Omaha daily bee., 1906-09-30
SPORTING GOSSIP OF WEEK
Western League kagnatss Looking TO
next Season Already.
OMAHA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS IN LINE
Give LITERALLY to support Athletics
and win n High Place ms
Showing the Proper
school spirit

The Western league season of 1905 is his-
tory now, with the exception Of the games |
that are to be played this afternoon and
MONDAY These may settle the difference
ween Omaha and Lincoln. but that Is all
re is left to argue over and the inter-
- doesn't center around that For some |
lime now the magnates have been aware
! that they had wreck on their hands:
that what might have been the source of
tidy profit had been the occasion OF a
decided loss. They know where to put
the blame, too. 1t only remains to be
seen II they will do what they ought to
protect themselves and the public At all
events, the era of cheap ball is over in
the Western league The patrons Of the
game have been accustomed TO seeing the
best. and they viii not spend their money
to see bush league ball. Denver lost over
5000 during the summer for the expert
ment Of trying a bush league team in
CLASS town; Omaha has paid but little
and Sioux City and Pueblo are among the
sure losers, while Des Moines is off to the
good by considerable margin. Lincoln
- little 70 the good, for all Ducky
Holmes says his last two trips west cost
MIN 5000 more than he took in, which is
apout right Lincoln Is the only team In
ball; all the others are Jokes of the plain
est and most laughable type. 1t is better
ball or no ball for next season. Rourke is
arranging to strengthen his team; Burke
promises that Denver will have a team IL
money can put one together, and Cantillon
Will never try to win another pennant with
as scurvy a bunch as he did this season.
Get rid OF o'Neii. get some players, man
age the league on a business basis and IL
VIII pay; II not. it's all of with the west
ern.
STUDENTS at the Omaha High school are TO
DO congratulated on the splendid spirit they
nave shown. During the week a request
was made BY the principal that the students
contribute to the support of the foot ball
team OF the school, Seventy-hve dollars
was needed to purchase some equipment,
and Il was thought that at least a portion,
II not all, OF this sum could be secured
ny an appeal to the students. When the
subscription was totalled, II was found
that over $500 had been turned In as the
result of voluntary contributions This is
quite aside from the sale of tickets to the
games, the proceeds OF which go to the
support Of athletics. As an exhibition OF
true school spirit this is one Of the most
gratifying noted recently. 1t places the
sport just where 1t ought to be, on a basis
or pure amateurism. Sport for sport sake
Is the theory on which games are under
taken at schools The recreation and
diversion incident to the games is a prime
requisite for school, for the conditions
. require that the student body have some
Ing to break the monotonous routine OF
ass work. An outlet for the animal
4 1Girits Of boys and girls must be found.
add nothing offers such ready and worthy
nh xrl fl~ a..
be INDUCED in by the students themselves
The great difficulty that has been en-
countered Of recent years. and the cause
for the demand for foot ball reform. even
greater than the outcry against the alleged
brntality OF the game, has been the COM
mercial spirit that has grown up at the
larger schools. and which permeated to the
smaller institutions and even to the high
schools of the country. Foot ball. above
all other games was reduced to condi-
ton, where the sport was considered second,
the money coming first. No game merely
for the sake Of determining the merits of
the contesting teams, or for the furtherance
Of a proper rivalry between the schools
was undertaken. Managers devoted their
efforts TO securing such games as would
bring in the greatest amount of money.
Some scandals large and odorous resulted,
such as the Chicago Michigan game last
fall, when 'scalpers" sold single admission
tickets for as high as $40. Eastern schools
like Yale, tried to stop this practice by
limiting the sale OF tickets to bona fide
A students. but students were found who
would sooner dispose OF their allotment OF
tickets to spectators than to see the game,
md scandal resulted, All of this was due
firectiy to the idea that foot ball had not
emily to be made self-supporting. but must
Aars. L.. n Aan
n as to defray expenses OF other college
tlams.
Fhe authorities OF the larger schools rec
o4nizsd the danger and took prompt, and
some eases even radical steps to check
e tendency. 1t was not solely TO elmi-
tie the physical danger of the game that
,hange was demanded by the authorities
wan to rid the game OF the commercial
professional elements, that were becom-
more and more open and notorious and
graceful Restrictions placed on the
nasement and control Of foot ball teams
'e gone far in the right direction and II
only requires that the student body
III full and thoughtful support to the au-
tiles to bring about the restoration of
re sport 10 a. plane where It will no
" be open to question the target for
This can be done without In the
destroying the element Of sport. and
,ot detract In any way from the true
spirit that periodically supports its
IND upholds Its colors against those
bther schools. This requires not only
but financial support. It can be
- without debarring the public from its
aare as spectators at games whether or
aot admission is free. The boys and girls
At the Omaha High school took a long
step IN the right direction when they pro-
yided for the needs OF their foot bail
ssarns and win be the gamers in the end.
for tine public is quick to discern and ready
20 support such spirit. And in any event
the Omaha High school team OF the pres
ent season may hold its head little higher,
Tor tho reason that It is supported by the
student body. and IL not in even the slight
est degree In the attitude OF mendicancy.
with the change in the football rules the
ends will be the important men on the
team, and It Is up to coach TO skill his
\ men IN handling the punts. which will be
more numerous than heretofore Although
tha and has always been about the most