The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-06-25
WITH THE COLLEGE ATHLETES
DOINGS IN THE FIELD OF SPORT
IN EAST AND VEST.
Tho Eternal warfare Between Colleges
and the Amateur Athletic Union Dis.
, cussed by James T.. Sullivan and by
! Collegl Pennsy lyania's outlook.

and the Amateur Athletic Union Dis.
cussed by James f. Sullivan and by
COlleg ians-Pennsy lvania's outlook.
The we'll nigh eternal warfare between
the college athletes and the officials Of the
Amateur Athletic Union of the United
States apparently now Is drawing to a
point where measures will be taken by
both sides to end 1t. Trouble over basket
ball, chiefly, and lattery the discussion
which followed the PRONUNCIATION Of the
Yale Harvard eligibility amendment, have
been the chief points OF disagreement be-
tween the representatives Of both bodies.
The trouble has been, the persons on both
sides say that there has been no basis OF
understanding. The collegians say that
they resent the attempt of the A. A. U. to
manage their affairs, while the union Off
Gals say that they are seeking only for
support in the lines Of the conduct Of sport
that they have laid down and adhered to
for the last twenty five years.
James E. Sullivan, seoretary-treasurer
of the Amateur Athletic Union, and the
foremost figure in amateur sport at the
present day, expressed desire recently
that something might be done to set the
contending parties in the right relations
one to the other.
1T ia unfortunate in the extreme said
Mr.. Sullivan, that there should be dis
agreement between the two bodies Of men,
who presumably are working toward the
aame end The Amateur Athletic Union
has not the slightest desire to interfere
with the management OF strictly inter-
collegiate events. Those in charge of the
union know exactly what is the prov
ince Of the organization. But we feel
justified In laying down the law for COL
legiate organizations which pass outside
the pale of interuniversity competition to
take part in events with teams properly
under our control. In this connection
may be indicated the athletic club basket
ball teams and the open athletic meetings.
College men in a way may generally be
eaid to be ignorant Of what the A. A. U.
intends toward them. They are apt to
fy off the handle upon reading somewhere
that a college basketball team has been
disqualified for playing against some I'M
registered outside team, and that any COL
lege team which plays against that first
college five will in turn be disqualified.
That in itself is an absurdity. We can
disaualfy the first team only. But how
CdIl tIe a u, " Slcp AL aiit coy '4'u' eiy
two college teams may not play together2
1t is a thing not in any way under our con-
troll and q thing we have neither idea nor
Intention of attempting. At the same
time, we must have a safeguard for the
teams registered with us, and if any team,
be it collegiate or not, persists in competing
with unsan ctioned teams then we certainly
are qualified to debar it from further com
til, g., lie, 20 hos
who persist in meeting the disqualified
team.
AS regards the Yale Harvard agree
ment to use discretion in the case of men
who admit professionalism, with extenuat-
ing circumstances should this rue be
administered according to its letter, We
could do nothing 80 far as strictly collegiate
competition is concerned. But should one
'Nof these reinstated professionals endeavor
10 compete in an open meeting most GER
tainly We would debar him. Moreover
We could, II we chose, Gebar any man who
had competed in meet against the re-
instated men. but that would be radical
step,
.The trouble seems to lie in the general
ignorance OF the fact that the A A. U.
merely is allied with the Intercollegiate
Basketball Association and the Intercolle-
giate Association Of Amateur Athletes,
and asks-does not demand or order
assistance to solve the problems Of amateur
sport. The basketball situation is rapidly
being cleared up, owing to the presence
Of leading collegan on our national
committee who has influenced the minds
OF his colleagues toward better view.
Latterly there has been no talk Of break
(po xpith ha II rnnip q from tba roll
leges, because they have begun to realize
that there is every advantage in not
breaking away.
'The important feature OF college teams
playing basketball with many Of the out
side organizations seems to have been
overlooked entirely by the college men.
peting with 50 called amateur fives which
arc unregistered. Really, I think that
II these teams declared themselves out
and out as professional the colegians
would be safer In playing against them
But these teams hiding under the name
OF amateur are composed Of men who
get certain stated sum for playing each
game, and they play almost nightly
throughout the winter. Two or three
fellows nire nall ana get up game with
tHclT teuIll Ut SOluo COllcRldt llNc Us u
special attraction. These fellows get about
$l75 for their receipts, give the colegians
guarantee Of SIS and divide the rest
among the members Of the team and them
selves. This is really a small sum for
most Of the regular professionals.
"Now look at the effect on the college
player He goes out to play against these
teams and after the game he sees the other
team getting the money No colleglan,
1t may be said, ever has too much money,
and that is true more often in the case of the
college athlete. The fello VS. on the other
team recognize that he Is a good player
and they want to get him to play for them,
because the more games they win, the better
houses they draw. Heis dazzled by the ready
money, which is so easy. The A. A. U.
can't get after these fellows, because they
can't prove anything. Thar is the argu-
ment that the collegan has handed to him.
No wonder he falls to It.
This thing was true in the case Of a men,
Der Of the team of New England college,
This player, as freshman, was taken on
trip through the New York region. He