Omaha daily bee., 1909-01-24
WITH The COLLEGE ATHLETES
Doings in the Field of Sport in
East and West.
AMATEUR OR PROFESSIONAL MEN
Mr.. Sullivan Doesn't Approve Even
of Talking About LettinE Summer
Ball Players into varsity
Teams.

"I DO not at all think that the association
did ? wise thing. said James f. Sullivan,
president ~ the American Athletic union.
recently. discussing the summer base bail
debate at the convention of the Tntercollegi-
ate Athletic association Of the United
states. 1T appears to the TO ne a step back
ward. Here for nearly thirty years We have
all cf Us been Z virg to keen thu iwp classes
amateur and ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. We
have been dra wing the line. This eduCa-
tional body at this time certainly Is going
back when It considers, II only for a mo-
ment, the ACCESSIBILITY Of admitting into
amateur ranks the summer base ball
player who is a professional
whether or not the association as a
whole may vote to he against the summer
base ball player makes small difference,
The point Is that these educators actually
considered for a moment whether or not
summer base ball players should be al
lowed to compete on varsity teams. IL
they had debated the question OF whether
colleges should support professional teams
that would have been better. If the col
leges are to have teams on which pro-
fessionals are members 1t IL well and good
II the colleges decide frankly to be repre-
scented by professionals.
AS well might an association OF edu-
Gators have gathered to discuss whether
murder in certain forms might not be
permissible. There cannot be any question
as to the proper course to pursue as Ions
as the persons involved keep clearly before
their minds the one idea; that Is. thai
there should be no place in amateur sport
for the professional.
That would do away with the need for
the amateur definition which I understand
the intercollegiate Athletic association oil
the United States Is seeking. II is all q
matter Of common honesty and need 60
no further. Let the amateurs follow in theli
work what the professionals are doing ir
theirs. 1t is no disgrace to be a professional
base ball player. 1t is an honor. The gan'
Is clean. honest. well managed. The mel
in charge of professional base ball make /
their pride that the game is pure.
Not for a moment can any one sal
that there is anything questionable abou
professional base ball players. They ar,
admittedly pros. They have nothing Il
conceal. They are under strict manage
ment. because with the msgnates OF tn
leagues It is q question OF business. Tha
is a reason why we who have to do wit
amateur sport may find something yet t
initiate in the handling OF professionals.
No Hypocrites Among Pros.
2 There are no pretexts in professions
E sport. There are no half professionals /
the ranks of the money chasers. The
compete for purses huns up on the wire
Everyone knows what they are in spoI
b, for and IL they lose 1t is their persons
loss. They aren't hypocrites. The profes
sional jockey rides for money; the pre-
u fessional base ball player plays for money
: the professional bicycle rider rides fc
= money. l only wish we could keep ou
' lines as well defined in amateur sport.
whats the use Of an amateur rule fc