The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-03
DEMANDS FOR TENNIS Reform.
Players want an Amateur Rule and Also
Prohibition OF Betting.

The executive committee of the United
States Lawn Tennis Association recently dis
posed Of the so-oalled charg es against B. c.
Wright and W. G. Grant to its own satisfaction.
but persons outside the committee interested
in the game say that there are several other
things that must be done in a short while II
lawn tennis is to have a successful career
hereafter. without ever having been pre-
scented as formal charges. there Is q lot OF
talk among tennis men about things that
need reform.
IL is declared. for instance. that certain
men make a practice OF obtaining their tennis
goods for nothing because it Is believed by
those who give up to them that these men
are in a position to help along the goods.
For another thing II is said that in some clubs
and among a certain set of players the matches
that they enter into apparently are only q
secondary consideration and that betting on
the results is considered by them of the first
importance. other players declare that they
are opposed to invitation tournaments OF a
certain kind, getting the sanction OF the lawn
tennis association because they are merely
private parties that do not operate for the
best interests OF the game.
But what most OF all appeals. 10 players
who wish the game well is that there should
be set forth a specific code Of rules covering
these and similar points. As at present
organized lawn tennis Is governed only on q
very vague amateur rule. The idea briefly
is that no person who through his skill in
the game earns money Is an amateur. That
rule adhered to in its %strictest sense would be
ample. The tendency. however, OF players
recently, it is declared by those who look
toward reform. is TO make this rule nothing
but a worthless series OF words. A new
amateur definition is required here. these play
ers believe.
Their idea is that a rule something similar
to that proposed by the intercollegiate Ath-
letic Association OF the United States would
be Just what is needed in lawn tennis. 1t
@ould read this way: No player who ever
has competed for a money prize or who has
ever received money or any other compensa-
ton or concession for his lawn tennis ability
or services. directly or indirectly. either as a
PLAYER or In any other capacity, shall be
eligible as an amateur for competitions
in tournaments sanctioned by the executive
committee of the U. s.. n. l.. r. A"
That is such a blanket rule that the players
now able to take little bits Of graft or even
profit in large amounts would be enectually
stopped from competing; Also II would help
to put an end to betting on lawn tennis
sael, as 10 cut on betting il Is suggested thai
a rule be made specifically to do this. Betting
on any amateur game. 1t Is declared. Will
that must ruin the game as a sport.
AS for the matter OF the invitation tourna-
ments. that Is perhaps more a mater Oh per.
than of the general mass OF contestants In
the game. But even those who have no desire
to enter invitation tournaments resent the
| choice of players made for some of them,
the IN ore so because these competitions figure
as part of the national schedule and victory
in them oftentimes entities a player to a high
! ranking none too much deserved.
In the matter OF lawn tennis rankings. too,
there has been not a little dissatisfaction. If
not so much this year as in past seasons. A
lawn tennis player once a member OF the
executive committee declared that certain
members OF the ranking committee to his
knowledge had caused alterations in the
findings OF the ranking committee TO suit their
own wishes and preJudices. He related that
on one occasion a ranking committee sub
mitted its list and that the brother OF a proIni-
nent player was afterward moved up eleven
places because his brother on the executive
com mittee pointed out that he knew the
rating was too low.
The principle underlying the ratings was
that the men who made them were supposed
10 have watched the players all through the
season and that on the. basis OF what they
observed they put the lawn tennis men in
their respective places. 1t was generally
supposed that all the executive
ratings in a casual way. put the % X" on
and let them go through. But the executive
committee of which this player was a mem
Der did not seem to think that that was what
the committee was there for. As a result the
rankings were hashed and butchered to get a
few favored players to the front.
It In well known that a member OF the present
executive committee said that b.. C.. wright
the champion in 1905. was ranked miro tnls
year because the committee wanted to show
It's complete confidence in him. But II was
also noted that W. c. Grant, vindlcAted az the
same time, had 70 be content with twenty
ninth place, although there was really very
did all season on this side OF the water. and
certainly Grants performances on the other
side cast more credit on this country.