The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-01-04

OF the Amateur Athletic Union, mas been
heard from concerning the ruling of DR..
D. Z. Wiber. chairman OF the registra-
ton committee OF the South Atlantic
Association OF the A. A. T., In suspend
ing the George Washington University
and Yale basketball teams because they
played in Washington on Monday night
last, when they had been forewarned
that Craemer and Reyes of the G. ". L.
team had been declared professionals
by the A. A. L.
Mr. Sullivan heartily sustains DR..
Wiber's action in putting the George
Washington team under the A. A L.
ban. as will be noticed in the extracts
from. his letter publ shed herewith. In
another part of the same letter he ex-
presses the opinion that Yale should
also be punished by the A. A. U.
All of the G. W L. men who took
part in the game are now barred from
competition in athletic events under the
jurisdiction Of the A. A. L. and will
probably be kept out for at least two
years This is because they knowingly
played with professionals on their own
team.
Yale's Position Different.
Yale's position is somewhat different
From the A. A. L. standpoint the cntire
George washington team was composed
Of professionals, because Of the presence
on IL OF Craemer and Reyes. Therefore.
Yale committed the technical Ohense of
playing against a professional Organiza-
ton, which is permitted in baseball
football. and other sports over which
the a. \. L. does not claim jurisdiction.
This laid Yale open TO a punishment in
the way of a suspension and hardly 10
permanent disqualification, as that
offense is Of a somewhat technical ma
ture.
Still. Yale did offend and with its
eyes wide open, according 20 all III
depreciation of the rules IN this sec
ton. and il il is not penalized in any
way. al the foundations Of the A. A.
L. and the rhetoric OF President Sui
Ivan viii be as mere drivel i'm the South
Atlantic Association p the future.
Precedent Wanted.
But there are strong extenuating cir
cumstcnces in favor Of Yale's action.
There is no desire on the part of Dr.
Wiber or the other A A L. officials
in This section to SCI Old ELS team
kicked out Of athletics OF even seriously
damaged, fo- IL is realized that the
team was in a peculiar position What
is wanted is "a suspension, II for not
more than one week, which will prove
that the A. A. L. is rot talking merely
for the galleries when it proclaims its
high and lofty purpose OF carrying on
its reform crusade even TO the point Of
severing relations with the lntercOl-
IeEfate Association. In other words she
South Atlantic is asking the A A L.
20 set a precedent in this concrete case
as an evidence IN good Ia!th. The Hask-
ms case has not been -OTsOtten.
Because of an accident 10 their tram
the Yale players did not reach Con-
EentiOn Hall until nearly II CLOCK on
Monday night There they found large
and eNasperated audience which had
been on hand since before O'Clock,
Eathered there largely as a compliment
10 the Yale athletes. who have always
been popular I'm this city. The Yale
captain was Informed of the profess
sionalism OF the two q. w. T. players
and after long hesitation decided he
would take a chance and play rather
than diSappOint thousand or 50 per
sons who had waited three hours es-
peCially TO see them perform. and many
Of whom were ardent Yale supporters
o. alumni.
Extenuating Circumstance
To have called of the game under
those circumstances for technicality
would have thoroughly Disguised the
audience. with whom the Yale players
could hardly have squared themselves
by a technical elucidation Of the rules
governing amateur sport, and the mana
ger should be severely condemned for
going ahead. He sinned, but was almost
forced to do it.
81 q
and does a serious injustice TO Billy
Lush, the Yale professional basketball
and baseball coach, who was with the
team. Lush. instead Of being responsible
for the game taking place, protested
violently. and TO the last minute
a gainst his men going on the floor. He
warned them they were running a great
risk. and hat it would be better to
lose their share Of the receipts. The
Yale manager finally OverTuled the
coach and decided to play.
These facts were not set forth at the
time the formal complaint to Mr.. Sui
Ivan by DR.. Wiber, and are here given
as a matter Of justice 10 Lush and
the Yale players. and TO show that
there Is no malicious desire to see it
rubbed into Yale.
Following are the principal portions of
Mr.. Sullivan's letter to DR.. Wiber. re-
ceived this morning:
What Sullivan Says.
Il have been away and got your letter
today. I have sent it to one OF the
college athletic authorities.
THAT you did right no one will ques-
ton: you made an honest decision.
You took the right stand What else
could you do? Now the question comes
up, How far will it lead and what
further can we do2
"Read page 80 \. A. L. Handbook.
II it had been a technical violation I
think you would have been in wrong,
but we have been acting on a sO-called
OF an alliance with the
intercollegiate Association and the coll
lcges always recognized our right to
disQUalify a man for professionalism.
The man that opposes your decision
is not the one that Is working for the
best interest OF amateur sport. George
Washington would Der that college
ont from all competition with schools
and colleges when they allow these pro-
fessiOnals to play.
Firm Against Colleges.
y tell YOU. on the question Of pro-
fessionalism we have to stand together,
even if il means a break with the coll
leges, which ! don't think will happen.
1t IS too bad this happened just now.