Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1909-01-14
NEW INDOOR LEAGUE
Professional Basket Ball Sue.
ceedS In Several Cities.
GAINS SUPPORT OF PUBLIC.
Experiment Made In Philadelphia
Some Years Ago Melted Profit. but
Invaders Spoiled Game-Seven Cities
In New Central Circuit.


In New Central Circuit.
In western Pennsylvania and Ohio
recently a professional basket ball
league was formed. and from the lat
est accounts the Central league as 1t
Is called. will prove financial success.
as the various teams are playing to
crowded houses. In some Of the cities
represented in the Central 1t Is no COM
mon thing to see crowds Of from 1900
70 1900 In attendance. The league IS
composed Of seven cities-Pittsburg
Homestead. Johnstown, Greersburc
McKeesport. Cniontown and East Liv-
erpool. o.. the odd number being made
because Of the fact that the teams do
not play every night.
The league in western Pennsylvania
Il an assured success and II properly
handled will be wonderful help to-
ward the national organization Of bas-
ket ball along lines that should pro-
mote uniformity Of playing rules, d!vi-
sion Of playing territory. protective
regulat ions for both managers and
tionable features Of the game and
such legislative action as will tend to
promote the popularity Of basket ball
itself.
The professional basket ball league
Is not an innovation. as the same
scheme was tried in Philadelphia
many years ago. when several teams
banded together with what was then
known as the National Basket Ball
league. Success crowned the efforts Of
this league from the very start. the
games drew immense crowds, affairs
were running smoothly. every team
was making money. and the league
when some Connecticut basket ball
managers. attracted by the financial
success. travelled to Philadelphia with
the proceeds Of a successful basket
ball season and managed by making
extra money inducements to prevail
upon all the stars to desert the Ma
tional league and play basket ball In
the Connecticut league they formed.
Their stars gone, teams forced to
disband. the National league came to
an untimely end. and basket ball was
dealt q severe blow by the unfortunate
Interference Of men having no other
than mercenary motives. The Con-
necticut baseball managers. having Sc
cured the cream Of the basket ball
world, had glowing expectations Of
the same glittering success that re-
warded the efforts Of the Philadelphia
basket ball people, but their lack Of
knowledge concerning the basket ball
game was fatal. and their enterprise
soon went under.
Basket ball as exemplifled by the
Central league is in a class with Ma
tional league baseball. The players are
paid salaries ranging from 500 TO $500
per month. The strictest training rules
are enforced. for in order to play bas-
ket ball successfully opponents Of the
sport must at all times be in the best
possible physical condition.
Then there are referees to pay. league
expenses are not light by any means,
and. all told. the gentlemen interested
In the several Central league teams
have their hands full. Still. It Is pleas
ing to note that the game has taken
firm hold on lovers Of clean and
wholesome sports and that the attend
ance this winter is even beyond expec-
tationS.
The men who are backing the teams
are genuine sportsmen, the game is
being kept clean and free from seam
dal and it is safe TO predict that If
continued along the present lines bas-
ket ball Of the Central league brand
will become even more popular than at
present
In New England recently a profess
sional basket ball league was formed
with eight teams. Charlestown. Cam
bridge, Lowell. South Boston, Salem,
Peabody. Providence and Woonsocket
compose the circuit The playing sea-
son began Dec. Is and will close March
IS Two games a week will be played,
one at home and the other away.