to have
the best outlook Quite recently the Eli seven
defeated Columbia's by no means weak team by
the large score OF 4S to 3. and on Yales western
trip remarkably good work was displayed
against the colleges and athletic clubs OF the
West Yale's players are masters at the game.
While thousands of people rambled yesterday
along the walks in Central Park and other
thousands visited the ZOO" where the Polar
bears were doing stunts" the snow covered
roof OF their den and the Esquimau dogs looked
happy even in captivity. the great attraction
the skating on the lakes. The ice In
excellent condition and the police estimate that
at least 10000 skaters exercised themselves
the Ice IN the course or the day.
The greatest crowd of skaters was to be found
on the large lake at Seventy-second-st- AL
though the sun was shining in the greater part
OF the day. strong wind made things lively for
those who took days recreation on skates on
the large lake The pond at Fifty-ninth-st re-
served for children. being in a hollow, was well
patronized by the youngsters. The Mere IN the
northern part Of the Park free to all. and
at time in the afternoon there was scarcely
a square yard Of its icy surface that did not
contain a skater Notwithstanding all the life
and animation and rapid movements on the three
frozen lakes, the police had not single mishap
to report. The throng the lakes in Prospect
Park, Brooklyn. was the largest seen there in
years. The warm sun and the thousands Of
skaters cut up the Ice badly. This has been
record winter for skating about New-York-
William Gibbons the new clerk Of the House
Of Commons, we'll known amateur
oarsman in the Sixties" His principal
cesses were gained under the flag of the Kings
ton Rowing Club, of which he was prominent
member. He represented that club for the
Grand Challenge at Henley, and stroked smart
four OF the club. that in 1868 won the
Wyfold Cup. But for the fact that Mr. Gibbons
was relegated to night duty at the House, as
clerk of divisions he would doubtless have
formed one of the winning Kingston eight that
landed the Grand Challenge in 1860 He won
the Balfour pairs in 1861 and also the Richmond
pairs. Some three years ago he had the graft
fication OF seeing son Of his gain seat In the
New College eight, head Of the river. Mr.. Glib
bons has been an adviser and member IN aqua
ties for the Kingston club for many seasons
since his retirement from active athletics
From every district come encouraging re-
ports regarding the cycling industry. The sales
men are returning to the various factories, and
saw that the prospects for revival Of interest
with the breaking up OF winter are excellent.
Dealers are ordering with greater freedom than
was the case at this time last year. The
ganizatiOn of the Metropole Cycling Club in this
city has already done good work, and will do
more It has awakened interest among veteran
riders in other cities. and the chances are that
similar organizations will be formed The local
club which may be national in Its scope In time,
embraces men well known in the trade. in racing
and In clubs The majority of the members are
veteran riders who look upon the bicycle with
positive reverence. The next meeting Of the
club will be held at No. 10 West Sixteth-st. on
experience talk one veteran said that he would
not sell his bicycle for $1,000. providing II was
stipulated in the sale that he was not to get
another wheel.
Local followers OF racing are not doing much
because most of the smaller rooms are closed.
There are poolrooms open, OF course, mostly
places where large wagered, and the
chances of closing up such places entirely seems
dim. So that all the majority of racetrack
thusiasts can do at present is to watch the
work of the horses and jockeys at New-Orleans
and California, and speculate the probable
winners in the coming big handicaps. There
will be gladstone shouts when the racing season
opens up at Aqueduct. John Boden, tr., has
been appointed racing secretary OF the Brighton
Beach Racing Association. Mr.. Boden has been
a close student of the running turf for many
years. He will succeed Ralph Baird, who was
also newspaper man several years ago.
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