The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1910-01-02
COMMODORES LOOK
LIKE CHAMPIONS
Troop, the Referee, Left His Con-
science at Home, But the Club
Was outcIassed-Four Vic
tories for Vanderbilt
BY BURR BLACKBURN.

The Birmingham Athletic club was de-
feated last night by the boys from Van
derbilt, score so to 30. It was a decisive
victory. the result of clean playing. fine
rnaneuvering. quick. though deliberate
pass work and accurate goal throwing.
In view of the fact that Vanderbilt has
played the five best teams In the south,
on five successive nights, their form and
ability last night was marvellous. Their
defeat of Mobile and the Aethletic club
marks the first time either has bitten
the dust on tho home floor to a southern
opponent within three years. They came
within four points of defeating Columbus.
and simply ran away with Montgomery.
winning four out of the fives games on
the trip.
When 1t be considered that these boys
had gone up against the four strongest
teams in the south before reaching Bir-
mingham. they undoubtedly far out-class-
ed the Athletic club. They have q strong
claim for the southern championship II
the present gait Is continued, but the
season is just begun and there is many
a game to be played before March list
Columbus Vanderbilt and Mobile have
the strongest teams at this date.
A Polished Referee.
Though full credit for clean victory
IS due Vanderbilt, the Commodores should
be commended for carrying with them
referee who for organized robbery has
anything beat that ever blew a whistle
In Birmingham.
Troop is his name. He starred on the
Wander bill team last year, knows every
Vanderbilt player and ali their tricks.
There is some excuse for an ignorant Of
ficiaI or for a man who Is simply incap-
able, but this man Troop was a sixth
wheel In the Vanderbilt team. 1t was a
disgrace to any college, a smear upon the
game of basketball, to send out such an
official.
His robbery was of that organized
type which is planned and executed ac-
rording to orders. Despite the kicks of
Ware and every man who knew the
game in the building he persisted in
throwing the ball 30 low that McGehee
secured the knockout every time. He
thus absolutely robbed Birmingham of
the knockout, which alone is worth 70
points to any team 1t means the dis
1ruction OF team work, takes away all
confidence In the play and gives the
lucky team the ball in its own terri
tory 30 per cent of the time.
Not only was this deliberate and con-
tinuous. but Troop absolutely ignored the
fouls on his own team, calling eight on
Birmingham and not orc on Vanderbilt
His handling the bali from out of bounds
showed gross favoritism- 1t cannot even
be said for Troop that his work was
rotten. Indeed 1t was finished. polished,
but 1t may be termed dirty, or rather
filthy. The first half ended 2S-R.
In the second half G. L. Megser, ply
steal director of the Birmingham public
schools offciated with absolute fairness,
as both teams agreed AS a result Nc
Gehee could not get the knock-on, the
club played with ginger and the score
was PALS.
The club could have put up much
classier game of ball had Williams been
played the whole half, Bob Ware used at
center and Chairsell in the other for
ward. The weakest point was at center,
Wyckham having been unable to get into
form on account of bad cold Williams
"a the fastest man on the squad, but for
some reason was not used until the sec
ond half.
Ware Is not showing good wind, but his
goal shooting last night was great. He
made one beautiful shot while closely
guarded and his pass work was In the
old-time class. Woodruff came out with
seven goals, and made persistent up
hill fight Truman Thomas, who went
in during the last half, helped to tie
the score for that half Here Is the
official score;