New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1905-05-29
SPORTING COMMENT.
Current Items of Interest, Both Am
ateur and Professional.

Yachting men md those interested in the great
transatlantic race for the German emperor cup
are anticipating the announcement or the winner
this week and looking for it not later than "eohes
6.v or THURSDAY. oarsnlen are aroused over the
big Memorial Day regatta on the Harlem River To-
morrow; baseball enthusiasts are expecting a .[e"l
n the double holiday attraction at the foo
Grounds aegoers are counting 6eT on Of sq important
fixtures so5eaEled gpfeT sneciaIty Of other
Pyss w q have much TO entertain before the week
Is over, and, altogether there VIII De os Week
this season. Memorial Day is one or the piggesS
days Of the year in sporting ana StieI 10 the
T ia5e '0-'''0' 10" '''-''-7s' - -
PROFESSIONALISM IN ATHLETICS.
Il is but the truth TO say that college athletic
circles have been stirred to the depths by Henry
Beach Needham's article in the current issue ol
.AfcCl,re's Afaeazine' concerning professionalism
and cornrercialisrn among athletes He has stated
facts and clted cases IN a bold, forcefui way ahH
with & positlvenesS OF statement that mas an uh-
raistakable ring OF truth. The incisvensss OF the
writer's comment. in fact betokens a carelul IiI-
vestiEariCn, and any general denial seems iul4e'
Specific charges viii have 10 be taken up ana an
swered n & specific manner II the alnleLc assoeI-
ations Of the various big colleges nope 10 Iee
themselves from charges that put them IN Oao
light 70 say the least Many facts have been alfe0
that were common knowledge and common GOSSIP.
Unfortunately, college athletics have rarely IL
ever IN recent years been free altogether from the
taint Of professionalism. Charges ana counter
charges have beer made repeatedly BY one college
sgs71 sv snone hen t sa 10 dine 81 more or less
yIoiis nature Much has never como to IghL, now
eTer-tbaf Is nov conv1ncingly exposed-toT the
gesscn that the offence against pure sport IN one
fngdtutIon would be CLOSED over and dismissed IoF
q IKE offence IN another, You can play ION y
we can play Dick or Harry has been the poncy!
- eli s5pearances. many cases. and the splrlE
tE1d iet4e- OF the rules have been secretly not
.oDenly violated. II is condition 70 De depIored
Ssmdit}on that does not speak highly for those VINO
~ eopIosed 70 watch and guard the purity OF
soort Tor sports sake. The article does not take
I the moral eide Of the question or attempt 10
.gsst g means for Improvement Nhether Ar: = ecu
heYu Approves Of the so-called eligibility ruIes as
they exst may, perhaps be made clear IN a f0n
Guiding article. Now he takes the stand that gwen
the rules Is they are the udergTa 3uates eR91Ia
live I'D TO them and the faculty and alumni Cllss
ea1.roe them IN the spirit as vel as me let I
Herein ues the keynote Of the whole SITUATION En-
5oroe the rules as they exist or change the FuleS
tTzf arTne discretion may be used by those IN au-
fhoT1ty TO Dover cases that may not be Deserving
a. t5e enrpe punishment. The only 4oopiloe now
lies ~ TIE etatiou Of the rules II seems 700
bsd that IL should be possible so 70 expose ne
IInsay0ry SIDE of college athletics, ana taat tle
soIeeg1-a cleaned from victory must De onset D!
The Feeling that. after all that victory may noS
have been fairly won. II has created a Iee!Llg o.
istruSt but for all that IL should make for gooo
and Ton that reason is cause for congraSuLatlon-