The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-02-13

The failure OF the game OF basketball
to retain a firm hold in the college ath-
letic world is a subject OF much specula-
ton with the exception Of Columbia and
Pennsylvania and a few Of the smaller
colleges interest in the sport appears TO
be tagging. Yale cut down its schedule
this year The game is in a wishy-washy
state at Cornell and Princeton. Harvard
and Amherst have dropped 1t from their
athletic category. Brown IS c0ntem-
plating so doing Other smaller colleges
throughout the country, once warm sup
portcrs Of basketball, have either
dropped the game or are combining # 10
interclass matches. Columbia and Penn
sylyania, however, are still ardent sup
porters Of the court pastine.
BOsey ReiteT. who is in charge OF attn
Ietics and physical development at Wes-
leyan, recently made some interesting
comments on the failure OF basketball 10
hold its popularity in the college By
way OF illustration. Reiter compared
basketball and football Ip part he
said.
IT wasn't half-centUry ago that foot
bah occupied somewhat the same posi-
ton that basketball did about Eve years
ago. The game was new; all athletics, In
! fact. were new: and checkers and chess
continued 10 90 hand in hand as the ac-
! cepted amusements Of the college man.
! Bring those very conditions down TO the
present DAY. substituting the word has
/ ket-balr for football Basketball isn't
more than thirteen years old. and II costs
about as much to run a basketball team
at Wesleyan OF Williams as it does at
+ Yale.
Why the Game Laxs.
But the big colleges have not begun 10
/ specialize in the game. and from what I
hear the game does seem 10 be progress
/ ing the other way. However, If the big
colleges developed their interest in the
sport as they have in football, 81 would
not be very long before they would com
pletely outclass the smaller college teams
I There are several things in which bas-
( ket-baH differs from football and be-
cause Of which it cannot become
/ an ideal college sport The game is more
/ uncertain than football by far. Various
obvious points explain this. The psychic
/ element is more evident, especially N
basketball of the home Roor. Then
+ the crowds are closer and physical e.
I fects OF the crowd OF spectators
are consequently communicated more
quickly. And Furthermore. while
/ gridiron Is a grldiron, a basketball fic0-
F Is not a basketball floor. This is simply
( because basketball was unheard Of when
J most gymnasiums were built. and the
/ differences of courts are apt to give
+ home team q great advantage iu many
/ cases and make any teams play through
out the season seem erratic ana incoH-
sistent.
Another thing must be taken into
7 consideration. Football is the only es-
senually college sport. Il requires
special training and special financial
treatment Professional athletes are
not in a position TO give the game the
/ self-deniaI that it requires. and conse-
uuentIy the professional teams in the
sport are few. if any. Baseball and
basketball are not purely college sports.
i'm these sports professionals have ey-
ceIIed. the element Of fatigue is les,
and the crowds. used 10 more periecJ
. exhibitions OF these two games, care %
see professional contests rather than
( those put I'D by college teams.